How the Senate can stop a purely partisan impeachment
Washington Post, Nov 10, 2019, Hugh Hewitt

[...]

And what will come of those charges in the Senate? My first column sparked some research. Kelly D. Johnston is former secretary of the Senate, a former Senate GOP aide and former staff director for the Senate Republican Policy Committee before that. The secretary of the Senate is the chief legislative, administrative and financial officer of the upper chamber.

Johnston says a critical moment will arise as soon as any “Articles” arrive in the Senate, but before any substantive proceedings occur. Under the standing rules of the Senate, the Senate must approve a “Motion to Proceed” to consider the articles. And it is at that moment that senators — even and especially those critical of Trump for other reasons — should think of a future littered with partisan impeachments born of secret proceedings and abuse of the House minority’s rights, as well as the rights of future presidents.

If House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam B. Schiff’s (D-Calif.) sham charges aren’t throttled in their crib by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), they will birth future similar charades. But McConnell and fellow Republicans, perhaps with support by Democrats willing to brave enormous blowback from the “resistance,” should step up and say, "This far and no farther. We will not put our nation at risk of a future littered with these sort of vendettas dressed in the garb of impeachment. We won’t ever approve a purely partisan Article of Impeachment for trial.”

Johnston informed me that when then-Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) launched the Senate trial of Clinton, on the opening day of the new Congress, Jan. 6, 1999, he did so with a unanimous consent request for the Motion to Proceed. “Not only was there no objection,” Johnston added, “but it was also clearly worked out in advance with the Democratic leader then, Tom Daschle.”

This is where the fork in history will confront McConnell and Republicans.


Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/11/10/how-senate-can-stop-purely-partisan-impeachment/

Imagine a world where Republicans had this kind of courage.

Some will argue for a full trial with haggling over Biden's testimony, Ciarmella's testimony, Schiff's testimony, et al. Others remind us if you're the defendant (Republicans) you never walk away from a motion to dismiss.

We sure do live in interesting times.

1. In part we are at this point, as pay back over Clinton's Blue dress games. At the time, the GOP could have stopped, but they just couldn't help themselves.

The dems just lay in waiting, for their chance.

2. Even if Trump prevails, the GOP is in danger, due to demographics and to culture.