Is there any possibility that the Senate trial could backfire on Trump and the Republicans

[StarfishSaver]

and the batshish crazy circus they have planned, combined with the flood of irrefutable evidence the Democrats present (much of which we would be hearing for the first time) will be so overwhelming, it actually turns a larger segment of the public and, in turn, pushes a critical mass of GOP senators to vote to convict and remove?

[TreasonousBastard]

1. Sure. That's the point of going through this.

[CaptainTruth]

2. I'm hoping that a "defend Trump against everything at any cost" attitude will backfire.

I'm hoping reasonable people will see that Republicans in the Senate have no interest in defending the Constitution or the rule of law, only defending Trump, & that will hurt GOP Senators at election time.

[SWBTATTReg]

3. I'll say there is. There are some rumblings occurring (Lindsey G., others) that seem to indicate...

discord among the republicans, but not enough in my mind. I'd would like them to (republicans) be serious for once instead of loudly mouthing off like Gaetz Gym Jordan, etc., does. Actually listen to the evidence instead of being solely for party and self first, then country, last.

Bring a little dignity to the office, eh? These two (and others) have dirtied the offices of the Senate and House of Rep too many times. It makes me wonder what is in their backgrounds that cause them to act so adamantly on rump's behalf?

[StarfishSaver]

4. That's my thought, too

I hope that when it gets out of the House -which is full of clowns and hacks who were elected because they're clowns and hacks and are proud af to be clowns and hacks - and into the Senate where most of the Senators fancy themselves to be serious people, the dynamics will change.

Maybe I'm giving them too much credit, but I like to think that, once the proceedings begin, there'll be at least a little more solemnity and gravitas and the Trump shishshow will be in much starker view and look so ridiculous, most of the Republicans Senators won't want to be part of it.

[SWBTATTReg]

7. I am with you. Perhaps you're right in thinking that there may be more decorum and ...

seriousness involved in the Senate, perhaps more so, being that Justice Roberts will be directing?

I think people are seeing the sideshow atmosphere that the republicans are involved with, and it's hurting them. I've read posts here on DU that people are seeing the 'trump' signs disappearing across the country, being removed from barns, rump political signs in yards disappearing, in short, support for rump is not near as
vocal as it once was.

I personally think that everyone is sick and tired of the nonsense and crap, and want to move on to a responsible and effective government. At least that's what I want. I also want something put in place to more easily remove such obviously incapable persons from office more rapidly, instead of relying on an ineffective Senate and House that could be possibly dominated by the same party as the president is.

The removal process should be totally independent of the entire political process, e.g., pick 100 people out of a hat, etc. We see how toxic this whole mess is, and these folks are more interested in self and party and not country. I personally think that they are traitors to the country.

[stopdiggin]

16. doesn't part of this have to do with how this is set up and run

meaning the mechanics of the "trial?" And .. does Roberts have some role in this? Influence over structure? Control over degree of showmanship and legal slight of hand?

[shockey80]

5. Yes, The Senate trial is not going to end well for them, no matter how they vote.

They are completely focused on their base which is the minority. They are trying to defend the indefensible. They are going into the trial simply to fool their base, to gain their support. The majority of Americans will be watching and seeing what frauds the Republicans are.

I am surprised the Republicans have not woken up to this fact. Their best option is not to go to trial. Their best option is to do what the Republicans did with Nixon. Force Trump to resign. It's the best option for them and the entire country.

[Lock him up.]

12. Remember the few days after the Blue Wave just last year...

They were shocked and I saw a few interviews were they said they must start to listen to others than their shrinking base...

Didn't last long, did it not? Bunch of imbeciles.

[mainstreetonce]

6. If they are going to vote their conscience

They will not speak up now,but they are talking to each other.I am sure of that.

[mainstreetonce]

8. I think another smart move would be

Republicans support a reasonable candidate to challenge Trump.
McConnell tells trump his support will be split.He cannot win .Then advises resignation or at least a decision not to seek reelection.

[Mme. Defarge]

11. I actually do not think that

Trump will be the Republican candidate. IMO, his recent NATO humiliation will be the last straw.

[mainstreetonce]

20. I think it is possible

That the reason the Rs want this over quickly in Jan.is so they have time to enter another candidate.

[Mme. Defarge]

22. Yes, that makes sense.

[Jarqui]

9. I've been asking myself "why are Democrats doing this?" and thinking about it

Unlike Nancy, I don't pray for Trump. Rightfully or wrongfully, I can't stand him. I do find "hate" is too strong a ward - I'm like Nancy that way - I don't think I "hate" anyone. But I'm terribly close to it when it comes to Trump.

