IN TEN MINUTES
by Sharon Rondeau
(Dec. 13, 2019) — In a strict party-line vote on Friday morning, the House Judiciary Committee led by Chairman Jerrold Nadler voted affirmatively on two Articles of Impeachment against President Donald Trump.
The vote took place without preamble beginning at 10:02 a.m. Nadler had abruptly adjourned an all-day hearing from Thursday just after midnight, reportedly without informing the minority Republicans of his intention to table the vote until Friday morning.
Each article was voted on separately by roll call, and the session was gaveled closed at 10:12 a.m.
The articles say that Trump committed “abuse of power” and “obstruction of Congress,” which some have argued do not meet constitutional standards as to “Treason, Bribery or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors” as outlined in Article II, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution.
The votes on both articles were 23 in favor and 17 against, with Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) not voting due to a recent hospitalization.
As he adjourned the vote, Nadler said that committee members will have “two days” to file objections.
At 10:12 a.m., Fox News’s Bill Hemmer reported that a “party-line vote” on a presidential impeachment is a “first” in U.S. history.
According to Special Adviser to the President on Impeachment Pam Bondi, the White House legal team is prepared to present its case in the Senate, which will become the trier-of-fact if the full House of Representatives passes the articles. It is expected that a vote will take place in the full chamber next week.
On Thursday, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC) told Hemmer that if the House should forward approved Articles of Impeachment to the upper chamber of Congress, he will dispense with the matter within “a week.”
In the martial arts, one principle is to use the force and momentum of the opponent against himself. If he lunges at you, step aside and push him harder in the direction he is going. It will be a rough landing.
So far, the Republicans have been content to stand aside and passively wait. As November comes near, we are going to need ways to push them harder in the direction they are going.
And isn’t it great? By impeaching the president — on absolutely no evidence whatsoever, they assured Trump’s reelection next year.
I thereby propose that we recognize this date, Dec. 15, 2019, as the official day that Trump got reelected.
And I don’t think that it wouldn’t be too much to ask if the Chief Justice would give the Oath of Office to Trump Christmas eve and give the whole country the best Christmas present ever.
Merry Christmas, and many thanks to all of the stupid people out there who made my Christmas the greatest ever.
OPOVV