The aftermath of Trump's acquittal in his second impeachment trial

Clear to you but I don't recall him saying that. Reading between the words is normally not meaningful. I heard him berate Trump as all anti-Trumpers do.

 

I posted McConnell's speech, feel free to watch it

 

I would but metered internet obviates my ability to watch internet videos. Thanks for the thought, though.

 

Did you ask most of them or is it just obvious to anyone on the left side of reality.

 

Ok. You can't speak with authority about something he said if you don't know what he said.

He laid out a great case for the DoJ. The House Managers made their case and he hasn't gotten away with it, yet.

 

did not need to ask, I saw how they voted, most Senators voted guilty

 

Most of them voted to acquit.

 

false, the majority of senators voted guilty

 

There is no way to tell what most of them thought because they are all politicians. Being politicians they will vote where they have cover. For instance there were a number of GOP Senators who came from areas that wanted Trump convicted and they needed to satisfy their base and did so because it was safe due to the fact there would not be enough votes to convict. Murkowski and Collins do that all the time.

 

Sorry I forgot to include "republican." Good catch.

 

It really doesn't matter. Anyone with 2 bits of political common sense knew way in advance Trump would never be convicted. Not in the political arena. No use getting hot and bothered over something preordained.

Now things are shifting into the legal arena where this should have been from the beginning, at least in my opinion.

Trump will be 'busy' with lawsuits for the rest of his life: Laurence Tribe

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/...its-harvard-expert-larry-tribe-151741167.html

Those senators who voted not guilty won't pay any price as most are from deep red states, Trump states that the people from their states wanted their senator to vote not guilty. Call it voting in accordance to the peoples wishes and wants of their state. Now Murkowski who is up in 2022 may feel the wrath for her guilty vote by being primaried out. She's the only one up in 2022. Those Democrats who may also be defeated by their guilty vote could be Brown of Ohio and Tester of Montana who are up in 2024 as they went against the wishes and wants of the people from the state they supposedly represent.

Time will tell. But I don't think this trial will even be a campaign issue in 2022, it will be ancient history, long forgotten as other hot issues, unforeseen events take its place. What is hot and what is happening in the few months leading up to the 2022 midterms will decide who wins. Not this trial or how individual senators voted.

If you remember Trump's impeachment and trial which ended in Feb 2020 wasn't even raised during the entire election campaign. Long forgotten, old news, ancient news. Now 2 years into the future, only the most anti or pro Trumpers will remember this trial. This is the way it goes. something new always replaces something old.

 

Carl Hulse and Nicholas Fandos write, "Senator Mitch McConnell’s colleagues may not have deep personal affection for their often distant and inscrutable leader, but there is considerable appreciation for how he has spared them from difficult votes while maintaining a laserlike focus on keeping the Senate majority.

"The strategy appeared twofold: Don’t stoke a full-on revolt by Trump supporters the party needs by voting to convict, but demonstrate to anti-Trump Republicans — particularly big donors — that he recognized Mr. Trump’s failings and is beginning to steer the party in another direction.

"But it did not exactly produce the desired result. Instead, it has drawn Mr. McConnell into a vicious feud with the former president, who lashed out at him on Tuesday as a “dour, sullen and unsmiling political hack,” and given new cause for Republican division that could spill into the midterm elections. And it has left some Republicans bewildered over Mr. McConnell’s strategy and others taking a harder line, saying the leader whose focus was always the next election had hurt the party’s 2022 prospects."

The fact remains, it matters little what McConnell does. The Republican Party is in serious trouble. They need to rid themselves of the extremists in their group. Until they do that, they will continue to lose general elections as they have for the past four years.

Even members of Trump's cult know that. They remain totally silent as the character of the group is being closely examined and prosecuted.

 

Sandy wrote, "However, once elected, Trump became the darling of extremists, white supremacists, neo-Nazis, current and former members of the KKK, the intellectually challenged, anarchists, and -- believe it or not! -- the religious right. The current group of malcontents like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers are a reflection of that kind of support."

