Editor’s note: Miss some of this week’s news, public policy, and politics? Stay current, keep up, and get out ahead of the pack with Liberty Nation’s Sunday News Round-up. Yeehaw!
The Only Hope
Democrats may have bitten off more than they can collectively chew with the impeachment inquiry. The witnesses have been examined, the narrative has been set, changed, and set once more. And yet the idea that President Trump could actually be removed from office seems more unlikely than it did before the whole process began.
At the heart of the matter is that Democrats have failed to build a convincing case that will sway the public. Even worse is that they may not even be able to sway all House Democrats.
For Trump to be removed from office, it would take two-thirds of the Senate to vote against the president; in a Republican-controlled Senate, that doesn't seem likely. With the 2020 election afoot, it may not even be possible to get enough House Democrats to vote for it.
Comments from Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) suggest that they may be looking for an escape hatch. As Liberty Nation's Graham J. Noble wrote concerning a "face-saving" operation:
“I will tell you, sitting here knowing how divided this country is,” Lawrence explained Nov. 24 during a radio interview, “I don’t see the value of taking [Trump] out of office, but I do see the value of putting down a marker saying his behavior is not acceptable.”
An editorial, published Nov. 23 by The Detroit News, suggests censure of the president rather than impeachment, and The Chicago Tribune followed suit on Nov. 25. It is neither unfair nor inaccurate to point out that the left-wing media rarely take up a political narrative not preapproved by someone within the Democratic Party. So the sudden appearance of editorials arguing for censure strongly suggests that Democrat strategists are leaning in that direction or at least testing the waters.
If Censure is the only route available to convince voters that they are a true party of leadership, Democrats might be better off forgetting the whole thing.
What to Watch For
While the whole House may not be behind the impeachment inquiry, there are several politicians who have inextricably linked their careers to this debacle. Adam Schiff has nowhere to run if Democrats refuse to even censure the president.
Shot to the Foot?
What happens if Nancy Pelosi manages to whip her cohorts into line and the House does actually vote to impeach? Should this take place, the case will go to trial in the Senate where Democrats will be a long way from their comfort zone.
Liberty Nation's Tim Donner explained the most likely outcome of this inquiry making it to the Senate:
Once Trump is impeached, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) takes control of a process that mirrors a criminal trial, presided over by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. Ol’ Mitch, a parliamentarian and partisan of the highest order, is likely to let the dogs out. You can bet his witness roster will include corruption-soaked Hunter Biden, forbidden from testifying in the House, and perhaps even former Vice President Joe Biden. Add to that many in the parade of Trump-haters who were in on surveillance of Trump’s 2016 campaign and then undermined his presidency: former FBI Director James Comey, former Director of the CIA John Brennan, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former FBI agent Peter Strzok, former FBI counsel Lisa Page, et al.
One has to wonder whether the present crop of Democrats could survive such a hearing. While the inquiry so far has failed to gain a viewership among the American public (just 13 million for the first day), having Hunter Biden under oath to answer questions would likely be a ratings hit.
And what of the amount of control that Adam Schiff has exerted over the proceedings to date? Secure in the knowledge that, as the chair, he can pretty much shut down any line of questioning he dislikes - in the Senate, sensibilities will soon be offended.
What to Watch For
If Mitch McConnell wanted to put this whole thing to bed, he would just have to release a list of possible witnesses to subpoena. The fact that he hasn't used this powerful threat suggests that House Democrats may not even send it to the Senate.
Washington Whispers & Other Juicy Tidbits
Be on the lookout for:
Cory Booker's Super PAC shut down this week after pulling in just one-tenth of the hoped-for funds. This lack of funds indicates a lack of support; this week might see the end of the Booker campaign for the presidency.
After Trump's surprise visit to Afghanistan at Thanksgiving, he announced that he was resuming peace talks with the Taliban. Expect to see formerly anti-war media pundits turning Hawkish against the Middle East.
Stay dialed in to all the latest news, public policy, and politics affecting your liberty and freedom with Liberty Nation, where we like to say that Truth is Making a Comeback because Facts Matter. Bookmark our page, download our LN News & Commentary App, or sign up to our Daily Briefing.
Check Out Our Gunslingers For Liberty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwpmNTSzdjA
~
Read more at LibertyNation.com
.png&w=1920&q=75)
