17 votes

Should some of these Republicans start to recuse themselves from the impeachment of Donald Trump?

Just a question. Lindsey Graham, Mitch McConnell, and the rest of them saying they already have a vote against removal of Donald before a court appearance.

Sorry if this is the wrong sub tilde for this. It just pisses me off.

"'I'm not trying to pretend to be a fair juror here': Graham predicts Trump impeachment will 'die quickly'" in Senate https://edition.cnn.com/2019/12/14/politics/lindsey-graham-trump-impeachment-trial/index.html

5 comments

  1. Omnicrola
    Link
    I keep wondering how the trial might change if the vote was anonymous, or at least secret for X years. I like to imagine that a number of Republicans might vote to remove from office in a scenario...

    I keep wondering how the trial might change if the vote was anonymous, or at least secret for X years. I like to imagine that a number of Republicans might vote to remove from office in a scenario where they don't have to pander to Trump's rabid base.

    7 votes
  2. [2]
    spit-evil-olive-tips
    Link
    Should they behave differently, either by recusing themselves or not bragging about having already made up a decision? Yes. Will they? No. Is there anything that can be done about it? Not really....

    Should they behave differently, either by recusing themselves or not bragging about having already made up a decision? Yes.

    Will they? No.

    Is there anything that can be done about it? Not really. The Constitution lays out the overall process for impeachment (articles drafted by the House, sent to the Senate if approved for a trial, presided over by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court) but says very little about conduct of individual Senators. This is one of many cases where unwritten norms instead of written rules were expected to govern behavior, and those norms have been thrown out the window.

    This is part of the overall trend among Republicans under Trump towards political nihilism. The message they want to send is that Democrats are just wasting time with the impeachment process because the outcome is already determined. Nothing matters. Trump won't be held accountable, so why bother even investigating what he may or may not have done wrong?

    5 votes
    1. bleem
      Link Parent
      tips back a white russian yep

      tips back a white russian yep

      2 votes
  3. [2]
    moocow1452
    Link
    I mean, they're not for the same reason they used Scalia's seat as a bartering chip for the 2016 Election, and justify it as doing their job to protect the interests of the country.

    I mean, they're not for the same reason they used Scalia's seat as a bartering chip for the 2016 Election, and justify it as doing their job to protect the interests of the country.

    3 votes
    1. bleem
      Link Parent
      merick garland was such a gut punch. These people need to be held accountable.

      merick garland was such a gut punch. These people need to be held accountable.

      1 vote