(12-19-2019, 07:12 PM)robkelk Wrote: Has anybody checked whether Sen. McConnell is suffering from Alzheimer's?
He's saying that the current impeachment sets a precedent - despite not only having been present for Clinton's impeachment but having actually taken part in it.
I'd say it does.
This impeachment is being presented with even LESS going for it than Andrew Johnson's, where at least they could point to an actual law being broken (the Tenure of Office Act).
Which is why he had this response:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/mcconnell-to-pelosi-you-can-keep-your-impeachment-articles/ar-BBYay39?li=BBnb7Kz
Pelosi threatened to withhold the articles of impeachment unless the Senate negotiates a deal in the Democrats favor, and Mitch, knowing they are asking for the unreasonable, told her no.
He further told her that if they have enough in the House they are willing to forward an impeachment proceeding to the Senate, it's not the Senate's job to make their case stronger, they will go with what the House presents and that's it.
Otherwise, the Senate is under no obligation (and they legally aren't) to make the impeachment proceeding any easier than the Constitution requires, and all it requires is the Senate to vote on what the House presents.
The House will be adjourning soon, so this simmers until January 7 of next year most likely, and if the Democrats have more on the table then, then so be it. Otherwise, the Senate said they will go with what the House presents and go with that.
Given that's how we did it with the last three presidents who ever got hit with impeachment, I'm in concurrence with Mitch on this.