Rep Schiff: After listening to the President's lawyers opening arguments, I have three observations:

[kpete]

They don’t contest the facts of Trump’s scheme.

They’re trying to deflect, distract from, and distort the truth.

And they are continuing to cover it up by blocking documents and witnesses.

Link to tweet

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. They're doing exactly what he said they'd do in his closing argument last night.

[Wounded Bear]

2. SSDD...

Same shit, different day.

[iluvtennis]

21. Exactly. nt

[LAS14]

3. K & R

[lastlib]

4. Sheer, undiluted Sophistry.

The only game they have.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Brian Williams just read this on MSNBC

And he showed it in contrast to the childish nya nya tweet from the WH.

[yellowcanine]

6. We don't need no stinkin' facts!

[C_U_L8R]

7. Keep hammering these crooks.

Chairman Schiff, you are a hero and a national treasure. Thank you for upholding truth, justice, our Constitution and country.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

8. Here are my 3 observations: FUCK THEM, FUCK THEM & FUCK THEM!!!

[Arthur_Frain]

16. +3

nt

[gratuitous]

9. I caught some of the commentary on NPR

They kept coming back to Trump's attorneys' references to the "transcript" of the July 25 call. It took a little while, but the anchor (didn't catch her name) noted that the "transcript" wasn't a transcript, it was a memorandum or read-out of the call, it even said it wasn't a transcript on page one. I practically stood up and cheered. From that point on, the anchor and the two reporters were careful to avoid calling the memorandum a transcript.

[calimary]

10. Yet another in a continuing series of inconvenient truths.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

22. about damn time somebody in the media pointed that out ...

The teevee, especially, has been lax about calling out that there has been no transcript.

[colsohlibgal]

11. We Are At A Tipping Point

Non Trumpsters need to fight hard. American Scholar George Santayana was dead on with his point that “Those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it” .

The hour is late and it’s a slippery slope. Right minded folks need to vote, it is imperative that we nip this in the bud and get headed back to some kind of normal.

[otchmoson]

25. This is what I worry about

What happens when the House and Senate pass a bill—one with which the *President does not agree? He vetoes it, right? Then, if the House and Senate are in agreement, suppose they override his veto, and the *President says he will not enforce it (execute it) as is his duty? He has shown he does not have to honor subpoenas; he does not have to work with Congress. They will not be able to impeach him, since this current victory reinforces *his belief that Article II says he can do anything he wants. He has won a victory that negates Congress’s ability to impeach and remove a sitting president. I would say, for all intents and purposes, he has mooted the Congress altogether. Good job, Senators. May our current candidates pound this point over and over as they run against Republicans who have created this state of affairs. But don’t expect a miracle. Free and fair elections are gone. Pitchforks and torches may be the only remedy remaining.
I hazard a prediction, here. If not this election, then certainly by the next one, the incumbent will win with 99.5% of the vote (ala Putin and other dictators). What a glorious road these Republicans have paved for us!

[certainot]

26. soon as mcconnell gets his 51-49 vote for no evidence or witnesses people need to hit the streets

global warming alone makes it imperative that we cannot wait for all the cheating and election sabotage trump and putin are cooking up to either call off the elections or scream about dems cheating so loudly that the trumpers believe it

[Bernardo de La Paz]

12. This is how you do counter-propaganda: Fast response, Clear, True. . . . nt

[djacq]

13. Watching the Schiff Press Brief now;

Amazing how you can get fact check in real time.

[Grammy23]

14. Since they don't get to rebut the President's men,

A press conference is their only recourse. Quick and to the point. Refute what tRump’s defenders asserted.

I hope they will continue to go in front of the microphones and cameras to rebut the President. At least some of the American people (indeed the world) will get to hear the facts from the House Managers again. Go Schiff! And team!

Oh, and media outlets need to cover these press conferences. Don’t pull away before they finish so you can get in some advertising!!

[wnylib]

15. All true. As usual, Schiff nails it.

But Republicans are playing to their followers. They are creating an alternate reality image to appeal beyond their core base as well.

Their "defense" is not about facts and never has been. It is about who creates the best-selling story that appeals to people"s emotions and comprehension ability. This is not a trial abou facts, logic, and truth to them. Therefore they will not address the charges directly. They will spin a story.

The outcome is already known. They are giving Pub Senators a story to hide behind in their votes. They want to preserve their Senate seats and enough core voters to keep Trump in office.

Is anyone surprised? Did anyone expect a genuine trial?

[Chipper Chat]

20. When this is over and The Turd has been found not guilty

The american people need to bombard the offices of the gop senators daily. Shame them and have plenty of tv cameras on hand. Dont let up until they are driven from office.

[jdl123]

17. senate

In my opinion, the defense could just rest their case and say the democrats haven't proven anything. The republicans in the Senate would not convict trump.
I did watch some of the House presentation in the senate. I won't watch the republicans. The majority of American people know trump is guilty and corrupt, as well as most of department heads, he appointed, and people around him. Just my opinion.

[cp]

18. Rec a million times

Going to copy this and hang it by my TV for rest of trial.

[dalton99a]

19. They can't defend the indefensible. All they can do is attack the messenger

[bluestarone]

23. How can ANYONE argue against witness's AND DOCUMENTS?

They are ALL out their fucking minds!!

[Wednesdays]

24. Is that question rhetorical

or do you really need an answer to it?

[duforsure]

27. Its amazing how much corruption and money

From putin is influencing out government now.