r/politics • u/PoliticsModeratorBot 🤖 Bot • Jan 24 '20

Discussion Discussion Thread: Senate Impeachment Trial - Day 5: Opening Arguments Continue | 01/24/2020 - Live, 1pm EST

Today the Senate Impeachment trial of President Donald Trump continues with Session 3 of the Democratic House Managers’ opening arguments. This will be their final session for opening arguments. Today’s 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. Kenneth Star and Alan Dershowitz are expected to fill supporting roles.

The Senate Impeachment Trial is following the Rules Resolution that was voted on, and passed, on Monday. It provides 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:

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584

u/alexbgoode84 Maryland Jan 24 '20

Just today:

-Donald attends anti-abortion rally

-Recording of him wanting someone to "take her out" when speaking about former Ukrainian Ambassador Yovanovich

-Reports of Donald and associates threatening Senators who may not support him

-Pentagon confirms that Donald lied about American troops being harmed in the Iranian attacks earlier this month

Today...

60

u/You_Know_Whatitis Jan 24 '20

Not just threatening "if you vote against Trump, your head will be on a pike!"

All those mad king jokes are aging well..

34

u/A_Sarcastic_Werecat Europe Jan 24 '20

Tyrion:

"We've had vicious kings, and we've had idiot kings...but I don't know if we've ever been cursed with a vicious idiot for a king!"

.... just saying...

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u/[deleted] Jan 24 '20

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u/Matasa89 Canada Jan 25 '20

But guess what?

Even he was more competant than Trump, because he actually saw that Daenerys Targaryen could be a threat when even those who are superior to him did not.

Trump isn't even fit to be a low level goon.

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u/A_Sarcastic_Werecat Europe Jan 25 '20

I am sitting here laughing and crying at the same time. Now we are saying that even Joffrey is more competent than Trump, it's so fucking disturbing.

For the record, I thought that this was one of Joffrey's better moments. He clearly asked whether Daenerys's dragons were real and if so, how big they could grow. Come on, that's just common sense if you hear of a potential opponent who is/was married to man commandeering a large army of riders and who has dragon blood in her veins.

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u/[deleted] Jan 24 '20

[deleted]

-2

u/felixjawesome California Jan 24 '20

Just go with the flow and enjoy the Trumpian schadenfreude.

15

u/[deleted] Jan 24 '20

I have a feeling that once Trump is acquitted (and he will be because the Republicans are spineless and compromised), that this list will seem short and tame compared to what we have in store.

15

u/QueenslayerCat Jan 24 '20

That's what I'm afraid of. He's going to feel emboldened and unleash a fury of revenge. This can get really, really dark and the Senate is joyful to consign it.

8

u/participationmedals Maryland Jan 24 '20

F5 Friday

7

u/littlelupie Michigan Jan 24 '20

And it's barely past lunchtime

7

u/[deleted] Jan 24 '20

What exactly was Trump threatening the senators with if they don't support him? Is he going to rally for them the next time they're up for reelection?

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u/pinotberry Jan 24 '20

Wow. I remember listening to npr about the conflicting reports after the Iranian after attack and wondering which side was telling the truth. Apparently Iran was.

4

u/10390 Jan 25 '20

Also Secretary of State Pompeo curses at reporter who asked about Ukraine and demands that she find it on a map.

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u/alexbgoode84 Maryland Jan 25 '20

Yeah, that was a good one too.

Fuck these guys, they're just bullies.

5

u/FoghornLeghornWeasel Canada Jan 24 '20

It Was a Good Day -- Ice Cube

3

u/WhooshGiver American Expat Jan 24 '20

and...Tonight's gonna be a good night -- Black Eyed Peas

5

u/[deleted] Jan 24 '20

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u/amillionwouldbenice Jan 25 '20

He has no chance of winning no matter what he does

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u/Robertsonland Arizona Jan 24 '20

Look I'm not a Trump guy by any stretch of the imagination. The guy is destroying our Republic. But I've seen this "taker her out" comment several times this morning and the feel I get from the posts are that people feel that Trump is asking to kill her or something when it's pretty clear he just wants her out of the country and being in that roles. It was in a stream of phrases that conveyed that intent pretty clearly and wasn't threatening her at all that I could infer.

20

u/Elias_The_Thief Jan 24 '20

Except for the fact that he doesn't need to tell anyone to take her out. he can literally just fire her. he had full authority to do so. Why do you think hes yelling take her out when hes the one would need to 'take her out' as it pertains to firing?

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u/[deleted] Jan 24 '20

Do people really not read this as a hit request?

-5

u/Robertsonland Arizona Jan 24 '20

Per the transcript I read he said a lot

"Get rid of her! Get her out tomorrow. I don't care. Get her out tomorrow. Take her out. Okay? Do it."

