The Impeachment Is Just the Beginning

 

The party is over.

The frenetic energy of Schiff, Nadler, et al., as they cajoled and scolded the Senate, reminded me of young children exhausting their last reserves of energy, lost in inane argument over bedtime. Of course, we love our children and kiss them as we tuck them into bed. The House Managers, not so much. Yet, there they were, protesting that the Senators weren’t listening, insisting that they’d missed the point. Couldn’t they see that Trump is bad? The House Mangers provided a way to justify his removal! The Senate remains unmoved? It just isn’t fair!

The House Managers/Democrats were never going to pull this off for a host of reasons, but primarily because the funds were released, on time and without any Ukraine investigation into the Bidens or an announcement of an investigation. The rest is all backstory and a lot of noise.

But it is not all noise.

Post-acquittal, the Democrats will continue to cry foul, claim cover-up, and delegitimize the results of the Senate trial. The fact that the impeachment itself was rushed, partisan and patently unfair to the President will be lost in their noise. But there will be more to the story.

The Bidens will continue to be questioned and investigated and (remember you heard this here first) Joe Biden will quit the primary. His health, of course, will be cited as the reason for quitting. Second, there will be an investigation into the so-called whistleblower and the truth will come out – that he worked for Biden, that he helped squelch any backlash related to the Burisma/Hunter Biden conflict of interest, that his whistleblower complaint failed to disclose prior contacts with Schiff’s staff, and that his complaint was part of an orchestrated plan to set up the President for impeachment. He will face perjury charges and perhaps much worse.

If we have learned anything about Donald Trump, he is a man of his word and he is relentless. I would not bet against him.

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  1. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    I agree with you, Doug. The next few months will be ugly and disruptive. There is actually the possibility that our government leaders are becoming addicted to fire drills, blockbuster announcements, new charges and general chaos. I believe, however, that the public is eventually going to tire of all of it. Will Congress care how the people are seeing their actions? They haven’t yet.

    • #1
  2. DrewInWisconsin, Oaf Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf
    @DrewInWisconsin

    I wonder if we could convince the House that the planet is about to be eaten by a giant mutant star goat, and that they should load themselves into the Ark Fleet Ship B and begin the colonization of Mars.

    • #2
  3. Dr. Bastiat Member
    Dr. Bastiat
    @drbastiat

    Doug Kimball: Joe Biden will quit the primary.

    Really.  

    That’s quite a prediction.  I see your point, but I disagree.  Remember that the innate virtue of Democrats makes it impossible for them to be convicted of a crime.  It’s just absolutely impossible.  Hillary Clinton is an extreme example of this phenomenon, but there are countless others.

    I’d be amazed if Joe Biden has even considered the possibility that he or his family may be in legal jeopardy.  He’s a Democrat.  That is just not a concern.  Laws are for Republicans and common people.

    I just can’t imagine Biden stepping down.  He’s so close to the prize.

    You may be right, but I just can’t imagine…

    • #3
  4. philo Member
    philo
    @philo

    Doug Kimball: and the truth will come out…will face perjury charges and perhaps much worse.

    Unfortunately, such things are as rare [as] the Raphus cucullatus anywhere near American Ruling Class circles.

    • #4
  5. Dr. Bastiat Member
    Dr. Bastiat
    @drbastiat

    Dr. Bastiat (View Comment):

    Doug Kimball: Joe Biden will quit the primary.

    Really.

    That’s quite a prediction. I see your point, but I disagree. Remember that the innate virtue of Democrats makes it impossible for them to be convicted of a crime. It’s just absolutely impossible. Hillary Clinton is an extreme example of this phenomenon, but there are countless others.

    I’d be amazed if Joe Biden has even considered the possibility that he or his family may be in legal jeopardy. He’s a Democrat. That is just not a concern. Laws are for Republicans and common people.

    I just can’t imagine Biden stepping down. He’s so close to the prize.

    You may be right, but I just can’t imagine…

    Another point is that I think Joe Biden is absolutely protected from investigation and persecution as long as he is running for President.  Trump can’t go after him now – it would look bad.

    Once Biden leaves the race, he may be more vulnerable.

    Although he’s a Democrat, so he’s not very vulnerable to begin with…

    • #5
  6. DrewInWisconsin, Oaf Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Doug Kimball: The frenetic energy of Schiff and Nadler et al, as they cajoled and scolded the Senate last night, reminded me of young children exhausting their last reserves of the day’s energy, lost in inane argument over bedtime.

