Diane Feinstein: I Don't Know If There's Enough Evidence for Impeachment to Support Anything But an Acquittal

Interesting.

Just after President Trump�s defense lawyers ended arguments in their Senate trial Tuesday, Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California became the first Democrat to suggest that she could vote to acquit him, despite serious concerns about his character. "Nine months left to go, the people should judge. We are a republic, we are based on the will of the people-- the people should judge," Feinstein said Tuesday, after the president�s team finished a three-day presentation in his defense. "That was my view and it still is my view." Still, she indicated that arguments in the trial about Trump's character and fitness for office had left her undecided. "What changed my opinion as this went on," she said, is a realization that "impeachment isn't about one offense. It's really about the character and ability and physical and mental fitness of the individual to serve the people, not themselves."

Diane Feinstein, who employed for decades a spy for Red China in a sensitive position, is an excellent judge of character.

Meanwhile, some GOPers are suggesting that they have the votes to force a final vote, guilty or innocent, by Friday.

�The overwhelming consensus is we�ve heard enough - and it�s time to move to a final judgment,� said Sen. John Barrasso, a member of the Senate GOP leadership, says after conference meeting — Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 28, 2020

Bolton claims may be a bust. Senate Republicans hint after a closed-door meeting Tuesday afternoon that the GOP consensus is mostly against witnesses. The whip (vote counter), Sen. John Thune, tells us the Senate trial "shouldn't" go beyond Friday. "We are kind of on schedule" — Susan Ferrechio (@susanferrechio) January 28, 2020

On that claim that "Bolton might be a bust" -- Bolton claimed that AG Barr had confided in him that he was afraid of the Mad Tyrant Trump, and Barr calls Bolton a liar.

DOJ spokeswoman @KerriKupecDOJ responds to NYT story about Bolton and Barr: pic.twitter.com/F95PGGkxTH — Mollie (@MZHemingway) January 28, 2020





I don't know if I believe these claims. The GOP has three or four enormous turncoats, basically Democrats embedded in the Republican Party -- Romney, Collins, Murkowski, and Alexander.

I think that some Senators are trying to bluff these guys into just voting against witnesses and moving for a final vote.

I know Romney, for one, is dead-set against that.

Other GOPers like Hawley and Rand Paul are trying to bluff that if Bolton is called, then they'll call the Bidens and the whistleblower.

But Romeny, Collins, and Murkowski would have to vote in favor of those witnesses, too.

I think the threat being made here is: Vote for all witnesses or none at all, and no, we will not provide you with political cover if you decide to simply vote with the Democrats, as usual.

But is that a real threat? Does the GOP Senate committee ever actually punish traitors or support challengers?

And I think three of these four -- Romney, Murkowski, and Alexander -- aren't just willing to vote entirely with Democrats, but would take a Traitor's Glee in doing so.

The only one who might shy away from just completely dropping the mask is Susan Collins, who is up for reelection this year.

She still has to pretend. But just for eight more months.

Update: Rick Scott also saying they have the votes to end the "trial" and proceed to final vote.

The trouble is, I think they're trying to bluff the c***s. And I don't think they can be bluffed. It's easy to count to four.

