GREAT CROWDS OF FIRE

President Trump is doing exactly what I hoped he would do. His entire legal defense team for the upcoming trial just quit. Apparently, they were planning on arguing that the trial is illegal and unconstitutional. They were not planning on putting up a defense, on the theory that the entire trial is illegal. That is, of course, the right legal strategy. But Donald Trump does not view this as a legal challenge. He views it as the opportunity to make his case to the American people. He plans on offering a defense that the election was stolen. He actually has evidence of that and so he is and was justified in saying that. Everyone already knows that every Democrat will vote to convict. That is easy to predict because they all voted to convict him last time, when he had done nothing wrong. Most of the Republicans, about 45, will vote to acquit. Five RINO Republicans may vote to convict. Conviction, which requires 67 votes, is impossible. Having a majority of the senate vote to convict, which is likely, would be very humiliating for Trump.

Everyone knows the outcome is predetermined. Most of the “jurors” have already made up their mind. That is one reason this whole impeachment trial is a fiasco. Even if convicted, Trump could appeal to the Supreme Court which is likely to rule that you cannot impeach a President after he has already left office.

So, since this is already a political trial, Trump will make it all political. He apparently intends to order his attorneys to present a case that the election was stolen. He will be making this case not for the Senators sitting in that chamber, but rather for the American people glued to their television sets.  He has a good chance of winning over that audience for obvious reasons. There are already a ton of people who think this election was stolen. The last poll I saw showed that 72% of Republicans and even 30% of Democrats already believe this election was stolen. Those percentages can only go up, as more people learn about the evidence, some of which is absolutely stunning.

Some Republicans will move to not let the Democrats call any witnesses and may move for a quick vote with no trial. That, although predictable, would be a huge mistake. But the good news is that Democrats appear to be desperate to hold this trial and they may not be able to avoid this now even if they wanted to. Imagine the political embarrassment if the Senate voted not to proceed with the trial after they just voted to hold it a few days ago. Republicans lack the votes to stop this, so at this point the show looks like it is going to go on.

Some Democrats, like Richard Durbin, obviously see the peril here and are looking for an out. But five Republicans appear to be committed to the trial, so wiser heads are unlikely to prevail. This is another reminder that Trump is Trump, he marches to his own tune and one of the things that made him so successful is that he trusts how own instincts.

It will be interesting to see who Trump chooses as his legal counsel. He would be wise to avoid either Sidney Powell or Lin Wood, because many people consider them to be discredited. Both have argued for conspiracy theories not supported by the facts. There is a strong argument for a stolen election that does not require conspiracy theories. The MSM still says Trump was making false allegations about evidence of election fraud. T0hat is impossible to reconcile with the simple fact that 18 states agreed with him and literally joined a lawsuit, rejected by the Supreme Court, alleging serious election law violations in swing states.

Lindsey Graham warned Democrats that this trial could blow up in their face. He is right about that. Just imagine if Trump finally does get to put on his evidence and it is just as compelling as he believes. Now combine this with a Joe Biden, increasingly senile, continuing to make illegal executive orders that are  killing any prospect of an economic recovery.  They are infuriating millions of people with things like allowing biological men to participate in women’s sports and, by the way, use women’s restrooms and shower facilities. Now imagine how popular Joe will be if people realize he was put in power illegally. People would be united. They will be furious at those who made this happen and those who allowed this to happen on their watch.

We just may be in for an unprecedented political firestorm and the only thing really predictable is great crowds of fire.

TDM