    For me, one of the more shocking things was the attitude of Schiff and Nadler and their stooges. I figured these guys would at least behave cordially, deferring to the Senate in areas that are rightfully the Senate’s purview. But, as you say, they scolded the Senate. Schiff repeated the lazy slander that they would be bowing to the President if they didn’t vote to convict. And that they were operating out of fear that their heads would be “on a pike” if they voted against the President.

    The two wobblies, Murkowski and Collins, both objected to that characterization, and Murkowski later stated “That’s where he lost me.”

    https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/479877-schiff-closes-dems-impeachment-arguments-with-emotional-appeal-to-remove

    But Schiff appeared to make a dramatic misstep when he referenced a CBS News report, which cited a Trump confidant as telling Republican senators that “your head will be on a pike” if they break with Trump on the impeachment fight. 

    Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), a crucial swing vote, said several times “that isn’t true,” as she turned to her colleagues and shook her head, a reaction echoed by other GOP senators. 

    Schiff appeared to realize his mistake, as Republicans continued to verbally push back, stopping mid-sentence to add: “I hope it’s not true.” 

    Nevertheless, Republicans were visibly angry with Schiff as they left the Senate floor, saying the president had never shared such a message with them and attacking the reported remark as a lie.

    Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) called it “one of the most remarkable moments” of the trial thus far, warning that the Republican side was “visibly upset” by the statements.  

    “That is completely totally false, and all of us were shaking our heads like, ‘Where did that story come from?’ and Adam Schiff just kept saying it,” he said.

    Barrasso told reporters that Schiff “has basically offended every Republican senator in there tonight.” 

    Even Manchin, one of the most conservative Democrats in the Senate, indicated that he thought Schiff crossed a line. 

    “I don’t know why people do that,” Manchin said. “That could have been left out, that’s for sure.” 

    See also: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/479878-schiff-sparks-blowback-with-head-on-a-pike-line

    My view is that there will be no justice as long as Schiff faces no consequences for his many lies — and for ginning up this whole impeachment with Fat Jerry and CIAramella.

    • #6
  7. Doug Kimball Thatcher
    Doug Kimball
    @DougKimball

    Dr. Bastiat (View Comment):

    Doug Kimball: Joe Biden will quit the primary.

    Really.

    That’s quite a prediction. I see your point, but I disagree. Remember that the innate virtue of Democrats makes it impossible for them to be convicted of a crime. It’s just absolutely impossible. Hillary Clinton is an extreme example of this phenomenon, but there are countless others.

    I’d be amazed if Joe Biden has even considered the possibility that he or his family may be in legal jeopardy. He’s a Democrat. That is just not a concern. Laws are for Republicans and common people.

    I just can’t imagine Biden stepping down. He’s so close to the prize.

    You may be right, but I just can’t imagine…

    This will not be the only reason Biden quits.  Joe’s draws are twofold:  he’s neither Trump nor Bernie; he does not have a committed base of support as he is also uninspiring and lacks energy; alas, he is more King Lear than Henry V.  He will quit when he realizes he has no chance.  Corruption allegations will just be one more brick in the wall.

    • #7
  8. Doug Kimball Thatcher
    Doug Kimball
    @DougKimball

    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf (View Comment):

    I wonder if we could convince the House that the planet is about to be eaten by a giant mutant star goat, and that they should load themselves into the Ark Fleet Ship B and begin the colonization of Mars.

    I’m responding to this post so I can like it again!

    • #8
  9. PHCheese Inactive
    PHCheese
    @PHCheese

    New campaign slogan. Take Back The House!

    • #9
  10. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    In less than two weeks, the Dems and Media will have the next thing to go after Trump with. 

    • #10
  11. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    I have thought for a while that the reason Biden began to really take advantage of the use of corrupt influence during his term as VP was that he did not intend to enter any future campaign for the Presidency. Remember, Hillary Clinton was supposed to be elected President in 2016 and, based on a picture of how effective the deep state has been in working against Trump, just think how effective that would be for Democrats if Clinton were POTUS. The Biden corruption would never have been exposed. Trump’s election has upended the entire plan. Then, suddenly in 2019, after the complete failure of the Russia investigation and as Trump is looking stronger for reelection, the Democrats realize they have nobody who can compete against Trump so Biden is suddenly back in play. But he has all this corruption crap out there and Trump ties that to some of his troubles in the last election and raises it as a concern with the new president in Ukraine, so he gets impeached. I think the exposure of the Biden corruption will continue and coupled with his age issue and the big gap from him to the radical element in the Party, he may very well be out before the convention.

     

    • #11
  12. DrewInWisconsin, Oaf Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    In less than two weeks, the Dems and Media will have the next thing to go after Trump with.

    What do you think it’s going to be? I figure it’s time for the ‘Trump is mentally incapacitated’ thing to show up again.

