Mon 9 Feb 2021, 1:05 PM
Impeachment manager Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) opens with a short statement and then a video summary of the timeline, interleaving the T**** speech with the raid on the capitol with the debate on the floor.
Some of these videos. My god. They either hadn’t been released before or I haven’t seen them. I got video exhaustion after a while and so the latter is just as likely.
1:33 PM
Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO) continues from Raskin. Argues the historical support of an impeachment trial post-office.
2:00 PM
~2:34 PM
Raskin returns to close out. Oh. I forgot that he was the Senator who had lost one of his sons the day before the insurrection and his family was there with him. That was… moving. 🙁
Apparently (according to commentary by Claire McCaskill) some of the Republican Senators refused to watch the videos as they were played. good god
I have to decide whether I want to hang and watch them give their “rebuttal”.
Thu 11 Feb 2021, 4:26 PM
Raskin just concluded.
I had intended to take notes here throughout but–though it was just as difficult that first day–it has been difficult while working a particularly messy work week. Never so grateful that we’re working from home.
My final thought is that such adroit lawyers and such clarity of argument are wasted on these Republicans. Like the first impeachment, the fix is in. The comments and actions of many Republicans after those arguments were made have been garishly base.
- Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) – “Well, you know, you have a summer where people all over the country are doing similar kinds of things.”
- Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-NC) – “I think most Republicans found the presentation by the House Managers offensive and absurd.”
- Sen. Lisa Mukowski (R-AK) – “I don’t see how Donald Trump could be re-elected to the presidency again.”
- Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) – “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
There is no bottom.
Sat 13 Feb 2021, 4:54 PM
Watched on and off today. 57-43 was called about an hour ago (7 Republicans). McConnell’s speech at the end, arguing as strongly for guilt as the House managers did, after he voted to acquit was despicable.
Nervous, adrenaline-filled day and feeling pretty sick right now.
The Democrats had a chance to bring witnesses but made a deal. Explanations I’ve read/heard: Nicolle Wallace says she heard they went cold (and I suspect it would have been from those veiled threats), that McConnell threatened to block all legislations (which would include COVID relief, a cynical take that seems to accurately describe him), and that the Rs would have brought 100s of their own (worthless) witnesses and muddied the waters.
5:13 PM
Nancy Pelosi is fucking. on. fire.
5:37 PM
Enough news. Feeling somewhat more hopeful but I’m sure it will be a rollercoaster as the days go on. These Rs (“cowardly” according to Nancy Pelosi) are on life support and the party itself is doomed.