The Trump Impeachment Thread

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Thu Feb 04, 2021 7:03 pm

El Guapo wrote: ↑Thu Feb 04, 2021 5:35 pm
Kraken wrote: ↑Thu Feb 04, 2021 5:13 pm Smart move on the lawyers' part. trump can't be compelled to self-incriminate, and would surely perjure himself.
Can't they subpoena him? He could plead the Fifth, and might well do so, but that's not exactly a good look for him or the GOP politically.

Yep - can you imagine him sitting there saying "I plead the Fifth" over and over again? There's no way he would make it through an session without going off script. He's better off not showing up and being held in contempt.

Kraken · Post by **Kraken** » Thu Feb 04, 2021 8:00 pm

stessier wrote: ↑Thu Feb 04, 2021 7:03 pm
El Guapo wrote: ↑Thu Feb 04, 2021 5:35 pm
Kraken wrote: ↑Thu Feb 04, 2021 5:13 pm Smart move on the lawyers' part. trump can't be compelled to self-incriminate, and would surely perjure himself.
Can't they subpoena him? He could plead the Fifth, and might well do so, but that's not exactly a good look for him or the GOP politically.
Yep - can you imagine him sitting there saying "I plead the Fifth" over and over again? There's no way he would make it through an session without going off script. He's better off not showing up and being held in contempt.

It would take very little goading to start him ranting about the stolen election.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Thu Feb 04, 2021 8:09 pm

I want to hear more on the jewish space lasers. Are they kosher? Do these lasers have braids marking them as Hasidic? I need info here people.

Paingod · Post by **Paingod** » Fri Feb 05, 2021 12:24 pm

stessier wrote: ↑Thu Feb 04, 2021 7:03 pm
El Guapo wrote: ↑Thu Feb 04, 2021 5:35 pm
Kraken wrote: ↑Thu Feb 04, 2021 5:13 pm Smart move on the lawyers' part. trump can't be compelled to self-incriminate, and would surely perjure himself.
Can't they subpoena him? He could plead the Fifth, and might well do so, but that's not exactly a good look for him or the GOP politically.
Yep - can you imagine him sitting there saying "I plead the Fifth" over and over again? There's no way he would make it through an session without going off script. He's better off not showing up and being held in contempt.

He'd have to be wearing a muzzle AND a shock collar with handlers sitting just off-camera, but he could do it.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Fri Feb 05, 2021 2:48 pm

I wish that I had more confidence that the Democrats would subpoena him.

Though having said that, I can immediately see the downsides. What do they do if Trump refuses to show up, as he probably would? They could sue to compel, but that would take forever - the trial wouldn't happen until late 2021 or into 2022. They could hold him in contempt, but trying to jail him for refusal to appear probably isn't a great look for them - if Trump's going to go to prison, they'd want him to go for more substantive crimes.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Fri Feb 05, 2021 3:08 pm

Subpoenaing him would be the wrong move for all the reasons you point out. Just go forward and hammer on the point that he won't even show up to defend himself (something I would be horrified at for a typical criminal trial, but this is not that). It's pretty much all preordained at this point, so get it done quickly, get everyone voting on record, and move on.

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Fri Feb 05, 2021 3:16 pm

TLP wasted no time in getting a Florida Man chicken video out:

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 12:36 pm

Striking evidence:

Defiant · Post by **Defiant** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 12:48 pm

Trump needs to make it clear to Senate Republicans that he will not accept acquittal based on the argument that he's a former president and former presidents cannot be impeached because he won reelection, and therefore he is not a former president.

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:02 pm

It's on. Let us pray!

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:18 pm

We already know the outcome, not much suspense.

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:18 pm

Jamie Raskin, Lead Impeachment Manager - I like the cut of his jib, and his arguments are impeccable.

Paingod · Post by **Paingod** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:21 pm

Jaymann wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:18 pmhis arguments are impeccable.

I haven't read it yet. Is it just a big red arrow pointing at a picture of Florida Man with the word "traitor" scribbled on it?

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:21 pm

stessier wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:18 pm We already know the outcome, not much suspense.

FWIW I think the odds are marginally better this time. Last impeachment the odds of conviction were maybe 0.01%. Now it's probably 0.5%.