Rep. Steve Scalise, the No. 2 House Republican, followed on the heels of the No. 1 House Republican, Kevin McCarty, privately meeting with Trump in Florida earlier this week.

Why? Under Trump's leadership, the Republicans lost the House, Senate, and the Presidency in four years. That's the first time that has happened in 90 years.

In Georgia, Trump campaigned for the two Republican candidates in the special election on Jan. 5. Republicans needed only one to win to retain the majority in the Senate. Both Republicans lost, and the Democrats became the majority.

Trump campaigned for the Senatorial Republican candidates in Arizona. Arizona Has Two Democratic Senators For the First Time Since 1952.

Why in the world do Congressional Republicans think Trump can help them in general elections?

I honestly do not have an answer for that, and we may never know. Trump's supporters on this forum are not talking. Focusing on writers and Democrats, Trump's followers generally avoid talking about Trump.

It might be an intelligence issue.

 

Not the trial per se.

But do you think Americans will ever forget that the President incited an insurrection against our government?

Will they ever forget a President who rejected the peaceful transfer of power, an American tradition going back 230 years?

Will Americans in general elections vote for candidates endorsed by that President?

I believe the answer is "No" to all three questions,

That is my point.

 

I think you're all ready beginning to see the trial fade. Wait another month or two to make sure. I'm looking at the 2022 midterms. Republicans are going to vote for Republican candidates, Democrats for Democratic candidates regardless of the trial or what state the country is in come Oct/Nov 2022. That's the nature of the beast or party politics. My worst candidate is always better than your best regardless of party. That's the norm.

Until reapportionment is accomplished along with drawing of the house districts, I can't give you anything on how the house elections will shape up. It's far too early for that anyway. If history is any indication, 2022 will be decided by whatever issues are hot at the time, how unforeseen major events have happened and their outcome. Not by a trial held 2 years ago. So it will be a battle for the independent vote, which as of today leans Democratic. But how independents leans is very dynamic and change constantly. Independents aren't Democrats and independents don't have the, shall I say hatred for Trump. They happy as pigs in slop he's gone. That's all they wanted.

No, 2022 will be decided on whether independents, the less to non-partisan and non-affiliate voters like what Biden and the Democratic congress is doing at the time of the election or whether Biden and company made independents angry. The trial will be ancient history to them. Not to anti Trumpers and not to pro Trumpers, those folks will remember.

There's been so many things that have happened in the past that was dubbed game changers or that the people would remember and punish. But a couple of weeks after the so called game changer, everything reverted back to the way it was prior to the game changer happening, the trial in this instance. Like it or not, that's the way these thing work. Remember, the first impeachment and trial which was held in Feb 2020, only 8 months out from election day was never raised during the presidential campaign, a non-issue, old news.

I don't think come Nov 2022 that something that took place almost 2 years earlier will have much if any effect on the midterms. Not old news, ancient news to most except the highly partisans. Wait and see. Give it another month or two, see how many care Trump was acquitted. Only those highly partisans. Independents now don't really care one way or the other. It's over, time to move on and see what Biden and company has in store for this nation. Trump for the most party has become irrelevant, at least to independents. Independents are just happy he's no longer president. How they'll fee about Biden, remains to be see. We'll know more in about six months on that.

 

If you had read my post, you would know I am not talking about the trial. Read my post and react to what I said, not what you would like to have me say.

Noted: You liked I said.

 

Anyone thinking that Trump is past tense is not paying attention. Following McCarthy and Scalise, another leading Republican is making a pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago.

Taking into consideration Trump's track record in elections, it is anyone's guess as to why. What is the point of winning in the primaries only to lose in the general election as has been the case for four years? Trump's fan club can't answer that question.

Nor can anyone else.

CNN reports, "Sen. Lindsey Graham is heading to Mar-a-Lago this weekend to meet with Donald Trump in hopes of bridging a growing rift in the top echelon of the Republican Party, CNN has learned.

