The transcript is like the videotape of the attempted murder. You see the gun, he points it at the victim, misses the first shot, and he puts a hole in the person’s clothes in the second one without causing injury. The GOP is trying to turn it into, well everything went out without what he was told to do, no harm no foul.
The really sinister part about this is all the stuff that happened around the call and in the run up, release, and post release actions of the aid. People look at that transcript, and they can try to ‘neuter’ it. It gets harder and harder as people talk about the rest that leads up to it that provides the context. I don’t think you give enough credit to people watching, though this doesn’t apply to the 53 that matter.
I can pretty much guarantee you not a single GOP senator is watching this that isn’t already leaning toward conviction, and the same goes for how they feel about any of the rest of the material. If they don’t know what’s in it, they can avoid it. See Linzie Graham for the example.
I am not making a prediction here. All I am saying is this could be a way how this plays out.
He invigorated a part of the electorate with his drain the swamp rhetoric. If it becomes apparent to them that he is just another corrupt politician who is only in it for himself they might go back to becoming apathetic non-voters. Also the respect the office, not the person cohort might turn away from him.
Again, not a prediction. I am on team nothing matters. Just entertaining the possibility that I am wrong.
There are maybe two senators who could possibly vote to convict. Murkowski and Mittens. That’s it. Nobody else is jumping on that one. And if I’m being really honest Murkowski is almost certainly voting to acquit.
Sondland emerges as a more advanced shitweasel. His testimony seems like a must-watch at this point. I wonder if he’ll plead the fifth, would be entertaining to watch incompetent suited apes like Gym work with that. NEVER underestimate the entitlement, the delusion and folly of the rich. Eat SHIT Sondland.
He answered everything in the deposition and resented the idea he wouldn’t answer questions or that he was pressured by Dems. I think that he’ll answer more truthfully in his hearing. I hope Volker will too because he lied a lot by omission.
When Sondland “remembered” more stuff and added to his original testimony the committee and its members seemed remarkably accommodating and forgiving. It seems like they just want the information out there, however it gets there. I guess it’s possible Sondland begins most of his responses with “Oh yeah, that. Ok, yeah yeah, now I remember” while nodding, and the room collectively strains its eyes with rolls. It’s not like anyone gets reprimanded in anyway for this slow release of incredibly relevant and pertinent information, see J. Kushner’s financial disclosures, or pretty much any other instance where any member of this pile of dogshit administration was asked any questions relevant to their job.
No, I think he’s going to have give the goods. Volker perjured himself. He said investigations were not mentioned July 10. He was in two meetings where it was confirmed that investigations were brought up. He also acted like the July 10 meeting was totally normal. Lies by omission.
I’m not applying percentages to any of these or even care if I’m right or wrong, but I have a methodology for why I chose them. I do not know how closely many align with Trump these days, so don’t hold that against me. You asked me to do the impossible, so here you go. This is not meant for commentary or derision, it’s just answering your question. I just went down the list on wikipedia with some additional research so it’s in no particular order:
Chuck Grassley
Mitch McConnell
Joni Ernst
Todd Young
Mike Crapo
Richard Shelby
Lisa Murkowski
Dan Sullivan
Martha McSally
Cory Gardner
Rick Scott
Johnny Isakson (clock is ticking and he may be gone before he could vote)
Jim Rich
Pat Roberts
Rand Paul
John Kennedy
Susan Collins
Roger Wicker
Ben Sasse
Richard Burr
Thom Tillis
Rob Portman
James Lankford
Linzie Graham
Lamar Alexander
Ted Cruz
Mike Lee
Mitt Romney
Mike Enzi
It would definitely be entertaining if Linzie, after all his Trump butt licking, ripped off his mask to reveal 2016 Linzie and voted to give Trump the boot.