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:23 pm

Paingod wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:21 pm
Jaymann wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:18 pmhis arguments are impeccable.
I haven't read it yet. Is it just a big red arrow pointing at a picture of Florida Man with the word "traitor" scribbled on it?

I was just referring to his opening remarks. And he went directly to video.

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:29 pm

El Guapo wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:21 pm
stessier wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:18 pm We already know the outcome, not much suspense.
FWIW I think the odds are marginally better this time. Last impeachment the odds of conviction were maybe 0.01%. Now it's probably 0.5%.

All I can think of is

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 3:07 pm

While the final vote to convict is 99% assured, the list of those voting to acquit will go down in history. Campaigns against these creeps will all begin with: My opponent voted that insurrection is acceptable...

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 3:07 pm

stessier wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:29 pm
El Guapo wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:21 pm
stessier wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:18 pm We already know the outcome, not much suspense.
FWIW I think the odds are marginally better this time. Last impeachment the odds of conviction were maybe 0.01%. Now it's probably 0.5%.
All I can think of is

Yeah, I know. The main difference here is that Trump's not currently the president, that we're a couple years from the next election, that Trump plausibly cost McConnell his majority leadership, and that McConnell already has the most important thing that he wanted from Trump (a stacked conservative judiciary). McConnell's made a couple unhappy noises over the past couple months. IF McConnell decides that he'd rather be done with Trump definitively, this is his chance. And if McConnell decides to actually try to be rid of Trump, that changes the odds considerably.

Again, very very unlikely. BUT not completely zero like last time.

naednek · Post by **naednek** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 3:10 pm

Jaymann wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:18 pm Jamie Raskin, Lead Impeachment Manager - I like the cut of his jib, and his arguments are impeccable.

Both him and the guy after him have made great arguments. In reality it's a no brainer, and don't see how this has to be argued.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 3:25 pm

In case anyone wants to see the video. Should have been played at the half-time show on Sunday.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 3:26 pm

All I know is I'd never want to be a Trump lawyer.

The Meal · Post by **The Meal** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 3:49 pm

stessier wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:29 pm
El Guapo wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:21 pm
stessier wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:18 pm We already know the outcome, not much suspense.
FWIW I think the odds are marginally better this time. Last impeachment the odds of conviction were maybe 0.01%. Now it's probably 0.5%.
All I can think of is

Move D.C. to Mar-A-Lago?

coopasonic · Post by **coopasonic** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 3:56 pm

If 25 Republican Senators forget to show up for the vote, 50 is two-thirds, right?

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 3:59 pm

The Meal wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 3:49 pm
stessier wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:29 pm
El Guapo wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:21 pm
stessier wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:18 pm We already know the outcome, not much suspense.
FWIW I think the odds are marginally better this time. Last impeachment the odds of conviction were maybe 0.01%. Now it's probably 0.5%.
All I can think of is

Move D.C. to Mar-A-Lago?

We really don't want to see how the sausage gets made.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 4:05 pm

coopasonic wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 3:56 pm If 25 Republican Senators forget to show up for the vote, 50 is two-thirds, right?

I'll TAKE IT!

YellowKing · Post by **YellowKing** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 4:12 pm

All I can say is that if Trump is not convicted (which he won't be), I fully expect every Republican President from here on out to claim voter fraud and contest the results of his re-election should he lose. Every. Single. One. There's no putting the genie back in this bottle if they're going to let it slide.

$iljanus · Post by **$iljanus** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 4:12 pm

I’m listening to Bruce Cantor’s argument and his folksy manner is kind of insulting considering the gravity of the charges.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 4:14 pm

coopasonic · Post by **coopasonic** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 4:14 pm

YellowKing wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 4:12 pm All I can say is that if Trump is not convicted (which he won't be), I fully expect every Republican President from here on out to claim voter fraud and contest the results of his re-election should he lose. Every. Single. One. There's no putting the genie back in this bottle if they're going to let it slide.

Even if he is convicted, voter suppression... I mean election security is vital to Republican success... as long as elections keep happening anyway.

Octavious · Post by **Octavious** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 4:40 pm

YellowKing wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 4:12 pm All I can say is that if Trump is not convicted (which he won't be), I fully expect every Republican President from here on out to claim voter fraud and contest the results of his re-election should he lose. Every. Single. One. There's no putting the genie back in this bottle if they're going to let it slide.

