The First Days in a New Chapter in the History of Our Republic

They have arrived! The first days of the historic impeachment trial – just the third in our 244-year history – of President* Donald J. Trump!

I really wanted to report day by day but it's not gonna happen. In my next life I'll be a journalist!

This is a quick-n-dirty post because I listened to only part of the first two days of the impeachment trial, and I haven't read or listened to much analysis. I hope I'll be able to dive down deeper soon.

Imagine Mitch McConnell's face in the see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil line-up. That's Mitch's wanna-be defense during these proceedings. Problem: he's not supposed to be part of the defense. He's supposed to be part of the jury. That hasn't stopped him from trying to strong-arm his Republican caucus into doing the "president's" bidding.

But already, Mitch's iron grip is starting to rust.

The first day was a long debate hammering out the rules. Over the lunch break, the Republican caucus got together. McConnell's fellow Republican Senators, lead by Sen. Susan Collins, pressured him about rule changes, and Moscow Mitch immediately capitulated on a couple of points.

First, instead of 24 hours over two days, each side has three days to present their 24 hours of arguments. 

Also, McConnell wanted no evidence at all, even disallowing evidence from the House investigation from being entered into the record automatically, wanting instead to have the Senate vote on it. He was pressured from his own people into allowing it. 

I mean, really! Duh!  

The first day's debates continued into the night and drifted into the wee hours of the next morning. They argued about whether to allow witnesses and documents during the trial. Eleven amendments for additional evidence were proposed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, but every one was struck down along party lines. The end result was that after opening arguments, the Senate may vote on whether to allow additional witnesses and documents. And if additional witnesses are allowed, they'll be deposed behind closed doors. The Democrats made the obvious point that a trial necessitates witnesses and evidence. The Constitution doesn't spell out an impeachment discussion. It's a trial. The Constitution is clear: "the Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments." Trials need witnesses.

There's a lot of talk about four Senators tipping the scale for allowing witnesses and documents. We can hope they'll do the right thing, but I have my doubts about Sen. Susan Collins of Maine in particular. She's made mouth noises before, only to renege on her best instinct. Think Kavenaugh.

Today, the House Managers presented their opening arguments. 

Chairman Schiff is the schitt!  

He owned that chamber. As I watched, it all seemed like old hat to me. But remember: many of the Senators did not pay attention to the House proceedings. They don't really know the ins and outs like you and I. Schiff was masterful at using multimedia to present the whole scheme: point by point, day by day. He showed that the evidence was overwhelming, even as more evidence is coming in daily. And he was adept as a courtroom attorney. He was calm when he needed to be, angry when he needed to be, and sarcastic, too, when he illustrated the proceedings as a sham.

Schiff did a powerful job of presenting non-evidence. He would describe a conversation that led to an action from the higher ups or play video testimony about a memo. "Would you like me to read that memo to you? I'd like to read it." <pause> "Well I can't read it because I don't have it. The Whitewash House has not allowed us to have it, but it is yours for the asking...."

Tomorrow, the House managers continue their presentation, and it'll be all about the Constitution and the law. I'm salivating! 

And when the prosecution rests, the defense will have 24 hours to present their case. I have a feeling that it is going to be a disaster. For one, it's been a disaster already, but that's because we have been paying attention. Remember, some of the Senators haven't absorbed the House proceedings. 

The defense opened with lies, and IMPOTUS himself could not resist boasting about withholding evidence when he crowed today, “We’re doing very well. I got to watch enough. I thought our team did a very good job. But honestly, we have all the material. They don’t have the material.” Obstruct Congress much? Hello, second article of impeachment!

I have a feeling that the defense lawyers will play the same discordant tune as they have played all along, which is the tune that only their patron TЯUMP will dance to. It's my feeling that if the defense lawyers screech and moan, deflect and deceive like the GOP did during the House proceedings, they'll be in big trouble. Their audience is much different this time around. This time, the audience is not their boss, the Reprobate-in-Chief. No, these are United States Senators, making up the world's greatest deliberative body. They aren't naive, and they aren't dumb. And neither are the American people.

That's Little Sister Resister, always the optimist!

I still have hope that Justice Roberts will have a role other than sitting there looking serious. He may be asked to compel witnesses or documents. He may be the adult in the room. Heaven knows the Majority Leader can't fill that role. And he shouldn't. The Constitution doesn't say much about impeachment proceedings, but it does spell out who should preside. And it ain't the Senate Majority Leader. Article I (ii) reads, “When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside.” 

As they days unfold, let's pay attention. Let's talk around the water cooler, and let's contact our Senators. Let them know that you want to hear additional witnesses and see additional evidence, as 71% of our fellow Americans do. 

Watch, listen, read, rise, and #RESIST!