    • #12
  13. E. Kent Golding Moderator
    E. Kent Golding
    @EKentGolding

    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf (View Comment):

    I wonder if we could convince the House that the planet is about to be eaten by a giant mutant star goat, and that they should load themselves into the Ark Fleet Ship B and begin the colonization of Mars.

    I think the Democrats already traveling to Uranus.

    • #13
  14. Ed G. Member
    Ed G.
    @EdG

    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf (View Comment):
    My view is that there will be no justice as long as Schiff faces no consequences for his many lies — and for ginning up this whole impeachment with Fat Jerry and CIAramella.

    Agreed.

    When people argue against corruption of academia in matters such as AGW by suggesting that any scientist who disproves the consensus would be rich and famous for doing so I tend to think otherwise. Entrenched interests and fools aren’t easily persuaded especially when few know enough or care enough to tell the difference. Orange Man Bad is a great counterexample. The truth is out there: known facts clearly showing dems guilty of things they accuse Trump of doing; no facts but plenty of mischaracterization in “support” of the attacks on Trump. Despite this, we still have almost half the country favoring removal from office! Even after the masterful White House defense we still have reporters going around talking about conspiracy theories and acting as if the house managers had actually presented any facts as they kept asserting they had, we still have senators wavering even a little or thinking that there’s nothing to see or question re Biden and his son. Any one of CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS could certainly claim that fame and those riches for itself if it were to suddenly start reporting the facts, rejecting the biased and tortured characterizations, and pursuing the obvious questions, and thereby reclaiming the high ground of integrity and trustworthiness and the title of America’s newsroom. 

    Won’t happen, though, and I’m beginning to resign myself to it. However: I’m still taking names. Anyone participating in or supporting this farce even a little is dead to me. I see you Fox, Chris Wallace, National Review, Rick Wilson, Ben Sasse, Paul Ryan, Romney, Weekly Standard, Michelle Fields, McCains, Ben Shapiro (he’s half on and half off the list), and on and on. That’s all I personally can do about it; I know it’s not much.

    • #14
  15. DrewInWisconsin, Oaf Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Ed G. (View Comment):
    Anyone participating in or supporting this farce even a little is dead to me. I see you Fox, Chris Wallace, National Review, Rick Wilson, Ben Sasse, Paul Ryan, Romney, Weekly Standard, Michelle Fields, McCains, Ben Shapiro (he’s half on and half off the list), and on and on. That’s all I personally can do about it; I know it’s not much.

    That’s a short list.

    I think severe punishments for Democrats are not unwarranted, but whatever those punishments are, I think they should be even more severe for the NeverTrumpers who run from one cable news channel to the next to be the faces of the “good Republicans” who agree with Democrats that Orange Man Bad and must be impeached. There’s a reason that Dante depicted the innermost circle of hell as the place for traitors.

    • #15
  16. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    In less than two weeks, the Dems and Media will have the next thing to go after Trump with.

    What do you think it’s going to be? I figure it’s time for the ‘Trump is mentally incapacitated’ thing to show up again.

    I think it will be another “leak” of some sort. That is what this was. He will do something they don’t like, and try to Gin it up.

     

    • #16
  17. DonG (skeptic) Coolidge
    DonG (skeptic)
    @DonG

    Dr. Bastiat (View Comment):

    Dr. Bastiat (View Comment):

    Doug Kimball: Joe Biden will quit the primary.

    Really.

    That’s quite a prediction. I see your point, but I disagree. Remember that the innate virtue of Democrats makes it impossible for them to be convicted of a crime. It’s just absolutely impossible. Hillary Clinton is an extreme example of this phenomenon, but there are countless others.

    I’d be amazed if Joe Biden has even considered the possibility that he or his family may be in legal jeopardy. He’s a Democrat. That is just not a concern. Laws are for Republicans and common people.

    I just can’t imagine Biden stepping down. He’s so close to the prize.

    You may be right, but I just can’t imagine…

    Another point is that I think Joe Biden is absolutely protected from investigation and persecution as long as he is running for President. Trump can’t go after him now – it would look bad.

    Once Biden leaves the race, he may be more vulnerable.

    Biden would have been out months ago had the Dems not put a protection order on him.  They could not have him drop out during their sham-peachment.   Now, he is fair game.  You’ll note that Obama has distanced himself from corrupt Joe.   He was dumb at his peak and now he is just pathetic.   Have you seen the Sen. Rick Scott ad’s calling him corrupt?  The dog pile is coming….

     

     

    • #17
  18. Fritz Coolidge
    Fritz
    @Fritz

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    In less than two weeks, the Dems and Media will have the next thing to go after Trump with.

