Dems plan marathon prep for Senate trial, wary of Trump trying to 'game' the process

[Judi Lynn]

Source: The Hill


BY MIKE LILLIS - 01/17/20 09:24 PM EST

The House Democrats prosecuting the impeachment of President Trump are planning a marathon preparation session ahead of next week's Senate trial, using the long holiday weekend to polish their case that the president abused his power in his dealings with Ukraine.

The seven impeachment managers tapped to make the Democrats' case before the Senate will return to Washington on Sunday to dig through the extensive record built over the course of the months-long investigation that led to Trump's impeachment last month, according to aides working on impeachment.

They'll be joined by staffers and counselors for the Intelligence, Judiciary and Oversight committees, all working to "refine" their arguments before taking their case to the Senate trial, with launches in earnest on Tuesday. The extensive preparations will include a walk-through of the Senate chamber.

"The case is not a complicated one," said one Democratic aide working on the process. "The safety and security of the United States, of our Constitution ... [and] our democracy domestically rests on elections. And when the president invites a foreign government to announce investigations attacking a political opponent, he's undermining our democracy."


Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/478899-dems-plan-marathon-prep-for-senate-trial-wary-of-trump-trying-to-game-the

[certainot]

1. dems could REALLY get attention by figuring out how to mention lmbaugh - all reublicans

including those senators are scared of limbaugh and that's why trump paraded him as golf partner the day after the mueller report came out and then the weekend before christmas when sens went home

for dems not to recognize this is the biggest political mistaake in history

they're not afraaid of trump or some blockhead on fox, they're afraid of trump's neighbor and glof partner lmbaugh and the few hundred other radio blowhards that have to follow his lead or get called and screamed at by frustrated dittoheads and then fired

[certainot]

2. dems could REALLY get attention by figuring out how to mention lmbaugh - all reublicans

including those senators are scared of limbaugh and that's why trump paraded him as golf partner the day after the mueller report came out and then the weekend before christmas when sens went home

for dems not to recognize this is the biggest political mistaake in history

they're not afraaid of trump or some blockhead on fox, they're afraid of trump's neighbor and glof partner lmbaugh and the few hundred other radio blowhards that have to follow his lead or get called and screamed at by frustrated dittoheads and then fired

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

3. The case is elegant in its simplicity.

This is why the Republicans are going to throw in everything they can to make it appear too complicated for the average person to understand.

Failing that, they will draw the trial out in hopes of people losing interest.

[Mike 03]

4. Inspiring.

Just how much effort is going into this from our side.

[bucolic_frolic]

5. I do expect theatrics

including, since Trump has been 'lashing out' all week, and mentioned "pencil-neck' Adam Schiff, and has said Democrats are attempting a coup - including some move to have them all arrested. Be surprised if Barr isn't teeing up the warrants this weekend. Understand, Republicans will be neutered in their takeover if 1) Trump is removed from office 2) Trump is acquitted and Republicans wither in the fall election. So Republicans will stay the course, and this is political warfare. Expect anything because they will stop at nothing.

They either deal with Trump now, or deal with the electorate in November, and cheat their way back in. They would face a far better chance with Trump out and Pence as their nominee. It would shakeup the dynamics. But when did they ever do anything rational?

[Bayard]

6. I'm thinking Justice Roberts

Is not going to allow theatrics. As Chris Matthews says, you have to hope he'll be more than a potted plant.

Lies are gonna fly though.

[Progressive Jones]

7. I am fully expecting stunts by the GOP. I would even expect some rogue antics from BLOTUS.

Being the Senate, we won't see the noisy, trashy neighbor show like we saw from the likes of Collins and Gaetz and Jordan in the House hearings.

We will see some procedural gymnastics aimed at ending the trial without a conviction.

If BLOTUS gets to far out of line, and we know he'll try his damnedest to do so, it could freak out the GOP enough to consider cutting their losses, and turning on Trump.

Unlikely, but possible.