Rand Paul says convicting Trump would 'destroy' GOP

[BUtterfield 8 22,085]

"I didn't agree with the fight that happened last week, and I voted against overturning the election," Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said in an interview on Fox News Friday night. "But at the same time, the impeachment is a wrongheaded, partisan notion. But if Republicans go along with it, it will destroy the party. A third of the Republicans will leave the party." 

Here's what we know: In order for Trump to be convicted, 67 senators -- a supermajority -- would have to vote that way. Which means that 17 GOP senators in the new Congress -- where Democrats and Republicans each control 50 seats -- would have to vote to convict.

At the moment, that looks unlikely, given that no Republican senator has announced that he or she will vote to convict.

But there's no question that McConnell is the linchpin here. If he votes to convict, he gives broad cover for lots of other wavering Republican senators to do so. And there's also no question that the Kentucky senator is at least considering the possibility of voting to convict Trump.

"I have not made a final decision on how I will vote and I intend to listen to the legal arguments when they are presented to the Senate," McConnell said in a decidedly leave-the-door-open statementissued shortly after the House impeached Trump last week.

McConnell is faced with a stark political choice. He is clearly fed up with Trump and believes the outgoing President represents a clear and present danger to the future of the GOP. Casting a vote to convict Trump -- or being part of a Republican rebellion that led to the President's conviction -- would allow McConnell a very clean break with the 45th president.

On the other hand, Paul isn't wrong about the impact such a vote might have within the GOP.  It would almost certainly further splinter the Republican Party between the so-called "establishment" and the Trump wing.

And that sort of fracture would make it very difficult for Republicans to win national elections or take back the House and Senate majorities.

Source

Edited January 19 by BUtterfield 8

[Standing-o 108]

GOODBYE!

[dollardays 1,802]

I thought it said Ru Paul and was so confused 

[Chris Evans 8,390]

oh no 

Spoiler

 

[Luke78619 18,264]

Oh no, Sour Candy will be pushed back another week then 

[BabylonChristmas 793]

Hopefully, the GOP does get destroyed 

[Chromatican 3,692]

The gop must be destroyed.

[ToxicHot 5,588]

Well hello! Let’s celebrate THAT! 

 

[chromatic puzea 1,996]

49 minutes ago, dollardays said:

I thought it said Ru Paul and was so confused 

LMAOOO same I was like first the transphobia, then the fracking, now this?

[lady siwa 368]

[StarstruckIllusion 26,854]

[PunkTheFunk 108,982]

It's not happening so there's no point talking about it.

[Runway 25,039]

Me when it happens

 

[ALGAYDO 14,729]

Rand Paul needs to shut the fúck up

[MessyTop 9,128]

I read RuPaul! Hahahaha