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Since the Senate has a Republican majority and every single Republican voted against impeachment, does this mean that removal from office is basically not happe

Since the Senate has a Republican majority and every single Republican voted against impeachment, does this mean that removal from office is basically not happening?

ToFab123 7y ago
yes that's what it mean.
cmurf 7y ago
That's the conventional wisdom. But Senators aren't as partisan. They thrive on plausible deniability. They're unlikely to overrule Roberts, who will preside, rule on motions, witnesses, subpoenas. Even one or two defectors can turn it into a serious trial. There are witnesses and materials being suppressed, if those are subpoenaed, are they significant and relevant? Do they get the public more involved? What if those subpoenas are refused by the president, as he is with House subpoenas? Who blinks? But we've never seen a contentious Senate impeachment trial. The conventional wisdom, is really speculation. It's not certain. Anyone who claims to know what will happen, doesn't know anything. The more Republican senators insist this is pointless because the outcome is certain, the more it tells me how scared they are about having to make a decision. If they convict, decent chance they get primaried. If they aquit, they risk losing their general election. And they have some sense history books yet to be written are watching. The Senate can't do anything until the articles are delivered by the House. And right now it looks like that may not happen immediately. That's incredibly unusual. The House wants some assurances of witnesses and documents being produced. They could sit on the articles and string this out for days. Or months.
jki275 7y ago
The leader of the judiciary committee has already said he's not even inclined to call witnesses or hold a trial. The Senate isn't obligated to -- they can simply 51 votes and dismiss the whole thing if they want to, and that's what they've suggested they may do. There are certainly not 67 votes in favor of conviction and there's absolutely zero chance there will be. Indictments don't really mean shit beyond the fact someone wants a trial, and that's what an impeachment is. The Clinton impeachment was similar politically in that there was never a chance he would be removed from office.

Since the Senate has a Republican majority and every single Republican voted against impeachment, does this mean that removal from office is basically not happening?

ToFab123 7y ago

yes that's what it mean.

cmurf 7y ago

That's the conventional wisdom. But Senators aren't as partisan. They thrive on plausible deniability. They're unlikely to overrule Roberts, who will preside, rule on motions, witnesses, subpoenas. Even one or two defectors can turn it into a serious trial. There are witnesses and materials being suppressed, if those are subpoenaed, are they significant and relevant? Do they get the public more involved? What if those subpoenas are refused by the president, as he is with House subpoenas? Who blinks? But we've never seen a contentious Senate impeachment trial. The conventional wisdom, is really speculation. It's not certain. Anyone who claims to know what will happen, doesn't know anything. The more Republican senators insist this is pointless because the outcome is certain, the more it tells me how scared they are about having to make a decision. If they convict, decent chance they get primaried. If they aquit, they risk losing their general election. And they have some sense history books yet to be written are watching. The Senate can't do anything until the articles are delivered by the House. And right now it looks like that may not happen immediately. That's incredibly unusual. The House wants some assurances of witnesses and documents being produced. They could sit on the articles and string this out for days. Or months.

jki275 7y ago

The leader of the judiciary committee has already said he's not even inclined to call witnesses or hold a trial. The Senate isn't obligated to -- they can simply 51 votes and dismiss the whole thing if they want to, and that's what they've suggested they may do. There are certainly not 67 votes in favor of conviction and there's absolutely zero chance there will be. Indictments don't really mean shit beyond the fact someone wants a trial, and that's what an impeachment is. The Clinton impeachment was similar politically in that there was never a chance he would be removed from office.