"According to a person familiar with his plans, Graham plans to spend his time on the golf course with Trump -- ideally convincing the former president that regaining congressional majorities for Republicans will help bolster his own presidential legacy. This person said Graham wants to be "constructive," urging Trump to use his influence for the party's good.

"Graham is the latest Republican to visit Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the No. 2 House Republican, met privately with Trump there on Tuesday, the day before Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell vowed never to do so."

 

Also, review post #138.

Your reaction?

 

The Times reported, "Republican state organizations, dominated by far-right activists and supporters of Mr. Trump, have censured House members who voted in favor of impeachment, most notably Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming. Senate Republicans, including Richard M. Burr of North Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Patrick J. Toomey of Pennsylvania, have faced similar condemnations from their state parties for voting to convict him.

"Senator John Thune of South Dakota on Friday accused Trump supporters who have targeted conservative critics of the former president — including seven Senate Republicans who voted to convict him at his impeachment trial — of engaging in “cancel culture.”

"Mr. Thune, the second-ranking Republican in the Senate, has been sharply critical of Mr. Trump’s behavior ahead of the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol but voted to acquit him, citing constitutional objections.

"Mr. Thune — echoing the sentiments of Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the minority leader — cautioned Republicans not to ally themselves with candidates whose statements were so extreme that they would alienate swing voters. He also pledged to back candidates “who don’t go off and talk about conspiracies and that sort of thing.'"

The Republican Party is doing its best to erase Trump's provocative and counter-productive influence, but most of Trump's followers are not interested honesty and integrity. They are into chaos and anarchy.

 

I do not understand this at all. I have been following politics for over 50 years, and this is strangest phenomenon I have ever seen on the political stage.

Trump’s allies aren’t backing away from the idea that support for his agenda will help Republicans in primaries.

“When you know you’ve got the muscle of President Trump behind you, and all of the devoted loyal followers of the president, and even as important or more important, his America first policies, that’s going to be hard to beat,” Roy Bailey, a Texas businessman and former head of Trump Victory, a joint fundraising committee between the campaign and the Republican National Committee, told CNBC.

Under Trump's leadership, the Republicans lost the House, Senate, and the Presidency in four years. That's the first time that has happened in 90 years.

In Georgia, Trump campaigned for the two Republican candidates in the special election on Jan. 5. Republicans needed only one to win to retain the majority in the Senate. Both Republicans lost, and the Democrats became the majority.

Trump campaigned for the Republican Senatorial candidates in Arizona. Arizona has Two Democratic Senators For the First Time Since 1952.

What is the point of winning in the primaries only to lose in the general election as has been the case for four years?

The strange spectacle continues.

 

This continues to gall me.

The Senate minority leader called Trump "practically and morally responsible" for the riot and explained that he voted to acquit only because he believed that the Constitution does not allow for the Senate to convict a former president.

There is no proof of that anywhere in the Constitution!

That was an excuse the Republicans used. They didn't want to piss off Trump's cult.

 

Trump continues to follow Putin's cue -- after leading an insurrection against the American government and denying the peaceful exchange of power, the destruction of a major party in the United States. He has already caused enormous damage to the Republican Party. Under his leadership, the GOP lost the House, Senate, and Presidency within four years.

Politico reports, "According to three people familiar with the planning, Trump will soon begin vetting candidates at Mar-a-Lago who are eager to fulfill his promise to exact vengeance upon incumbent Republicans who’ve scorned him, and to ensure every open GOP seat in the 2022 midterms has a MAGA-approved contender vying for it.

"Trump already has received dozens of requests from prospective candidates seeking to introduce themselves and nab his endorsement, and formal meetings with them could begin as early as March."

Of course, he is also doing it for the money.

"Now that Trump has survived his second Senate impeachment trial, he has shifted his focus to post-presidential activism — a venture mostly bankrolled by his new leadership PAC, Save America, which had $31 million in its coffers at the start of this month."