Trump has created the secret sauce on how to take over the country and I fully expect the R's to do it the first chance they have. It's really depressing, but I don't see how it goes any other way. We just got lucky that the margin was large enough this time that he couldn't accomplish what he wanted.

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 4:46 pm

YellowKing wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 4:12 pm All I can say is that if Trump is not convicted (which he won't be), I fully expect every Republican President from here on out to claim voter fraud and contest the results of his re-election should he lose. Every. Single. One. There's no putting the genie back in this bottle if they're going to let it slide.

I would love to disagree with you but given the party won't reign in Graham, Cruz, or Greene among others and look the other way the Texas AG tries invalidate the votes of other states. I can't say you are over reacting.

It doesn't help that I was stupid enough to watch the video Smoove posted and the anger of January 6th is completely fresh in me now. Nearly a month of Biden and *poof* that sense of normalcy is gone.

YellowKing · Post by **YellowKing** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 5:30 pm

It galls me how Trump's lawyers keep holding up the Constitution as a defense against impeachment. This, to defend a President who shit on the Constitution every chance he got.

Also, why does this guy have to put his hand on his head every time he takes a drink of water?

Carpet_pissr · Post by **Carpet_pissr** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 5:35 pm

LordMortis wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 4:46 pm It doesn't help that I was stupid enough to watch the video Smoove posted and the anger of January 6th is completely fresh in me now. Nearly a month of Biden and *poof* that sense of normalcy is gone.

Same. EVERY American should watch that (joked above about it being shown at Superbowl halftime, but that is a great idea. Could some rich billionaire not buy an adspot that long?

)

I wonder how many R-Senators that will vote no, no matter what, were looking at their phones while that was playing. They should be MADE to watch that shit somehow.

Carpet_pissr · Post by **Carpet_pissr** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 5:40 pm

YellowKing wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 5:30 pm It galls me how Trump's lawyers keep holding up the Constitution as a defense against impeachment. This, to defend a President who shit on the Constitution every chance he got.

Also, why does this guy have to put his hand on his head every time he takes a drink of water?

The argument that gets me is what a terrible PRECEDENT this will set if we convict an ex-president. Know what else is a terrible precedent? Riling up a repressed mob of cult members calling themselves patriots, then sending them like flying monkeys from Oz, to storm the Capitol building looking for blood, and evidence of a stolen election that doesn't exist. AND THEN acting like nothing happened - no repercussions, nobody held responsible.

Which precedent is worse?

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 5:41 pm

The Dems' arguments were so clear and compelling.

The GOP's were just embarrassingly bad.

The tragedy is that this difference won't matter to "the world's greatest deliberative body."

Carpet_pissr · Post by **Carpet_pissr** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 5:42 pm

Holman wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 5:41 pm The tragedy is that this difference won't matter to "the world's greatest deliberative body."

I think it's safe to retire that silly phrase now.

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 5:45 pm

How about: The World's Greatest Debilitated Body.

gilraen · Post by **gilraen** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 5:46 pm

YellowKing wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 5:30 pm Also, why does this guy have to put his hand on his head every time he takes a drink of water?

Twitter explained it; the guy is an Orthodox Jew and is used to wearing a kippah (yarmulke), so it's just a force of habit from years of holding it in place when tilting your head.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 5:48 pm

Carpet_pissr wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 5:42 pm
Holman wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 5:41 pm The tragedy is that this difference won't matter to "the world's greatest deliberative body."
I think it's safe to retire that silly phrase now.

Yeah. It is incredibly silly. They barely have simple conversations in good times.

Holman wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 5:41 pm The Dems' arguments were so clear and compelling.

The GOP's were just embarrassingly bad.

The tragedy is that this difference won't matter to "the world's greatest deliberative body."

The current argument - 'the textualist' approach is pretty much a dog whistle for Federalists. That it leads to absurd results is fine as long as they have any thin excuse.

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 5:49 pm

gilraen wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 5:46 pm
YellowKing wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 5:30 pm Also, why does this guy have to put his hand on his head every time he takes a drink of water?
Twitter explained it; the guy is an Orthodox Jew and is used to wearing a kippah (yarmulke), so it's just a force of habit from years of holding it in place when tilting your head.

He is shielding against the space lasers.