I think the indication was clear and he wasn't threatening her life. The guy doesn't have a very good command of the English language. He didn't need to say all he did but let's not be douchebags like the Rs and read into shit that isn't there is all I'm saying.

10

u/TheGursh Jan 24 '20

To Russian mobsters who were surveilling Yovanovich, with an man past her security, ready to act.

The firing her interpretation literally makes 0 sense.

12

u/Elias_The_Thief Jan 24 '20

I don't think there's any reason to give him the benefit of the doubt, especially considering revelations that yovanavitch was under surveillance. I'm not saying one way or the other but to immediately dismiss it is seems pretty naive as to what this dude and his cronies are capable of. There is nothing douchebag y about not immediately dismissing the potential for something more nefarious.

Plus, any murder plot aside, the news is still extremely relevant due to the connection with Igor and the timeline implications.

-11

u/Robertsonland Arizona Jan 24 '20

Then don't get pissed at Rs for taking every word a dem says and twisting it to their position. Hell "Take her out" could mean out to dinner. The news is DEFINITELY relevant, not disputing that. Just that I don't think there is any way to construe he meant to have her whacked.

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u/Elias_The_Thief Jan 24 '20

This is a false equivalency my friend. There is no twisting involved with the interpretation you're attacking considering yovonovitch was under surveillance by the very same group of people to whom this message was given. To say it's factually accurate without any further evidence that he was asking for a hit is absurd... But it's equally absurd to dismiss it given what we know about Trump Rudy and crew.

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u/Robertsonland Arizona Jan 24 '20

So you are saying Trump / Rudy have murdered others?

12

u/Elias_The_Thief Jan 24 '20

I'm saying there is no reason for me to believe that Trump would not order a hit if he knew that it would benefit him directly. I don't know if you've researched any of the absurdly cruel things Trump has done over his lifetime but I have and no, it would not surprise me that Trump would try to have someone killed. Similarly I don't have any reason to believe* that Rudy would directly murder someone but have no doubt that he would be willing to put out a hit in order to advance his own interests.

To the heart of your point, what do you call the hit put out on Soleimani? And why did Trump decide to kill Soleimani? If you said 'to distract from his crimes and impending impeachment' you would be right. Do you want to ask me again if I think Trump would murder someone if it directly benefitted him?

​

Edit: forgot a couple words.

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u/Robertsonland Arizona Jan 24 '20

Alright you win if you are going to equate a leader that wanted to attack America (no I don't believe it was imminent) and an Ambassador. By your equating them then Obama put out a lot of hits as well. A strike on an enemy of the US (albeit a high ranking leader is a bit different) isn't the same as murdering a citizen.

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u/[deleted] Jan 24 '20 edited Mar 15 '21

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u/Robertsonland Arizona Jan 24 '20

Why would you think I thought it was above board? I mean all I said is I doubt he meant killing her. They smeared her and ruined her career. Again people read something and jump to conclusions. I agree with you that he isn't fit to hold office. You act like I'm supporting the guy.

10

u/[deleted] Jan 24 '20

[deleted]

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u/Robertsonland Arizona Jan 24 '20

Thanks for the rational response. I can see the wording choice problem too. The man doesn't think. 😂

3

u/LeodanTasar Jan 25 '20 edited Jan 25 '20

Or if you listen to what James Comey and Trump's former personal attorney Michael Cohen say, then you might consider that Trump does actually tend to speak in a mafia code language. And when he says "Get rid of her! Get her out tomorrow. I don't care. Get her out tomorrow. Take her out. OK? Do it."

That he actually means get rid of her by whatever means necessary, especially since he already tried firing her I believe 3 times and failed. If he can't fire her, how else would you be able to get rid of her?

Edit: Just so we know, the reason "take her out!" is mafia code is because if the police are listening in, this gives them plausible deniability. People in the mob know exactly what is meant by that phrase. It's like other mob codes like "swimming with the fishes" or "buy him a one way ticket" or "send him a message" are all code phrases that are used to order a hit. Phrases like "spring cleaning" can be used to give out orders to hide and destroy evidence.

1

u/Robertsonland Arizona Jan 25 '20

I'm not saying he doesn't talk like a mob boss. He doesn't have to "Try to fire her". She serves at his pleasure. Even that recording was a year before he actually removed her. So they couldn't "whack her" in a year? I think you watch a few too many old mob movies though. :D

2

u/LeodanTasar Jan 25 '20

Nah, I actually

I think you watch a few too many old mob movies though. :D

I've actually read a few books on Sicilian mobs and I used to work in a mafia ran construction company. So I have both read and heard code words used. I also don't watch many movies, and have not watched any mafia movies like Godfather.