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I have to say that the most savvy thing the Impeachment Managers have done is to use the entire proceeding to pit the GOP against itself.
It's not gonna be enough, but it's really well done. Especially for Democrats.
It's not gonna be enough, but it's really well done. Especially for Democrats.
Who did they paint as victims? Cops. GOP Congresspeople, Mike Pence
Whose anti-Trump testimony did they use? GOP Governors, Representative and Election Officials
Who did they paint as well-meaning people duped by a con man?
The GOP base in general.
Whose anti-Trump testimony did they use? GOP Governors, Representative and Election Officials
Who did they paint as well-meaning people duped by a con man?
The GOP base in general.
They have spent an incredible amount of effort driving a wedge between the Trump party and the GOP.
They've done everything they can to give GOP cover to vote for classic GOP patriotism language.
They've done everything they can to give GOP cover to vote for classic GOP patriotism language.
The Impeachment Managers have hammered home that Trump's base doesn't like the GOP.
They've constantly broadcast "He's not one of you so you don't have to be loyal to him"
They deliberately haven't gone after broad GOP complicity.
They've constantly broadcast "He's not one of you so you don't have to be loyal to him"
They deliberately haven't gone after broad GOP complicity.
They have done the best job they could have to make this vote about Us (Congress) vs Them (Trump and his mob)
The GOP is fractured and Democrats are, against all known tendency, actually exploiting this weakness.
The GOP is fractured and Democrats are, against all known tendency, actually exploiting this weakness.
The Impeachment Managers have barely mentioned the pain or trauma experienced by Democrats.
You might almost be forgiven for forgetting that Democrats were involved, excepting the mentions of Nancy Pelosi, and even then mostly in the context of line of succession.
You might almost be forgiven for forgetting that Democrats were involved, excepting the mentions of Nancy Pelosi, and even then mostly in the context of line of succession.
The Democrats have tried as hard as possible to basically extend amnesty to the Senate.
"Just vote to convict the obvious ringleader and we won't mention anything about you supporting him the whole time"
"Just vote to convict the obvious ringleader and we won't mention anything about you supporting him the whole time"
In doing this, the Democrats have specifically played to the non-Trump GOP base.
They figure that if they could make a case that non-extremists in the GOP could stand under, then Senators could go home knowing that at least half their constituents still support them
They figure that if they could make a case that non-extremists in the GOP could stand under, then Senators could go home knowing that at least half their constituents still support them
The Impeachment Managers know that aside from the actual Insurrectionists in the GOP, many others actually DO resent being put in danger.
These are rich folks not used to being in actual danger.
But they're still not going out on a limb to do the right thing.
These are rich folks not used to being in actual danger.
But they're still not going out on a limb to do the right thing.
So the Impeachment Managers crafted a defense that simultaneously created a harrowing public record of Trump's crimes, but framed the whole thing as "Trump's Mob vs America, especially the GOP"
They're hoping they can pick off the lowest hanging fruit.
They're hoping they can pick off the lowest hanging fruit.
It's an effective strategy which is why Lee, Cruz and Graham are freaking out right now.
I'm all but positive that they'll ultimately whip everyone into line, but it's not gonna be easy like the last impeachment.
Rich people like power, but they also like to live.
I'm all but positive that they'll ultimately whip everyone into line, but it's not gonna be easy like the last impeachment.
Rich people like power, but they also like to live.
I found a more eloquent dive. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/11/opinion/trump-impeachment-trial-republicans.html
