Bill Weld: As many as six GOP senators privately support convicting Trump

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld (R) said Thursday that as many as a half-dozen GOP senators are privately in favor of voting to convict President Trump at a likely impeachment trial.

“I know most of the senior Republicans in the Senate," Weld, a long-shot candidate for the GOP presidential nomination, said in an interview at The Hill's offices in Washington. “They’re picking their words carefully when they talk to me, of all people, even though we are friends."

"I wouldn’t want to get quoted,” he added. “I don’t even like to ask someone to do something which is not in their political self-interest. But yeah, I would say they’re four to six votes for removal right now.”

Weld added that House Republicans who remain steadfast in their defense of the president will come to “regret” their decision to vote against impeachment.

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/474374-bill-weld-says-as-many-as-six-gop-senators-are-in-favor-of-convicting-trump

I'll believe it when I see it.

[bearsfootball516]

1. I'd believe it, but I also don't expect any defections in a public vote.

[Bleacher Creature]

2. It's completely meaningless unless they actually do it. NT

[Iliyah]

3. And you know McTurtle won't allow a secret vote (ballot) . . .

I believe there are more. Republicans are afraid of their own party and that is sad.

[BootinUp]

4. I'll hold my breath...

AFTER they actually do something that surprises me.

[diva77]

5. Obviously the rethugs are under a quid-pro-quo to keep defending the rethug-in-chief

Why doesn't Weld tell us why those 6 rethugs won't say anything in public? Maybe our senate Dems could declare protection for those rethugs if they put impeachment over the top.

[Iliyah]

6. Witness Protection for Republican Senators and their family . .

When party members are scared there is a big problems. It's like the mob.

[diva77]

7. not just "like" the mob, I think it IS the mob!!

[progressoid]

8. But are too chicken shit to say it publicly.

Great.

[Moostache]

9. Zero. There is a ZERO PERCENT CHANCE that ANY republican Senator will convict.

Susan Collins will be "concerned". Sasse will be "troubled". Others will say they are waiting to see evidence...

In the end, Moscow Mitch has already announced the outcome here. There will not be a serious or on the level trial, the senators will all vote party lines and Trump will claim victory and exoneration.

The only question remaining is will the Democrats allow themselves to get rolled by Trump again - a la Mueller's report, where he was anything but exonerated and still claimed victory until the narrative became "Mueller was a big fat nothing..." Yeah, only if you consider 10 instances of documented and prosecutable obstruction of justice to be "exoneration".

Trump will be screaming about getting acquitted - as if it is an actual trial or as if evidence will be examined and heard instead of merely presented by the House managers. No Republican is going to actually confront this on the merit...they are all pathetic, craven hypocrites and mealy mouthed scum bags, interested only in their next election because they are career politicians unworthy of existing in polite society.

In the end, the real value in impeachment is the stain it places on Trump forever, and the mere fact that it grinds on his soul like sandpaper and makes him even more irrational than normal.

If Dukakis in a tank helmet , or Kerry windsurfing or Obama in a tan suit could be played endlessly by the GOP, can't we learn from history? Can't we get behind a narrative on this asshole and make it stick? We need to keep goading him...hell, I would announce as soon as the impeachment trial begins, that the house is inquiring on the 10 uncharged instances from Mueller as well as a set-up for Impeachment round 3 on Emoluments...if that's what it takes to shake the people awake already...

I would NOT allow Trump to breathe a free breath until he leaves prison after conviction upon leaving office for wire fraud, election law violations and bank fraud. In honor of Jimmy V...don't give up, don't EVER give up. Stay on Trump like stink on shit until he is convicted and dies in prison...

[StarfishSaver]

10. What ever

[Mike Nelson]

11. They would to have...

... President Pence. He would do all the same stuff, but without the rants and tweets. Alas, the Deplorables want Crooked Donald. He speaks directly to their fear and hate.

[stopdiggin]

12. Republican trying (one more time) to signal

that there still IS a moderate faction of the party. This is not substantive in any way. Political messaging and nothing more. There is no meaningful move to whip up votes (pure fantasy). And .. (with exception of John McCain) as we've seen repeatedly over past three years, there IS no serious resistance to Trump in the modern day Republican party. Period.

[BKDem]

13. Hooray for the secret patriots!

What courage they show in private!

[Arthur_Frain]

14. Your tag was exactly what I thought to myself when I read your headline.

Except that I added the word Bullshit. And some exclamation marks.

There may be one, maybe two lone voices in the wilderness, but in reality, I expect a straight party line vote. Actually I’d be more likely to expect one of our own to pull a Benedict. Never did understand why we seem more likely to have turncoats than they.

I might have hoped murkowski would be one of them, but when she voted to confirm kavanaugh, it was obvious that she is nothing more than a shill, and we are lost in red limbo up here.

[mopinko]

15. i'm hoping they at least keep them from totally rigging the rules.

we only need to get to 51 for most things, and for them to really tilt the whole thing.
at least keep the turtle from a complete grip.
it's something.

[Guilded Lilly]

16. "Privately" doesn't do one damned bit of good in saving our Democracy. n/t

[NewJeffCT]

17. Jeff Flake said 25 senators before

if it was an anonymous vote.

I don't believe either one - it will be unanimous for Trump

[Takket]

18. don't believe it and hardly matters even if it was true. they would murder their own mothers

before going against their base