Where is the Coverage of the Congressional Markup Debates?
Read Time:3 Minute, 27 Second
For the past two months, we have heard nothing but complaints about the process of the current impeachment inquiry. Not one single Republican witness disputes the facts, other than their complicit furthering of the GOP narrative which contains Trump’s talking points.
Now, tonight as the most important of hearings is currently taking place – a debate on markups on the two Articles of Impeachment decided by a party-line vote – where is the major network coverage? Crickets. Regardless of how this turns out, the media will be on record as playing a complicit role in the GOP fiasco.
At a minimum, the American people – the very citizens of this nation, Republican and Democratic alike – have a darned RIGHT to hear both sides of the argument. Despite this, the media ignores the hearing. I found some coverage on MSNBC on All In With Chris Hayes, but that was about it.
This should not be.
I can recall as a young teenager how the major networks covered the Watergate hearings, morning, throughout the day, and at night. Now? Nothing. And if it is covered, it is sparse.
And then we hear how the polls regarding whether this man should be removed from office remain unmoved. Do you think? The less exposure provided on the hearings, the more resilient these polls will remain whether for or against.
Furthermore, and exacerbating this issue is the Courts. As Chris Matthews pointed out on his Hardball show, it appears even the Courts are slow-walking key decisions to force testimony by key witnesses that arguably would bolster the case for impeachment. How do I know these witnesses would bolster the case? Glad you ask.
If the witnesses Trump has blocked from testifying – if they had exculpatory evidence would have been on the Hill faster than a snowman melts when placing a hair blower on high heat in front of it. But they have not testified, have they? And THAT speaks volumes.
Finally, my prediction on this entire mess is as follows: Mitch McConnell will deprive the American people of seeing a fair trial and hearing in the Senate. And this is no small point either.. Trump has complained that he has not received “due process.” However, he was invited to provide witnesses to this judiciary committee only for him to ignore the hearings.
And you can bet this much: McConnell has the authority to actually bypass the system by circumventing the Chief Justice from even being involved in the matters regarding the trial. How? All he need do is to place motion after motion in the Senate requiring a mere 51 vote majority to fashion the hearing (the actual due process deserved by Trump) requiring a voice vote.
Case in point: For example, McConnell can place a motion before the GOP led Senate to not even take witnesses, that is, that they are ready to vote on the matter without witnesses. And in the end, Trump will walk.
One last point: Why in the world did our Democratic leaders leave “Bribery or Extortion” out from the Articles of Impeachment? Not including these terms provides the public with the impression that this matter does not affect them.
However, it does.
Again: Trump used the power of HIS OFFICE – the presidency to withhold Congressional approved aide to Ukraine and deprive the Ukraine President of a visit to the Oval Office to recognize our partnership with them. Why? He wanted dirt on his political opponent. He did not do so for national security interests. In fact, he has placed our national security at grave risk.
If what Trump did – which is in his own words as evidence and confirmed by witnesses is NOT impeachable then NOTHING IS and a dangerous precedent is being established.
Perhaps we ought to seek censure versus the impeachment given the current political tribalism which exists in our nation?
I have no answer. I will leave that to the scholars, and the writers of our history. And you can bet those historians WILL record what transpires with this issue.
THIS IS THE TIME TO CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES!
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Let’s hope it’s more than half the country that hates him. Well more than half I might add.
Even the old men who use my gym as a Fox watching room had all the screens on ESPN yesterday. It’s just noise and I’m not sure how many watch the hearings directly. All that matters is what the media of choice has to say later on.
When it’s the “so called constitition” that as we no doesn’t have a provision for impeachment anyway – when misuse of office isn’t a crime anyway – when it’s the Democrats silencing witnesses and refusing to issue subpoenas – when the constitution is obsolete in the first place and when – most importantly he can do anything he wants under that same constitution because he was elected — what the hell does anything like law or truth or due process matter?
Besides he’s getting due process to the same degree anyone under investigation gets and more.
Sure I hate Trump. I hate him because he’s a cheap crook with the future of civilization in his greasy hands Why is he innocent just because more than half the country hates him?
I don’t think they can cover everything, but I saw snippets of it throughout the evening. Quite frankly I’m tired of all of it.
Mark I have to agree with you, as it’s all so exhausting.