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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAfter This Impeachment Acquittal Farce, Here's How We Finally Hold Trump To Account
Democrats didnt need to extend a trial where the verdict was never in doubt. But there is a way to get to the truth of what happened at the insurrection, and Trumps role in it.Michael Tomasky
Special Correspondent
Updated Feb. 13, 2021 4:36PM ET
I see that people are apoplectic on Twitter about the Democrats caving on impeachment trial witnesses after Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and a handful of other Republicans abruptly called their bluff and voted to allow them.
But people shouldnt be upset. That was the right move for Democrats for two reasons. First, witnesses or no witnesses, this is a foreordained reality show, so lets just get on with it and get it ended.
And second, to the extent that there is a hunger to get to the bottom of everything that happened on Jan. 6and I hope that extent is considerable across the nationthere is a far better venue for doing so than an impeachment trial.
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All of which brings us to the superior venue through which the nation can get to the bottom of this. Its the 9/11-style commission that Pelosi has promoted. That would be a commission of experts, with a large and top-drawer staff and subpoena power, that would get to the bottom of everything. It could and should take months and do hundreds of interviews and subpoena resistant witnesses and tell the whole story.
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https://www.thedailybeast.com/we-need-a-911-style-panel-for-jan-6-after-the-inevitable-disappointing-end-of-trumps-impeachment-trial
empedocles
(15,751 posts)soothsayer
(38,601 posts)Im on board
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
In other words, I agree.
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Hoyt
(54,770 posts)The one thing that trump's lousy attorneys proved is that unless a jury is impaneled from DU, there will be a lot of "reasonable doubt" in a criminal trial and every jury will have one, two, or more white wingers to hang.
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)Hermit-The-Prog
(33,414 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,836 posts)This reverse kangaroo court where acquittal was foreordained was never going to be an effective forum for the truth about everything that happened. Raskin and the other House managers did a great job with the hand they were dealt, but there was no way in Hell that enough GOPers would vote for conviction for it to happen. There has to be an independent counsel investigation and/or something like the 9/11 commission that can turn over all the rocks without the GOP getting in the way. And I hope it happens soon.
crickets
(25,983 posts)I'd love to see an independent counsel investigation. Nancy Pelosi has already called for a 9/11 style commission and I hope she makes sure it happens. Bring on the hearings! Truth will out.
Hugin
(33,198 posts)They fooled me on having a commission to look into liars getting us into a war in Iraq and this one is on me, if I fall for it.
dhill926
(16,355 posts)empedocles
(15,751 posts)good battles the fight is brutal.
However, the the trend is our friend, moving overall, against trump. trump has been getting weaker by the month, since the Election,
The Magistrate
(95,255 posts)Madame Speaker, as usual, has things by the right end.
magicarpet
(14,167 posts)If nothing is done he will be back come 2024 and his reign of terror will continue.
BSdetect
(8,999 posts)Mr.Bill
(24,319 posts)but by November 2022 we can make them wish they had.
ecstatic
(32,731 posts)We cannot trust republicans. Period. Have we fully absorbed that fact yet?
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,836 posts)and then twisted the results. I trust the current administration to appoint honest investigators.
Bmoboy
(273 posts)The 9/11 Commission papered over the Saudi involvement.
The Warren Commission left a lot of questions unanswered.
Reviewing the Congressional Commissions of the 101st through 116th congresses found centennial commissions and commissions on issues that still are unresolved - hunger, weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, drug abuse, housing, etc. and lots of centennials.
Although credit is due for the Preservation of Jazz Commission.
my source - https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40076.pdf
Then there's the Tilden Hayes Commission where the presidency was given to the guy who had more members of his party on the commission.
As George Carlin said - "When you're born into this world, you're given a ticket to the freak show. If you're born in America, you get a front row seat."
Bring on the Commission. Gimme some popcorn.