Impeachment Trial - Not Guilty Enough

nohero said:

The video.  Open and shut case.

 Claire McCaskill commented that we should share this video on social media. I agree. She also named a few Senators who looked away. Nothing frustrates me more than people who refuse to face what is hard to look at.

I'm glad they left the dialogue in. What could be more profane than their actions?

oots said:

so whats the deal with justice roberts recusing?  what does this ultimately mean to whatever decision results?  anything?

My understanding is that Roberts interprets the Constitutional provision relating to the CJ presiding over the trial of the President is that it is limited to the impeachment trial of a sitting president, not a former president.

Steve said:

oots said:

so whats the deal with justice roberts recusing?  what does this ultimately mean to whatever decision results?  anything?

My understanding is that Roberts interprets the Constitutional provision relating to the CJ presiding over the trial of the President is that it is limited to the impeachment trial of a sitting president, not a former president.

Yes.  In the impeachment of a sitting President, the Vice President has an interest, as the VP would become President.  "When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside."

oots said:

so whats the deal with justice roberts recusing?  what does this ultimately mean to whatever decision results?  anything?

 He didn't really recuse himself. The way I heard it explained, the constitution says that the Chief Justice shall preside over the impeachment of the President, and Trump isn't the President anymore, so Roberts has no role here.

thanks all for some answers ( consistent ones!) 

I enjoyed when Trump's attorney accidentally said he's the lead prosecutor. 

WOW ! Could the Trump defense be any more unintelligible? This is painful, especially in comparison to the clear, concise and polished House presentation.

Also, why does Schoen tap the top of his head while he drinks water? 

Dennis_Seelbach said:

WOW ! Could the Trump defense be any more unintelligible? This is painful, especially in comparison to the clear, concise and polished House presentation.

I can’t believe they assigned Trump such a **** Public Defender.

— Jon Stewart (@jonstewart) February 9, 2021

nohero said:

Dennis_Seelbach said:

WOW ! Could the Trump defense be any more unintelligible? This is painful, especially in comparison to the clear, concise and polished House presentation.

 

Not really sure what else they can do given the facts and the law.  Just hope that the check cleared.  In the end, neither the facts nor the law seem like they are going to be relevant to at least the vast majority of the GOP Senators.

I'm numb.This is my idea of a filibuster. When does he start reading War and Peace aloud.

Dennis_Seelbach said:

WOW ! Could the Trump defense be any more unintelligible? This is painful, especially in comparison to the clear, concise and polished House presentation.

Also, why does Schoen tap the top of his head while he drinks water? 

I have read that as an Orthodox Jew, Schoen's head must be covered when he eats and drinks (forgive me if I'm wrong). In lieu of wearing a kippah, he covers his head with his hand as he sips water.

Does he say a blessing first? If not, that mouthful of water is not as significant... perhaps STANV might confirm? (I was taught blessings are said over food the size of a walnut and a proper mouthful of drink, not a mere sip. With or without head coverings) If he’s that concerned, shouldn’t he wear unobtrusive kippah all the time?

ridski said:

I have read that as an Orthodox Jew, Schoen's head must be covered when he eats and drinks (forgive me if I'm wrong). In lieu of wearing a kippah, he covers his head with his hand as he sips water.

Mike Lee has said some dumba$$ stuff in his life, but he outdoes himself here

If this doesn't unite the country, then nothing will. 

terp said:

If this doesn't unite the country, then nothing will. 

Letting him get away with it will unite us?

OMG - OANN headline - I'm shocked that Hawley thinks impeachment is a waste of time.

It appears that instead of mounting a defense, the president's defense was just an open mic event.

joanne said:

Does he say a blessing first? If not, that mouthful of water is not as significant... perhaps STANV might confirm? (I was taught blessings are said over food the size of a walnut and a proper mouthful of drink, not a mere sip. With or without head coverings) If he’s that concerned, shouldn’t he wear unobtrusive kippah all the time?

ridski said:

I have read that as an Orthodox Jew, Schoen's head must be covered when he eats and drinks (forgive me if I'm wrong). In lieu of wearing a kippah, he covers his head with his hand as he sips water.

 

 I didn't know I was considered an expert on Religion but according to what I heard on TV ridski is correct, and he (Schoen, not ridski) does say a silent prayer. 

just someone whose education I respect. Thanks for your reply!

