Murkowski a "No" on Witnesses, Citing Politicization of Process

Murkowski issued this statement:

"I worked for a fair, honest, and transparent process, modeled after the Clinton trial, to provide ample time for both sides to present their cases, ask thoughtful questions, and determine whether we need more.

"The House chose to send articles of impeachment that are rushed and flawed. I carefully considered the need for additional witnesses and documents, to cure the shortcomings of its process, but ultimately decided that I will vote against considering motions to subpoena.

"Given the partisan nature of this impeachment from the very beginning and throughout, I have come to the conclusion that there will be no fair trial in the Senate. I don't believe the continuation of this process will change anything. It is sad for me to admit that, as an institution, the Congress has failed.

"It has also become clear some of my colleagues intend to further politicize this process, and drag the Supreme Court into the fray, while attacking the Chief Justice. I will not stand for nor support that effort. We have already degraded this institution for partisan political benefit, and I will not enable those who wish to pull down another.

"We are sadly at a low point of division in this country."

Rob Portman, another moderate/liberal GOPer the Democrats had hoped to pressure into giving them what they want, also announced he's a no.

Apparently, so did Ben Sasse.

Weak-sister RINO senators are claiming they've been persuaded by Lamar Alexander's statement from last night:

Sen. Sasse, who hasn’t been doing press during impeachment (and doesn't talk to reporters much in the hallway generally), just told reporters that Alexander;s statement last night spoke for "lots and lots" of us.

My personal speculation is that Lamar Alexander -- who's retiring -- wrote a half-in, half-out statement to do a favor for Mitch McConnell and for the liberal/moderate GOP senators he's protecting, like Cory Gardner, who really need this to be over.

Every Dem/media political operation -- including those the NeverTrumpers are behind/enabling -- is designed to divide the party, pitting liberal/moderate GOPers against the conservative majority, trying to engineer it so that the party is divided and can't muster a majority of votes in any election.

Whatever you think of the merits, it's best for weak-sister Republican senators in blue states for this to end as soon as possible.

In the meantime, the carefully-scripted Kavanaugh Roll-Out of Leaks continues, with Democrats immediately citing a new New York Times leak from Bolton, almost as if they had all coordinated the timing of its release together:

Remember, a point the Democrats keep pushing is that unless you vote for witnesses, then we'll just keep dribbling out negative story after negative story, and this will never be over for you.

That's not the subtext of what they're saying -- that's what they're explicitly saying. Democrat Fake Impeachment Managers are telling senators that in their answers to questions.

So this roll-out of Fresh Kavanaugh-Like Allegations is designed to remind them of that.

Just as the Times rolls out that Blasey-Ford allegation, the Washington Post rolls out this Julie Swetnick clam:

Senate investigators interview IRS whistleblower about alleged interference with Trump or Pence audit

All to warn senators: We will keep dribbling out newly-minted allegations and making you look bad if you don't give us what we want.

Of course: They intend to do that anyway. They've been doing it now for four years straight.

Because they're about to lose completely, they're blowing their load and releasing at once all the stories that they had planned to roll out sequentially every four or five days.

posted by Ace at 01:48 PM

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