Capitol Hill Blue Forums Political Issues The Trump Administration The Impeachment of Donald trump

Nothing at all precludes the House from opening an investigation on another charge, say Bribery, and subpoenaing Bolton to testify. Some Senators have been saying they don't want new witnesses or documents because the House was supposed to do that. So do it! Call their bluff!

But really I think Nancy is going to wait until June for the Supreme Court to say this is not a monarchy, Trump is not a king, and we really do have to follow the constitution. After all, it's preposterous for anybody to suggest otherwise.

Respectfully disagree.
Bolton's entire gambit has been a passive-aggressive and even cowardly chickenhawk move to both register his imperial displeasure at Trump not honoring him AND displaying his hatred of the Democrats at the same time.

Right now Trump apologists are claiming that he offered to speak at the House impeachment hearings but that the House insisted on forcing him via subpoena and that is why he wouldn't.
Which of course is nonsense, to put it mildly.

I don't trust that turkey as far as I could heave it frozen at a an aircraft windshield.

I bet Bolton is secretly orgasming over Trump's rush to war with Iran and now he wants to help.
And with the entire Judicial Branch AND Justice Dept. now behaving like the courtroom scene in Idiocracy, anything is possible, even Bolton standing up and stating that he refuses to answer questions on obstruction or aspects of the so called "drug deal" and in Oliver North fashion, brandishing his lance of superiority and braying like a hyena.
And McConnell and the rest of Trumplandia will mark him a hero of the TrumpFasc Revolution.

I bet Bolton has a poster of this over his bed right now, a gift from Trump.



I even wager Trump had a little white broom mustache added to it so Bolton gets the point.

I can't disagree with your assessment that Bolton is indeed an Iran regime change velociraptor. He suffers as many conservatives and Republicans do with an eye for vengeance for those damned Iranians wanting to take back their country from the US/UK installed Shah. And for the past 40 years these folks have been working on fomenting a war to take Iran back from the people. They tried sending Saddam. They tried invading Iraq to surround Iran. They tried sanctions for a non-existent nuclear weapons program. They ended a treaty which stopped the non-existent nuclear weapons program and since, the Trump administration has increased sanctions. For all of Sec Esper's agonizing nationalism, predicated on the Iranian people taking their country from the US, the US sounds like the real war monger.

However, Bolton does not strike me as a liar. Based on interviews, he is pretty straight forward in what he believes. I suspect, despite the fact Mr trump is promoting the very war Bolton would have liked, Bolton will not tell a lie. If asked was there a QPQ, he will say yes. If asked if there was a conspiracy led by Mr Trump which included high members of government, I believe he will say yes. And yes Bolton praised the assassination of Sulemani, but that is not the same as an abuse of presidential power or authority.

I am hoping the slow witted Democrats in the House will subpoena Bolton for his testimony immediately, and if denied force the Senate to subpoena him, or hear his testimony, and then submit it along with all the other witness testimony. Now have Republicans vote for acquittal on an iron clad case. Yes I know ... it doesn't matter to Trump supporters .... shooting people on 5th Ave and all ... but we would have it in the open in front of God and everybody ...

Someone else here at the Rant said that life seldom offers second chances.
I think that applies to Bolton just as much as it does with Sanders.

Not sure the old impeachment vector will matter much in light of Trump’s War.

I.R.C.V.

Iran Regime Change Velociraptor™

You should probably trademark that thing. ™

I think it's going to work better, actually.

One of the reasons I heard bandied about for Speaker Pelosi withholding the articles of impeachment from the senate was the hopes that over the Christmas Holidays that more folks would jump on the impeachment and removal band wagon. That didn’t happen. We still have most Democrats for impeachment and removal, most Republicans against with independents divided. Although a plurality of independents is against. With 90-95% of all Americans minds made up about impeachment and removal, I suppose we’ll have to settle for a split decision. House of Representatives for, Senate against.

Impeachment hearings began on 13 Nov 2019 vs. 9 Jan 2020
Trump’s approval 13 Nov 43.9%, 9 Jan 44.8%

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_trump_job_approval-6179.html

13 Nov Democrats for impeachment and removal 84%, 9 Jan Democrats for impeachment and removal 83%.

13 Nov Republicans for impeachment and removal 12%, 9 Jan Republicans for impeachment and removal 9%.

13 Nov Independents for impeachment and removal 38%, 9 Jan Independents for impeachment and removal 42%.

13 Nov Democrats against impeachment and removal 6%, 9 Jan Democrats against impeachment and removal 11%.

13 Nov Republicans against impeachment and removal 80%, 9 Jan Republicans against impeachment and removal 87%.

13 Nov Independents against impeachment and removal 39%, 9 Jan Independents against impeachment and removal 47%.

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/e...and_removal_of_president_trump-6957.html

First let me point out the obvious ... only Senators will cast a vote in the trial. So it doesn't matter what any poll says. If someone found a poll in which 100% said to convict, it would mean nothing to the Republican Senators who have pledged fealty to Mr Trump and his Base. If Mr Trump came onto the Senate floor and shot a couple of Democrats they still would not convict him.

The sole reason Rep Pelosi has held on to the articles of impeachment is to pressure moderate Senate Republicans into voting for witnesses. With an almost daily release of incriminating documents (and we haven't even seen the most damaging ones) and a person with 1st hand knowledge of the Ukraine conspiracy willing to testify, there may now be enough moderate Republicans who are willing to hear and see new evidence which supports the case for conviction.

The only poll that matters is the vote in the Senate for conviction.

I suppose you can say public opinion doesn't matter. I think the opposite. Especially with those senators up for reelection this year. You can bet that Democrat Jones, Alabama is feeling the pressure from fellow Alabaman's to vote not guilty or lose his seat. Collins, Maine is probably getting public pressure for a guilty vote or lose her seat in November. There's a couple other senators that if they vote against the wishes and wants of those in their states on this, losing their seat is a real possibility. When push comes to shove, self preservation always wins out in the end.

Now the Democratically controlled house wouldn't allow the Republicans witnesses without their approval. I see nothing wrong if in the Republican controlled senate if they apply that same rule to the Democrats. What's good for the goose is good for the gander unless you believe one side can play by their rules, but not the other side. Where one side can do something, but not the other side.

I know, the partisan glasses will take over here with a ton of excuses of why its perfectly okay for one side not to allow witnesses without their approval but completely wrong for the other side to do the identical same thing.

I hate party animals.