Senate clears Trump of inciting insurrection

[Iamnotminterested]

Well there we go 😔

I disagree it (a doomed futile attempt at impeachment) HAD to be done. It was a monumental waste of time and money with the outcome of acquittal easy to predict which has only strengthened Trumps supporters. I think it was reckless thing to do.

And to those who keep saying “jury” there was no jury. Impeachment are a political process voted on like any law congress passes only they need a 2/3rds majority. It’s not a judicial process where you look for guilt “beyond reasonable doubt” and so on. It’s 100% political.

Absolutely right PlanDe. Plus, the unintended consequences of all this, in my view, is that they're making an icon of the man.

I read this morning that Trump is now 8/1 for 2024.

But the Democrats just seemed hell bent on spending millions in taxpayer dollar savings to have a grand old show with very expensive lawyers arguing with each other.
The Democrats did not spend ANY money on lawyers.

Trump's lawyers were paid by him.

The impeachment managers are all elected members of Congress.

And at no stage did the impeachment managers argue with Trump's lawyers.

You clearly did not watch the proceedings.

If that’s the way America wants to go, i.e. making an icon of DT, then that’s the way it goes. You could have equally said this would be the outcome if he had been impeached. Stupid will do stupid.

@ListeningQuietly

But the Democrats just seemed hell bent on spending millions in taxpayer dollar savings to have a grand old show with very expensive lawyers arguing with each other. The Democrats did not spend ANY money on lawyers.

Trump's lawyers were paid by him.

The impeachment managers are all elected members of Congress.

And at no stage did the impeachment managers argue with Trump's lawyers.

You clearly did not watch the proceedings.

You clearly have missed the point. Every member of Congress and their staff Is paid with tax payer dollars. The US wasted three months of their taxpayer paid labour working on this impeachment, or $625 million dollars. In addition was another $2m or so spent paying the federal investigators and lawyers doing the investigation and the impeachment proceedings.

Where did you get the figures from?

Incendiary language by politicians is pretty much the norm in America on both sides of the political spectrum though. Trump's rabble rousing speech was in line with how he generally addresses his supporters, and while not in the least helpful in ensuring a peaceful handover, was hardly impeachment worthy. It's not like he told his supporters to take up arms and storm the Capitol. In fact, he specifically said they should act 'legally and patriotically'.

I think in the immediate aftermath of Jan 6, the Dems saw the opportunity to try to remove Trump from politics for good and had the impeachment gone ahead then, it might have had a chance. But a month later passions have cooled and Reps have reconsidered where their loyalties lie - they may not like Trump, but they sure as hell like his support base.

As for Trump? He's clearly re-energised by all this: 'We have so much work ahead of us, and soon we will emerge with a vision for a bright, radiant and limitless American future.'

Oh the joys that lie ahead!

The impeachment was the right thing to do even if there wasn't a chance in hell of it succeeding. The Democrats have done their bit and have shown to be doing their bit. They rightly held Trump to account and gave the Republicans enough rope to hang themselves. The actions of Trump and his supporters was clearly shown to the general public and hopefully that will help to put Trump back in his box. I'm not sure it will achieve that though, but at least they tried.
History will judge this fiasco and they will judge it harshly.

Trump clearly appealed to the thugs, racists and airheads in the USA and continues to do so

This is true; however since the election was closer than some would have liked, he clearly also appealed to a lot of ordinary folk who felt, despite the disadvantages, that on balance he was the better choice

FWIW I'm not personally a fan, but let's not pretend only racists and knuckle draggers backed him ... unless it's being said that describes a huge % of voters, which while popular on Mumsnet really isn't the case

He was stitched up, we all know it, but we live in strange times.

The US wasted three months of their taxpayer paid labour working on this impeachment, or $625 million dollars

This is clear proof that the Stargate exists and that the US government can use time travel technology. Or maybe there hasn't been three months of time between January the 6th and February the 13th (for those counting on their fingers.)

It’s not only thugs, racists and knuckleheads who voted for Trump. Cunts did as well, didn’t they?

Not my joke and I’ll get my coat.

@LadyWithLapdog

If that’s the way America wants to go, i.e. making an icon of DT, then that’s the way it goes. You could have equally said this would be the outcome if he had been impeached. Stupid will do stupid.

I wouldn't say America, I'd say Democrat America, which is a different thing. They were politically naive allowing this show trial with scant regard for due process or the rules of evidence - to go forward. Trump is now the first twice-acquitted president.

I also think that the Democrats are a bit naive and give the public and the Republicans too much credit. The Democrats seem to judge others by their own standards and that leaves them a bit toothless. Having said that I don't think winning at all costs is something I would like to see happen. Hopefully decency will win out. I really hope so.

The US wasted three months of their taxpayer paid labour working on this impeachment, or $625 million dollars. In addition was another $2m or so spent paying the federal investigators and lawyers doing the investigation and the impeachment proceedings.
Que?
It is not 3 months since 6th January

The election had 7 million votes between DT and Biden. If you want to think this is a narrow margin, go ahead.

The twice acquitted but also the twice impeached. Also the one accused of inciting a mob. That’s quite something, isn’t it. He’s a world class POS and the world has seen it.

@LadyWithLapdog

Where did you get the figures from?

2013 cost per day that the US congress was in session: $16.7 - $21.7 million. I took the highest one to avoid having to calculate average and then add in inflation from 2013 to 2021.

Times $21.7m by 72 working days over three months, then estimate they spent 40% of their work day on impeachment matters and 60% other government bills and you get £624.96m. Then the federal investigators and lawyers I based off the $3m it was reported they spent on last impeachment.

References
Object Class Analysis: Budget of the U.S. Government, Fiscal Year 2014. Office of Management and Budget. 2013. p.4
Eric Cantor. House Calendar for the First Session of the 113th Congress. 2012.
Dick Durbin and John Cornyn. Tentative Schedule for the First Session of the 113th Congress. 2012.

@MottTheHoople

He was stitched up, we all know it, but we live in strange times.

Summed up nicely.

Plan
6th January was not three months ago.
The Senate did not even TOUCH the impeachment until after Jan 20th

Math is clearly not your strong point

If you discount the fraud.

@PlanDeRaccordement that’s a lot of assumptions.

If you want to think (7 million) is a narrow margin, go ahead

I wouldn't call it narrow exactly, though it's not great either when set against the number of voters - what I personally said was that it's not as large as some would have liked

By all that's right he should have been absolutely trounced, just as he should have been in 2016, but the Democrats were unwise enough to pick Hillary last time and Biden this

It's often beyond me how a great nation ended up with three candidates like this, but then I guess that's politics for you

@MottTheHoople

If you discount the fraud.

Which fraud? Fraud by whom?

@Puzzledandpissedoff how did the UK end up with ours? Baffling.