Red Mosquito

durdencommatyler wrote:To be clear, this was never going to end any other way. With or without witnesses and documents.

I worked for a fair, honest, and transparent process, modeled after the Clinton trial, to provide ample time for both sides to present their cases, ask thoughtful questions, and determine whether we need more.

The House chose to send articles of impeachment that are rushed and flawed. I carefully considered the need for additional witnesses and documents, to cure the shortcomings of its process, but ultimately decided that I will vote against considering motions to subpoena.

Given the partisan nature of this impeachment from the very beginning and throughout, I have come to the conclusion that there will be no fair trial in the Senate. I don't believe the continuation of this process will change anything. It is sad for me to admit that, as an institution, the Congress has failed.

It has also become clear some of my colleagues intend to further politicize this process, and drag the Supreme Court into the fray, while attacking the Chief Justice. I will not stand for nor support that effort. We have already degraded this institution for partisan political benefit, and I will not enable those who wish to pull down another.

We are sadly at a low point of division in this country.

durdencommatyler wrote:To be clear, this was never going to end any other way. With or without witnesses and documents.

cutuphalfdead wrote:American democracy is officially broken.

cutuphalfdead wrote:Except for what it's worth, like it or not political parties are essentially private organizations and can decide their nominating process however they want. This is was a trial of the President in the US Senate where the jurors were essentially able to say "don't show me that it'll make it harder to explain why I didn't convict".

cutuphalfdead wrote:You're right, the DNC wanting to have some influence in making sure an actual Democrat is nominated to represent the Democrats is a much bigger threat to American democracy than the actual US Senate skirting it's Constitutional responsibility to hold the Executive branch accountable.

Don't get me wrong, I think superdelegates are bullshit too but calling it bigger threat to democracy than what is going on in the Senate today is ridiculous. At the very least these shitheads should have had to hear from the relevant witnesses before telling the country that it doesn't matter to them.