(diary)
Thu 23 Jan 2020
We’ve been going through the House’s presentation to the Senate. The Senate with at times almost 20 Republicans away from their desks and missing from the room. Lindsey Graham left when he saw that the video of him was about to be played, from 1999, where he argued that a crime doesn’t need to be committed for there to be an impeachable offense. This absence is cowardly and illegal… but nothing will be done. Reporters have been blocked from contact with the Senators during recesses. The Senate Republicans are doing their best to hide from any confrontation about their accountability.
I listen to some every day. Monday was arguments to pass amendments to get witnesses and subpoenaed documents, which was voted down along party lines. This was when we had the thinnest hope that Collins, Murkowski, Romney, (who else?) would at least let Bolton testify, but the results of the very first vote shut down that hope.
Tuesday evening, listening during a walk around the neighborhood, I heard much of Schiff’s statement and was just blown away with the both the clarity of communication of the facts and depth of knowledge. And hearing him, that night, smack down so many of the Republican talking points might–one would hope–convince a few listening Republican voters. (In all of the testimony, I don’t know how they speak coherently for so long. I have no idea what amount of research and practice it took.) Later that night and the next day, my impression of Schiff was confirmed and amplified:
This is the most brilliant legal presentation I have heard. None comes close. The tone, the facts, the anticipated defenses. I am in awe.
Jennifer Rubin (Conservative blogger at @WashingtonPost, MSNBC contributor, recovering lawyer and friend of @Israel.) https://twitter.com/JRubinBlogger/status/1220073127696355330
Schiff is not just good. Today is one of the most impressive performances by a lawyer I have ever seen.
Walter Dellinger (Partner, O’Melveny & Myers, Emeritus Professor Law, Duke University, Assistant Attorney General (OLC) 1993-1996, acting Solicitor General of the US 96-97) https://twitter.com/walterdellinger/status/1219836116452499458
There is some satisfaction hearing the case presented cogently, contrasted with the petulant Republican response. It’s small comfort considering the worst possible outcome, but I feel strength knowing that we’re on the side of facts and morals.
I’ve become (more) resigned that the Republicans will do nothing. Pelosi’s strongest plan–knowing the unlikely outcome of Republicans responding to the facts–is setting the next Senate election up for a bloodbath after the public hears those facts. The numbers below give hope of another sort (taken from https://twitter.com/MikeLevinCA/status/1220028913369223169):
Public opinion on having witnesses:
- Quinnipiac: 66%-17%
- Morning Consult/Politico: 57%-24%
- CNN: 69%-26%
- Wash Post/ABC News: 71%-22%