Archives for 2019

Playbook: “At 9 a.m., the House will gavel in, and soon thereafter, it will proceed to impeachment. The House first has to debate the ‘rule,’ which sets the guidelines for debate — we expect that procedural vote at some time in the 10 a.m. hour. The House will then move to six hours of debate on impeachment — a very long time compared with other legislative matters. That time is equally divided between the minority and majority. Watch out for Republicans to pull some procedural maneuvers, and ask for unrelated votes, which would elongate the process.”

“Impeachment needs a simple majority of those present and voting to pass. The House has four vacancies, so if everyone is present and voting, 216 is the magic number, not 218.”

“This is just a guess but it’s looking like it will be a late night. Votes could be in the 7-8 p.m. neighborhood — if not later. We can’t imagine they’ll allow themselves to vote too late, but there is the potential for a bizarre split-screen effect, with Democrats (and Justin Amash) voting to impeach the president while he whips up the crowd in Battle Creek, Mich.”

“A majority of House lawmakers have said they plan to support at least one article of impeachment against President Trump,” the Washington Post reports.

“No Republicans have said they will break ranks in the full House vote, which is expected Wednesday.”

Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) told the Bangor Daily News that he will vote to impeach President Trump for abusing the power of his office, but not on a second impeachment that charges the Republican president with obstructing a congressional probe.

“For months, Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a freshman Democrat from New Jersey, has publicly trashed the impeachment process, calling it unfair, unfounded, and deeply damaging to the country—but privately, this soon-to-be Republican had a much different reasoning,” the Daily Beast reports.

“Behind closed doors, Van Drew has told colleagues that the president was stupid and mentally unstable—and that his opposition to impeachment stemmed from his belief that impeaching Trump would ensure his re-election.”

Of the 31 House Democrats representing districts that President Trump won in 2016, just two have not yet signaled how they will vote on the impeachment resolution, the Washington Post reports.

The overwhelming majority — 27 of them — will vote to impeach the president tomorrow, while two have indicated they will oppose the resolution. We’re still waiting on announcements from Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) and Ron Kind (D-WI).

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) is calling for President Trump’s censure on the eve a full House vote Wednesday on the articles of impeachment, ABC News reports.

She did not say whether she would vote to impeach the president.