    I think it will be within two days, not weeks. I have no doubt they already have a play or two with supposedly new facts just now being readied to be “revealed.” Watch the NYT and Wash Post . . . .especially if the vote to acquit/convict does not happen before Monday. (Maybe Michael Avenatti can weigh in with some new “witnesses.”)

    The Dems map out their play sequences in advance like Bill Belichek.

    • #18
  19. Nohaaj Coolidge
    Nohaaj
    @Nohaaj

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):
    In less than two weeks, the Dems and Media will have the next thing to go after Trump with. 

    guaranteed to be a bombshell, the walls will be closing in on Trump, the beginning of the end… yada yada

     

    • #19
  20. The Scarecrow Thatcher
    The Scarecrow
    @TheScarecrow

    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    In less than two weeks, the Dems and Media will have the next thing to go after Trump with.

    What do you think it’s going to be? I figure it’s time for the ‘Trump is mentally incapacitated’ thing to show up again.

    THIS sounds like a totally fun project. One of you guys good at this should start a thread.

    • #20
  21. philo Member
    philo
    @philo

    Nohaaj (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):
    In less than two weeks, the Dems and Media will have the next thing to go after Trump with.

    guaranteed to be a bombshell, the walls will be closing in on Trump, the beginning of the end… yada yada

    You can’t “yada yada” impeachment, can you? 

     

    • #21
  22. The Scarecrow Thatcher
    The Scarecrow
    @TheScarecrow

    Ed G. (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf (View Comment):
    My view is that there will be no justice as long as Schiff faces no consequences for his many lies — and for ginning up this whole impeachment with Fat Jerry and CIAramella.

    Agreed.

    When people argue against corruption of academia in matters such as AGW by suggesting that any scientist who disproves the consensus would be rich and famous for doing so I tend to think otherwise. Entrenched interests and fools aren’t easily persuaded especially when few know enough or care enough to tell the difference. Orange Man Bad is a great counterexample. The truth is out there: known facts clearly showing dems guilty of things they accuse Trump of doing; no facts but plenty of mischaracterization in “support” of the attacks on Trump. Despite this, we still have almost half the country favoring removal from office! Even after the masterful White House defense we still have reporters going around talking about conspiracy theories and acting as if the house managers had actually presented any facts as they kept asserting they had, we still have senators wavering even a little or thinking that there’s nothing to see or question re Biden and his son. Any one of CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS could certainly claim that fame and those riches for itself if it were to suddenly start reporting the facts, rejecting the biased and tortured characterizations, and pursuing the obvious questions, and thereby reclaiming the high ground of integrity and trustworthiness and the title of America’s newsroom.

    Won’t happen, though, and I’m beginning to resign myself to it. However: I’m still taking names. Anyone participating in or supporting this farce even a little is dead to me. I see you Fox, Chris Wallace, National Review, Rick Wilson, Ben Sasse, Paul Ryan, Romney, Weekly Standard, Michelle Fields, McCains, Ben Shapiro (he’s half on and half off the list), and on and on. That’s all I personally can do about it; I know it’s not much.

    I get your point, and I sympathize. But I would have to take Ben Shapiro totally off that list. Agree with him or disagree on any particular point, but he seems to me to be completely reliable, and honest. His view on whatever he is talking about has earned, for  me, the right to be listened to with respect.

    • #22
  23. The Scarecrow Thatcher
    The Scarecrow
    @TheScarecrow

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    In less than two weeks, the Dems and Media will have the next thing to go after Trump with.

    What do you think it’s going to be? I figure it’s time for the ‘Trump is mentally incapacitated’ thing to show up again.

    I think it will be another “leak” of some sort. That is what this was. He will do something they don’t like, and try to Gin it up.

     

    Maybe, but can this bull go on indefinitely?  The shriller they get, doesn’t it become ridiculously counterproductive at some point?  Plus there’s an election in the works. If they lose, doesn’t their craziness start becoming apparent to even the everiest of everyman? Especially if Trump continues with win after win, and the rest of us just regard them as nutcases?

    • #23
  24. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    Have we had an explanation somewhere for the phenomenal cause that allows seemingly intelligent beings to carryon like this repeating outrageous charges they are unable to prove even with a large cadre of experienced prosecutors?

    • #24
  25. The Scarecrow Thatcher
    The Scarecrow
    @TheScarecrow

    Fritz (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    In less than two weeks, the Dems and Media will have the next thing to go after Trump with.

