prediction: the senate won't convict donnie, but will pass a "sense of the senate" resolution

[unblock]

gently slapping donnie's wrist.

just enough for them to say hey, it was wrong but doesn't rise to the level of impeachment.

they'll probably even pass it behind closed doors, or maybe by voice vote, so that the republicans can say whatever they want to their own constituents. or to donnie, for that matter.


i don't think they really like donnie at all, and i think they're probably angry at him for exposing them to his mess, damaging their "brand".

but i don't think they know any way other than all-in for their dear leader.

[TruckFump]

1. I disagree.

Too much from Sondland.

Fox is hand-holding the deplorables...but others are having their daily major TV stations interrupted with the hearing. Some have to be watching and IMO some are in states where their US Senators could be worried about siding with MF 45 even if they are Repukes.

This testimony from Sondland has to be trumpeted far, wide and continuously.

Edit for typo.

[unblock]

2. they will come up with the oops defense, or the not a career politician defense

oh, he didn't know it was illegal, he promises to not do it again, just negotiating like he always did in real estate, whatever.

i think objectively, we've got him dead to rights. but i can't see 20 republicans senators all suddenly developing a conscience or any sense of actual respect for the constitution or the country. *two*, maybe, but 20?

i just can't see it.

[TruckFump]

5. I am in my 70s and I remember Watergate

The smoking gun IMO is in the hand's of Sondland on this one.

This is too much to accept as an oops. Faux Snooze and others can only get to the Trump-humpers. However, IMO if and when one known Rep. US Senator comes over, I think the dam will break.

[redstatebluegirl]

7. I see Sondland as Trump's John Dean.

[TruckFump]

8. Yep, it was gonna be Dean under the bus for the Nixon WH...

...and Dean threw them under first.

Sondland has completely fucked over MF 45 and his admin.

[DetlefK]

3. Problem: This would save Trump, but it would backfire with the voters.

Republicans are the majority in the Senate. Any vote in the Senate that goes against Trump can only happen with republican Senators and the republican voters know that.

Any republican vote against Trump will be seen as a backstab and betrayal.

And the republican base is so ultra-fucking toxic that any criticism of Trump is a political death-sentence.

It's IMPOSSIBLE to defend Trump and to wag the finger at him at the same time. The republican voters are too radical for such political games. A Republican CANNOT criticize Trump EVER.

[unblock]

6. wow, so you're in the republicans-will-totally-stonewall camp.

that's certainly possible. yes, they could not even pass a resolution and simply leave collins or any other republican senator to make their own statement. much "concern" in her case, e.g.

at the moment i'm thinking it's all too much for them to say nothing, but i could be wrong.

[DetlefK]

9. There is only one way out for the GOP:

We have seen what happens in elections that are a referendum on Trump.

The only hope Republicans have is making the 2020 election about ANY OTHER topic than Trump. And there is only one way to get Trump out of the 2020 election: The WHOLE GOP would have to turn on him at the same time. And they would have to do it in a way that the Trump-voters stay with the GOP.



The GOP is now the party of Trump, precisely because the GOP has over the last 20 years whipped their base into a rabid frenzy. The GOP does not tolerate dissent. The GOP has thrown themselves at Trump and now the republican voters won't let them abandon Trump.

[Cosmocat]

4. yeah

they are absolute in their hatred of us, and with it the certainty in their righteousness. They don't have it in them to admit they are wrong, because they are wrong about everything and the have long crossed the threashold to where they have to deny reality to justify the massive disconnect.

AND, with them the frankenstein they have created, the craven, sick scumbag conservative media which makes $$$ hand over fist and gets off on the powers of controlling the country AND the base.

Just too much working against fundamentally weak men and women doing the "right thing" on any level.

You may see a Romney and maybe one or two others, but the rest of them will find a way to say "it does not rise to impeachable level, cause it wasn't, you know, lying about a blow job, and fuck the democrats for trying to force the country do deal with this shit!"

AND, that is not even getting those who are equally corrupted or just are so sick they are 100 percent on board with it all, which is most of them.