I think McConnell WANTS Democrats to take the Senate in November.

[Kablooie]

To announce that Republicans want to cut Social Security and Medicare weeks before an election will obviously shift some senior votes towards Democrats. Why would he do this now?

He is lining up a series of judges to be confirmed during the "lame duck" session after the election. He would only do this if he expects to lose the Senate.

Now why would he want the Senate to go to the Democrats?
To save his own political neck.

Mueller's report will probably be released during the next session and will likely be devastating.
This means that Trump will be impeached by the House and whoever is the Majority Leader of the Senate will have the duty to run the trial to convict or acquit Trump.

If McConnell is in charge and Trump is convicted, he will be blamed by the Trump supporters and possibly lose his Senatorship.
If Trump is acquitted when he obviously should be convicted, McConnell could still lose a large portion of his support.

If Democrats are in charge and Trump is convicted, the Republicans that voted against him could lose their future elections but McConnell, who will vote to acquit, will remain.
If Trump is acquitted, the Democrats will suffer the consequences among their own base for failing to get rid of Trump. McConnell will remain unsullied.

So McConnell's plan may be to hand the Senate over to the Democrats for the next two years in order to keep out of the line of fire and protect his own skin.

[RockRaven]

1. I think he is shameless (look at Garland episode) and would rather have power than not.

He'd rather run the Senate trial and try to stack the deck for Trump than not be in control of it.

He'd rather have 2 more years of rubber stamping a GOP POTUS's judicial nominees than risk Dems grow a spine and do to Trump what he did to Obama (block them regardless of merit).


I think he's talking about cutting Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid because that is the goal his multi-millionaire and billionaire and corporate paymasters have been seeking all along. The massive tax cut was only step 1. Yes it was a small goal of its own, but it was also a means to another larger end -- create massive deficits to create the pretense for cutting entitlements.

[Merlot]

2. You make good points, but I find it hard to believe mcconnell would give up power

No matter what, it's better to hold power. He had no problem sabatoging Garlands nomination, he would have no problem doing something just as underhanded to save trumpft.

I was also puzzeled by his announcement of cutting SS and Medicare. I think it was a signal to conserviatives and backers on how he would move foreard, and hopeing they will pour more money into republican races in order to see SS and Medicare cut.

[Polybius]

3. Gonna have to disagree

Trump won't be convicted anyway. 67 votes means we would have to get (currently) 18 sane Republicans to vote yes, when there is probably only one (Lisa Murkowski).

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. No. That is not the way politicians ever think or operate.

They want to hold on to power, regardless of the cost.

[Kablooie]

5. Yeah, you're probably right.

He'd figure out something if the water started getting hot.

Boy, when is he going to get cancer?

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

11. It is frustrating to me that people here constantly attribute

motives, often complex motives to various politicians. Of both parties. At least 99% of the time the main thought is: will this get me re-elected?

[SammyWinstonJack]

6. I think he knows the fix is in, just like he did with the GE wrt his refusal

of Obama's SC nomination of Merrick Garland.

I so hope that is not the case.

[Cha]

7. Or he's an Arrogant Asshole who thinks trump

and his doormats like himself will just keep on Winning.. so much winning.

[dsc]

8. Except he wouldn't be running the trial

John Roberts would.

[LakeSuperiorView]

9. Why would the Supreme Court be involved?

The House drafts and passes Article of Impeachment, then the Senate tries the case. It doesn't involve the Supreme Court at all.

[DVRacer]

10. Actually one member is

The Chief Justice acts as the judge in the matter the House Judiciary Committee will act as prosecutor. The full Senate is the jury. I remember how it went when Clinton was impeached.