It has already been proven that Trump's candidates can't win the general election. Trump is doing this out of rage -- vengeance against the party that scorned him.

 

For those who think Trump is past tense, think again.

Politico reports, "Former President Donald Trump is slated to speak at next week’s Conservative Political Action Conference, according to two people familiar with the appearance.

"Trump will “be talking about the future of the Republican Party and the conservative movement,” one of the people said. “Also look for the 45th President to take on President Biden’s disastrous amnesty and border policies.”

This I gotta see. Ordinarily he talks about himself. No doubt the aspiration that he won the election by a landslide will be mentioned.

Politico continued, "The conference will take place Feb. 25-28 in Orlando, Fla. Trump is scheduled to speak Feb. 28.

"Since leaving office Trump has given several TV interviews on friendly outlets and released public statements, but has yet to speak before an audience. It will be Trump's first major address since the Senate impeachment trial that focused on his role in the Jan. 6 riot.

"It will also be the first time Trump has spoken out after he released a scathing multi-page statement going after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). Trump's statement — which came after McConnell savaged the former president's role in the Capitol insurrection — called the minority leader "a dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack."

"Trump is expected to play an active role in the 2022 midterm elections and has privately told people in recent days that he is weighing a 2024 comeback bid."

To members of CPAC I say this. "Be careful what you wish for." This could end up being a disaster for the conference.

 

Sandy Shanks said:

"Trump is expected to play an active role in the 2022 midterm elections and has privately told people in recent days that he is weighing a 2024 comeback bid."

To members of CPAC I say this. "Be careful what you wish for." This could end up being a disaster for the conference.

As President Biden and the Democratic Party are working hard to solve our nation's two most serious problems -- the pandemic and debilitating unemployment -- the Republican Party is sinking fast. It can't get rid of intelligence challenged Trump extremists.

Dean Obeidallah writes, "What happens when you incite an insurrection to prevent the congressional certification of the 2020 election results? Turns out you get invited to speak at a high-profile gathering of GOP elected officials and conservative activists. As outrageous as that appears, this is exactly what we're seeing with the American Conservative Union's invitation to Donald Trump to speak at this week's annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando.

"To be clear, I'm not urging CPAC to cancel Trump's speech. Rather, my hope is that all Americans will use the event to reflect on the dangerous developments for our democracy from the right. First, the majority of GOP members of Congress refused to hold Trump accountable for his two months of nonstop lies about the 2020 election and his incitement of the January 6 attack -- as we saw with only 17 of the 261 Republicans in the Senate and House voting to impeach or convict Trump.

"Now CPAC, which bills itself as "the largest and most influential gathering of conservatives in the world," is going a step further by celebrating the man who spewed the "Big Lie" and who encouraged people to storm our Capitol. Indeed, countless insurrectionists stated point blank they attacked the Capitol to "Stop the Steal" for Trump, with some proudly declaring during the deadly insurrection, "Trump sent us," and that they were following his directions."

Dean Obeidallah, a former attorney, is the host of SiriusXM radio's daily program "The Dean Obeidallah Show."

 

The Times reports, "The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a last-ditch attempt by former President Donald J. Trump to shield his financial records, issuing a brief, unsigned order that ended Mr. Trump’s bitter 18-month battle to stop prosecutors in Manhattan from poring over his tax returns as they investigate possible financial crimes.

"The court’s order was a decisive defeat for Mr. Trump, who had gone to extraordinary lengths to keep his tax returns and related documents secret, taking his case to the Supreme Court twice. There were no dissents noted.

"The ruling is a big victory for the Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., a Democrat. He will now have access to eight years’ worth of Mr. Trump’s personal and corporate tax returns, as well as other financial records that Mr. Vance’s investigators view as vital to their inquiry into whether the former president and his company manipulated property values to obtain bank loans and tax benefits."