STANV said:

 

joanne said:

Does he say a blessing first? If not, that mouthful of water is not as significant... perhaps STANV might confirm? (I was taught blessings are said over food the size of a walnut and a proper mouthful of drink, not a mere sip. With or without head coverings) If he’s that concerned, shouldn’t he wear unobtrusive kippah all the time?

ridski said:

I have read that as an Orthodox Jew, Schoen's head must be covered when he eats and drinks (forgive me if I'm wrong). In lieu of wearing a kippah, he covers his head with his hand as he sips water.

 

 I didn't know I was considered an expert on Religion but according to what I heard on TV ridski is correct, and he (Schoen, not ridski) does say a silent prayer. 

Then I thank those I follow on Twitter who have educated me in such ecumenical matters.

Next up, MTG did not actually talk about "Jewish Space Lasers" causing fires in California but did combine the Jewish banking conspiracy with another conspiracy(?) that the DOD is using special satellites to beam (either through microwaves or other means) solar radiation to a receiver to create "free energy," and somehow missed in the same Facebook post. 

Further fuelling this conspiracy(?) is a citation on Wikipedia's Space-based solar power entry, called " U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Public Affairs (May 18, 2020). "Naval Research Laboratory Conducts First Test of Solar Power Satellite Hardware in Orbit". www.navy.mil. Retrieved 19 May2020." which now goes to a 404 page on navy.mil. Dun-DUN-DUNNNNNNNN!!!!! 

Which basically boils to Jewish space lasers, and maybe that's one of the reasons why Schoen didn't want to wear a kippah on TV.

ridski said:

Which basically boils to Jewish space lasers, and maybe that's one of the reasons why Schoen didn't want to wear a kippah on TV.

 And that's the basic asymmetry in our politics right now. One side you can accuse of, at worst, endorsing harassing of Trump admin officials at restaurants and being mean on twitter. The other prominently features people who literally killed people and threatened to kill more in an effort to overturn an election.

Trump's lawyers are doing a terrific job.

Of course, their job is not to argue the law or the facts.  Their job is to remind GQP senators of the crazy things that GQP primary voters actually believe.  Senators supporting Trump are making their choice for the benefit of their own electoral prospects.  Period.

Representative Raskin's opening statement is awesome and compelling. Sample:

"President Trump may not know a lot about the framers, but they certainly knew a lot about him. Given the framers’ intense focus on danger to elections and the peaceful transfer of power, it is inconceivable that they designed impeachment to be a dead letter in the President’s final days in office, when opportunities to interfere with the peaceful transfer of power would be most tempting and most dangerous as we just saw. Thus, as a matter of history and original understanding, there is no merit to President Trump’s claim that he can incite an insurrection and then insist weeks later that the Senate lacks the power to even hear evidence at a trial, to even hold a trial."

Rep. Jamie Raskin Opening Statement Transcript: Trump's Second Impeachment Trial - Rev

Of course, it means nothing, because of most of the GQP "jurors" are selfish and amoral. 
See Josh Hawley, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul for prime examples.

All Trump's team has to do is prove that he won the election.  They should just have the pillow guy prove this point.  This will at least normalize his post election "stop the steal" rhetoric.

jamie said:

All Trump's team has to do is prove that he won the election.  They should just have the pillow guy prove this point.  This will at least normalize his post election "stop the steal" rhetoric.

 How upset is Trump that his lawyers conceded that he lost the election?

Analogy - 

Raskin on Trump's rhetoric: "This case is much worse than someone who falsely shouts fire in a crowded theater. It's more like a case where the town fire chief who's paid to put out fires sends a mob — not to yell fire in a crowded theater but to actually set the theater on fire" pic.twitter.com/YYCQl7dayJ

— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 10, 2021

Pretty compelling so far.  I'm really glad this is happening.

jamie said:

Pretty compelling so far.  I'm really glad this is happening.

Read this morning that tens of thousands are dropping their Republican Party registrations. Worthwhile just for the light it shines.

This trial really does highlight how mentally ill Donny is.  I hope his cult can see the con.

I also hope that they point out that since the election - golf and overturning the election were the top priorities for Donny.  Coronavirus - 3,000 people dying a day were never acknowledged.