I'd like to see Trump impeached and tossed in jail. Just being honest.

But there's a darn good chance the Senate Republicans will not impeach him - even though he looks as guilty as he could of the high crimes and misdemeanors the authors of the Constitution were thinking about when it came to impeachment.

So why would the Democrats pursue a case they may well be unable to win because the jury is so corrupt?

Maybe the answer is: because they cannot lose.

This trial is going to be big - even if McConnell thwarts it to some degree. America and her Constitution is on trial and the whole world is going to be watching. The Republicans know what one country fiddling in the 2016 election can do. Imagine the impact of the world free press coming down on these folks putting their thumb on the scales of justice to rig the outcome of such a trial?

Some might argue "we'll it's a risk that we could lose .." I'm not so sure. Because we're already losing badly. A corrupt political party put a crook into the Oval office and is sustaining him there. This is our best shot to nail both of them - the crook and his crooked party - with billions of dollars of effectively free advertising to expose who and what these people are on the world stage.

Even if Trump survives the impeachment, it is going to be tough for his party to survive the upcoming election or the fallout should they try to rig that.

[rufus dog]

15. We are at a win/win point

First to answer the OP.
NO - I don't think impeachment will pass the Senate for one reason,... Fox News and Hate Radio. 70% of Republicans believe we had a net loss of jobs under Obama, 70% of Republicans thought Obama was born in Kenya, and still 50% of them believe that, the list goes on and on.

Add the fact that multiple Repukes are dirty with Russian money and that the Russian have compromising info on them, and the Fox/Hate media will give them enough cover because most Repubs are cowards at their core.

To your points Jarqui, Nancy and the Dems had to move forward. If they didn't they would have the responsibility of not defending the Constitution, and Fox AND ALL MEDIA INCLUDING MSNBC would constantly be playing clips of tRump calling them out for being afraid to impeach, thus creating a talking point against Dems.

So if we "lose" we truly lose nothing. If the Country pays any attention to what the repubs are doing and still doesn't reject them, well bluntly would we have already lost. The Country as we know it is over and we were fighting for nothing so it is better to come to this realization and move on outside the current norms.

If we win, either by putting enough pressure on the repubs to impeach, (again very unlikely) or overwhelming them at the ballot box.

If they are overwhelmed at the ballot box we must not move forward "for the good of the Country." We must crush them, we need to overwhelm the media for their direct part in this mess. We let Reagan off, they got worse, we let Bush off, they got worse. This can never happen again.

[Vinca]

10. If people were allowed to testify and they didn't perjure themselves it certainly could.

Unfortunately, I suspect Mitch will call the trial to order, make a statement and take a vote to shut it down.

[Wednesdays]

23. At that point, it's not Mitch's call

The Chief Justice will preside over all proceedings.

[Silent3]

13. While I seriously have to doubt there's any "last straw"...

...that would ever break the sycophantic public support Republican senators seem determined to provide Trump (no matter what happens, and no matter what they think about him in private), I hold out some small hope that even more severely damaging revelations or embarrassments could surface between now and when it's time for the Senate to vote.

Even if such revelations aren't enough to garner 67 votes against Trump, they might at least increase the self-imposed damage Republicans will suffer for standing behind the orange tyrant.

[Baked Potato]

14. Democratic Senators need to really bring it

with passion. No nicey nice. Needs to be a production. Need to say we’re being attacked worldwide by bad actors who are aided and abetted by Trump. And, only Democrats care about saving America and democracy.

[mopinko]

17. yes. if it becomes clear that they are swimming in rubles themselves.

i dont expect them to vote to convict, but i hope they are embarrassed into ducking the vote.

[ThoughtCriminal]

18. Yes.

Ultimately, voters have to show up and make them accountable. After the Senate vote, there is close to 100% certainty, that Trump, believing that he is untouchable, will do something over-the-top insane and unpopular. Will that convince know-nothing independents to show up and help vote them out? One has to hope.

[Tennessee Hillbilly]

19. The Repugs will pretend ...

Most likely the Repugs will pretend to be open-minded and will allow at least some of the evidence to be presented without disrupting the proceedings. They'll do this because it will look best for them politically. But it will only be a pretense. Almost all of them have already decided to vote in Trump's favor.

[brooklynite]

21. Not that I see...

The Senate isn't a national body; it's a representation of the States, and the remaining Republicans are pretty much ties to the deep red States with strong Trump support.

[uponit7771]

24. Depends of what Chief justice Roberts does, the CJ during Johnson's 3 impeachments was very active

... and was overruled by the senate multiple times IIRC.

During Clinton's trial though democrats weren't acting like they were nuts so the CJ wasn't as involved.