The progressives were pulling out all the stops on Thursday to have their like-minded Alaskans call the offices of Sen. Lisa Murkowski to demand that she vote in favor of bringing witnesses in the impeachment trial of the president.
That “witness” vote will likely happen on Friday, which is why the pressure built all of a sudden on Murkowski, as well as other Senate Republicans considered moderates, such as Sen. Susan Collins of Maine.
The pressure was deflated when Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee announced on Thursday night that he is a “no” vote on the motion to bring in additional witnesses and further documents for the trial of the president. Without him, the Senate does not have the four votes to bring witnesses, which puts the chamber on track to possibly acquit President Trump by Friday or Saturday. Suddenly, the pressure was off Murkowski.
“There is no need for more evidence to conclude that the president withheld United States aid, at least in part, to pressure Ukraine to investigate the Bidens; the House managers have proved this with what they call a ‘mountain of overwhelming evidence.’ There is no need to consider further the frivolous second article of impeachment that would remove the president for asserting his constitutional prerogative to protect confidential conversations with his close advisers,’ wrote Sen. Alexander, former governor, former U.S. Secretary of Education, and now senator.
The calls to Murkowski’s office will likely dry up over night. And in any case, most of the calls she has received to date have been from activists outside the state, not her own constituents, Must Read Alaska has learned.
But as much pressure as they were applying, the total intensity is far less than felt by Senate offices during the confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh for Supreme Court or even Betsy DeVos for Secretary of Education.
Insiders say this round of activist pressure has been relatively tame. During the Kavanaugh hearings, women were swarming the offices and activists were chanting, wailing, and getting arrested for their occupation.
The ads aimed at Murkowski this week caught the eye of political analysts on Thursday.
The one above is sponsored by Tom Steyer, a candidate for president, although you’d have to know where to dig to find that information.
Steyer’s “NeedtoImpeach” ad on Facebook is a continuation of a campaign the billionaire started in October of 2017, a cause for which he has spent more than $2 million to promote; it is separate from his campaign for president.
Murkowski had indicated she was interested to hear what witnesses might have to say, and because she signaled her curiosity, the pressure campaign started up again.
The DefendAmericanDemocracy.org ad campaign above is funded by a consortium of left-wing groups that it has spent $132,000 on Facebook ads on impeachment since January of 2019, when it started hammering on the Russia collusion theory. That theory is now ancient history and debunked by nearly everyone, but the group has moved to new charges and new theories.
The Defend American Democracy Facebook ad library can be studied at this link.
Sen. Susan Collins issued a statement saying she will be a vote in support of more witnesses and documents. She is in a tough reelection campaign with Democrats on the attack in her state.
“I believe hearing from certain witnesses would give each side the opportunity to more fully and fairly make their case, resolve any ambiguities, and provide additional clarity. Therefore, I will vote in support of the motion to allow witnesses and documents to be subpoenaed,” Collins wrote.
Two Republican senators remain to announce — Murkowski and Mitt Romney of Utah, and neither have said what they will do on Friday. Romney has been viewed as a yes vote, but Murkowski said Thursday night that she would need to review her notes and reflect on what she has heard.
In the meantime Bolton sells a ton of books.
It’s what they do when they are no longer in office. Crooked Hillary and the Clintons and the Obamas. Write books go on speaking tours, go on CNN or the view. I haven’t seen a whole lot of I voted for Hillary shirts lately however I’m still wearing my Deplorable one.
We, the Alaskan voters – who voted you IN, are watching. If you cave to outside Democrats, who have no votes here – don’t cry when you are voted OUT. Because we, the Alaskan voters, will get rid of you.
Lisa knows a turd when she smells one. This hearing has stunk to high heavens since its origin. I think she will be a no vote and vote the way her constituents want her to. Collins has to vote Yes in order to stay in her position. Maine is a tough place. The teste challenged Romney will probably vote Yes just because he hates Trump and he would put his own personal feelings above what is good for the country. When Trump’s lawyer Jay and Pam Bondi ripped into shifty Schiff and then they walked away, he just sat there looking at them reeling from the feeling. It’s over and Pelosi should be charged with treason.
A Republican senator who’s office front door is used by Democrats to cause mischief against fellow Republicans. And Alaskans think this is good?
Can’t call her because of all the anti-Alaskan calls coming in that she is allowing to choke our voices!
Lisa, you’re a lawyer. Tell you what – next time you do a trial there can’t be any witnesses. Good luck with that!
Anything to get re-elected. It may not actually be enough, though, considering how thin the ice beneath your feet already is in Alaska.
Tribe and the craven desire for power once again trumps everything else, including ethics.
Since you’re not a lawyer, I hope you try to understand this dog. If you can’t make your case you don’t even get to go to trial. That’s the way the law works.
It’s called a motion to dismiss, Whidbey. When your claims in court are obviously frivolous and baseless, the judge will dismiss your case.
Leave the lawyering to the lawyers.
Thanks Tyler. I was wording it in a fashion that I thought they would be able to understand. As a disclaimer I’m not an attorney. I am very very close to someone who is.
Just remember gents, someday the tables will be turned. Quite possibly on 20 Jan 2021. Brace yourselves, for Karma happens.
The evidentiary record to support the two articles of impeachment should have been complete when the articles were delivered to the Senate. Remember the weeks of hearings and the taking of witness testimony under oath that was taken in the House? Or has that been blocked from memory? There comes a time in a legal proceeding when a party is required to put on their case. The House had weeks to gather their evidence. The House now screams: “Now we must hear from Mr. Bolton!” Where does it end? When does it end? The House had their opportunity and they blew it.
Don’t give up trying to call Lisa because I just got through to her office and told her to support our country and President Trump. Her phone is not being blocked. Seymour Marvin Mills Jr. sui juris
Can’t we all just “Move On”?
No Jay, we can not just “Move On.” I think, along with many other people, pundits (left and right), the leftist media and talk show hosts know that the Democrats are even now regrouping to plan their next attack. The left can not accept that President Trump is our President, that he is good for our country and that there are many, many millions of people who support him because he is not your average politician. This impeachment and the upcoming vindication has galvanized President Trump’s supporters and encouraged them to work even harder to see him elected again in 2020.
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