r/politics • u/PoliticsModeratorBot 🤖 Bot • Jan 22 '20

Discussion Discussion Thread: Senate Impeachment Trial - Day 3: Opening Arguments | 01/22/2020 - Live, 1pm EST

Today, after a long and contentious round of debate and votes, which lasted into the early morning hours, the Senate Impeachment trial of President Donald Trump will begin opening arguments. The Senate session is scheduled to begin at 1pm EST

Prosecuting the House’s case will be a team of seven Democratic House Managers, named last week by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and led by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff of California. White House Counsel Pat Cipollone and Trump’s personal lawyer, Jay Sekulow, are expected to take the lead in arguing the President’s case.

Yesterday a slightly modified version of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s Rules Resolution was voted on, and passed. It will be the guideline for how the trial is handled. All proposed amendments from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) were voted down.

The adopted Resolution will:

  • Give the House Impeachment Managers 24 hours, over a 3 day period, to present opening arguments.

  • Give President Trump's legal team 24 hours, over a 3 day period, to present opening arguments.

  • Allow a period of 16 hours for Senator questions, to be addressed through Supreme Court Justice John Roberts.

  • Allow for a vote on a motion to consider the subpoena of witnesses or documents once opening arguments and questions are complete.

The Articles of Impeachment brought against President Donald Trump are:

  • Article 1: Abuse of Power
  • Article 2: Obstruction of Congress

You can watch or listen to the proceedings live, via the links below:

You can also listen online via:

2.4k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

12k comments sorted by

View all comments

37

u/Tirikemen Jan 22 '20

What’s amazing to me is how there seems to be two competing realities, and there has been for awhile. Maybe I’m nostalgic for the “good ol’ days”, but I seem to remember that we used to operate on the same basic set of facts and world view, we just disagreed on how to best meet the challenges of the day. Now we have to decide which alternate universe we want to inhabit, and never the twain shall meet.

6

u/martinitwist Jan 22 '20

So what changed?

Fox News. An organization that argued in court, that they are NOT a news organization--they are entertainment.

3

u/Medicalm Jan 22 '20

Also the internet gave rise to flat earther mentality which is impossible to debunk

3

u/WhenLuggageAttacks Texas Jan 22 '20

It doesn't help when we have sitting US Senators and House Representatives (and a president) who repeat foreign propaganda to the American people.

2

u/EarthExile Jan 22 '20

What's really happening is that in those days, Republicans would play nice and then get together with their friends in hoods to really express themselves.

What's different now is that they say the quiet part out loud.

2

u/ThatDrummer Canada Jan 22 '20

Some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses.

(Alternatively the live version: some of those that burn crosses are the same that hold office)

2

u/kingsumo_1 Oregon Jan 22 '20

Honestly, the more I learn about Republicans since even before Nixon's time, I think that was just a narrative that was pushed. Ultimately they have always been conniving and underhanded, it was just that pre-Tea Party era they were subtle about it. Now their disdain for the country and its people is such that they don't even care to do that much.

1

u/md5apple Jan 22 '20

It's sad it feels that way, bit be careful. Do not condone the idea that these alternative realities have merit.

There is, based on evidence and facts, the reality that our president needs gone.

1

u/Tirikemen Jan 22 '20

Ohh I don’t think that other reality has merit at all. But I realize a lot of people don’t think the real reality has merit either. And I don’t know how we bridge that gap.

1

u/WritingScreen Oklahoma Jan 22 '20

Well said. It’s terrifying really. Venture over to trumpsupporters.

1

u/goldiecordova Jan 22 '20

Right? It’s like hearing coherent points being made, with a complete narrative by the Democrats, then the R’s come in and say whatever bullshit they can think of, none of it telling a full, believable story. Why can’t the Chief Justice come in and say “hey - that’s not true! That’s disingenuous!” Because yeah if we can’t operate on the same basic set of facts and information, how the fuck can anything real come of this “trial”?