    I think it will be within two days, not weeks. I have no doubt they already have a play or two with supposedly new facts just now being readied to be “revealed.” Watch the NYT and Wash Post . . . .especially if the vote to acquit/convict does not happen before Monday. (Maybe Michael Avenatti can weigh in with some new “witnesses.”)

    The Dems map out their play sequences in advance like Bill Belichek.

    Yeah, but Belichek produces results.  These guys are actually terrible at whatever it is they are trying to do.  They only convince the already-convinced – the rest of us see through their bull.

    Even all the skullduggery at the CIA and the FBI. I was outraged at learning of all the Carter Page/Joseph Misud/Popadopoulus/etc/etc shenanigans. But I was also taken aback at how lame it all was, how easily it was all discovered. How good can our CIA – and so our security – be if these clowns are so inept as to be caught out so easily? I know they may all get away with it, but that’s because our political system is so corrupt.  But they did not go undiscovered. That’s because they suck at their job.

    • #25
  26. Full Size Tabby Member
    Full Size Tabby
    @FullSizeTabby

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    In less than two weeks, the Dems and Media will have the next thing to go after Trump with.

    What do you think it’s going to be? I figure it’s time for the ‘Trump is mentally incapacitated’ thing to show up again.

    I think it will be another “leak” of some sort. That is what this was. He will do something they don’t like, and try to Gin it up.

     

    But doesn’t such repeated efforts just persuade “normal” voters that President Trump’s opponents are just making stuff up?

    It seems to me that a good part of the public’s choice to ignore the impeachment was that it appeared to be just another in a series of made up reasons to undo the 2016 election.

    Continuing to try to remove President Trump from office just increases the likelihood that he is reelected, as it shows that the Democrats are not serious about governing. 

    • #26
  27. Painter Jean Moderator
    Painter Jean
    @PainterJean

    Doug Kimball (View Comment):

    Dr. Bastiat (View Comment):

    Doug Kimball: Joe Biden will quit the primary.

    Really.

    That’s quite a prediction. I see your point, but I disagree. Remember that the innate virtue of Democrats makes it impossible for them to be convicted of a crime. It’s just absolutely impossible. Hillary Clinton is an extreme example of this phenomenon, but there are countless others.

    I’d be amazed if Joe Biden has even considered the possibility that he or his family may be in legal jeopardy. He’s a Democrat. That is just not a concern. Laws are for Republicans and common people.

    I just can’t imagine Biden stepping down. He’s so close to the prize.

    You may be right, but I just can’t imagine…

    This will not be the only reason Biden quits. Joe’s draws are twofold: he’s neither Trump nor Bernie; he does not have a committed base of support as he is also uninspiring and lacks energy; alas, he is more King Lear than Henry V. He will quit when he realizes he has no chance. Corruption allegations will just be one more brick in the wall.

    Doubt it. I agree that Biden is not inspiring, but he’s promising a return to “normalcy” – maybe people are looking for boring after a tumultuous three years. 

    People have been predicting a Biden collapse for some time now, and it hasn’t materialized.

    • #27
  28. OccupantCDN Coolidge
    OccupantCDN
    @OccupantCDN

    Doug Kimball (View Comment):
    This will not be the only reason Biden quits. Joe’s draws are twofold: he’s neither Trump nor Bernie; he does not have a committed base of support as he is also uninspiring and lacks energy; alas, he is more King Lear than Henry V. He will quit when he realizes he has no chance. Corruption allegations will just be one more brick in the wall.

    Yes, the Obama coalition is a personality cult, they show up and vote for Obama – and that’s it. Michelle Obama could not keep them engaged after the first election to become some kind of grassroots support organization – they didnt vote in the off year elections, and they won’t vote for any of Obama’s henchmen – even the chief henchman.

    I think if Biden has a base it would be the establishment democrats aka the deep state. Not influential enough to sway any primaries outside of maybe Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. I dont see him being able to win anywhere else.

    • #28
  29. Hartmann von Aue Member
    Hartmann von Aue
    @HartmannvonAue

    It’s a bit of historical  trivia at this point, but I have to ask: When  was the “quid pro quo” conversation with Bolton supposed to have taken place? I thought that germane when the news broke, i.e. the President could have discussed the possibility at an earlier date and then let it die on the vine, deciding later not to push the issue. 

    In any case, the bonfire of inanities may soon be over- in the Senate at least- and that is a praiseworthy development. 

    • #29
  30. Seawriter Contributor
    Seawriter
    @Seawriter

    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    In less than two weeks, the Dems and Media will have the next thing to go after Trump with.

    What do you think it’s going to be?

    I agree with Kurt Schlichter. They will try and make Coronavirus Trump’s Katrina.

    • #30
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