Tighten your seatbelts and stay tuned: Impeachment hearings aren't over

[StarfishSaver]

Don't forget that Pelosi charged four other committees with investigating impeachment.

And Oversight, Foreign Affairs, Financial Service, and Ways and Means have probably gotten a hell of a lot done out of the spotlight while everyone has been focusing on the Intelligence Committee proceedings.

[uponit7771]

1. K&R, I pray they make it really painful for republicans to vote no on removal

[LiberalFighter]

15. Absolutely must be painful if they vote no.

They need to be put on the record that they voted no or they have publicly opposed impeachment.

Both on the House and Senate side.

[tazkcmo]

2. And that's just the investigation

Afterwards the judicial committee will do the actual impeachment. There's a long way to go.

[StarfishSaver]

3. Yes!

The Intelligence Committee proceedings were the first act, not a one off.

[MontanaMama]

16. Relieved for this reminder.

I felt quite let down last night from the media gas lighting telling us hearings were over and the end to impeachment was imminent.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

4. will these include some public testimony?

If each simply submits a report of findings, I fear there won't be much impact on public opinion, which is needed to pressure GOPers in the Senate. Republican Senators only fear losing power.

If they think supporting the criminal is the best way to maintain the money flow (whether from Russian or U.S. oligarchs) without losing too many seats in the Senate, then they won't convict. If they think supporting the criminal costs too many of them their seats in the Senate, then they might convict.

Public support is everything.

[bearsfootball516]

5. Almost all Republican senators represent deep red atates

Those voters will support Trump no matter what he does, they’re the 5th Avenue voters. They’ll never turn on Trump, which means the senators will never turn.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

7. that's defeatism and not supported by polling. seats are flippable

[bearsfootball516]

8. It's realism. I'm not saying they shouldn't impeach him.

But if you’re expecting senators in Wyoming, North and South Dakota, Indiana, Idaho, etc to flip, you’re going to be disappointed.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

9. you said, "Almost all" and "never". that's not realism.

[bearsfootball516]

11. It is when you live in one of those deep red states and you see how Trump voters think.

These are people that will never turn on him. He could kill their relatives and they'd go vote for him with a smile. It's awful.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

12. I live in Kentucky. Even Moscow Mitch is vulnerable.

Moscow Mitch can count and he knows we don't have to flip the whole Senate to end his rule.

See also:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212428867

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212402712

[wnylib]

18. But I think there are more people in KY who

can be flipped than elsewhere, especially on the healthcare issue. So Moscow Mitch is vulnerable there but if his votes depended on people from some Midwest states, he would be safe.

Even here in notably liberal NY, there are die hard Trumpists in small towns and rural areas who would sell off their children if they thought it would help Trump. Elise Stefanik has one of those districts.

But I hear that Kentuckians are unhappy about attacks on healthcare.

[Wellstone ruled]

6. Sure sounding like more to come.

And that seemed to be the commentary last night on Maddow from Congressman Connolly.

[Tennessee Hillbilly]

10. What about obstruction of justice ...

The Mueller report describes numerous instances in which Trump clearly tried to obstruct justice.

This part of the report should be used as evidence for including obstruction of justice as an article of impeachment. It might make sense to try to get testimony from Mueller himself, either in a House hearing or possibly in the Senate trial.

Trump has also tried to obstruct the House investigations.

[dalton99a]

13. +1

[Hermit-The-Prog]

14. pretty sure Trump's not done obstructing, either

He's bound to continue obstructing for each committee and will continue trying to rig the jury.

He's an endless crime spree, even if he didn't have Russiapublican enablers.

[Moostache]

17. There never was going to be a conviction and removal, period.

At this point, the GOP is so entrenched in defense of Trump that you cannot extract them any longer. It has become the opposite of a symbiotic relationship...it is more like a vampire.

Trump is protected in the Executive Branch by Barr and DOJ.

Trump is protected in the Legislative Branch by McConnell and Graham and the craven Senator who will defy the Constitution to back him and to assuage the "base".

Trump is protected on TV by Fox News nitwits and their brain dead audience's gullibility.
Trump is protected on Radio by much the same cabal of propagandists that fill the air of Fox News...

Trump is protected in the public sphere by duplicitous and hypocritical religious zealots.

The things that oppose Trump? Democratic Party loyalists and truth.

When 45% of the country has sold its soul to the political Satan from Queens, and decided to pretend nothing happened and nothing was "proven" and that Trump's crimes are not enough to remove from office...well, what are we left with?

My hope is gone and I am beginning the process of seeking emigration to Europe as soon as my children complete school in the few years. We have become a shit hole country that wipes its ass on liberty, justice and the rule of law...fuck THAT, I only have maybe another 30 years on this Earth and I will not spend them under the thumb of a stacked SCOTUS, an insane POTUS and a GOP more craven than any crack whore in the early 90's.

[rockfordfile]

19. Stop complaining and vote

[Hermit-The-Prog]

20. and GOTV (a.k.a., educate the electorate)

[wiggs]

21. There are ongoing counter intelligence investigations going on as well...hopefully they

merge or at least cross over at some point. They could clear up a lot if they ever see the light of day.

[malaise]

22. Yes indeed

I intend to watch as much of it as I can - live!