Why is he speaking early?

but he's up

They just opened the Senate for business (convocation and pledge of allegiance).

ETA - this 12:30pm "chamber" start was scheduled (they are coming off a long weekend so it was to get them all in officially by 1 pm).

Merrick Garland, Mitch.

Shove talking or complaining about fairness up your ass.

lies lies lies. Pure bull mitch.

and is rambling on like one.....

And he's using this time to argue for Trump.

He forgets that they obstructed the investigation. He is a creep. How could Kentucky elect this lying ahole. Kentucky, do your duty.

the accused.

It's remarkable what we're witnessing.

Republicans weren’t allowed to participate in the inquiry. Bullshit.

Trump’s lawyers weren’t allowed. Bullshit.

against their 12 hour allotted time?
This is the most partisan talk I've seen.
He seems to be arguing his case.

If it is not the role of the Senate to investigate in any way, then the House of Representatives should immediately issue subpoenas for Bolton, Pence, all of Trump's team, and the connected mobsters who are working with Giuliani in the Ukraine.

I have long suspected that the House should do this simply to exercise oversight. That is their responsibility.

at least one witness the Republicans requested.

You're damn right Mitch - something as grave as this issue would most likely be protracted.

Remove him Dems! Lock them up!
Relevant documents, relevant witnesses says Schumer!

He took advantage of the 30 minutes or so before the official start, knowing that all channels would already be tuned in, to lie his wrinkly old ass off.

He is a treasonous bastard.

!) Let the doggies out; 3)Pitstop for me too; 2)Breaking out the "Wintertime Jack" Cider and sea salt/pepper popcorn herel 3)Fluffing the sofa cushions

Begin SMH in earnest!

Jerk chicken, corn and split peas

Impeachment procedures to the United States senators.
...
Nobody except the grim reaper in tRumputin’s pocket. He doesn’t really have much of a body, after all. His chins will try to dictate how to run a sham trial.

Can he really delay the Impeachment trial?

I say, Do it!

Everything he said was either a bald-faced lie or disingenuous half-truth.

which should lead to the Senate now being in "trial mode" (and not operating in the capacity as Senators for Senate business).

That I couldn’t control over this weekend. He was using his good Boy Scout routine. Was gross, as he was acting like he’d use his own brain and heart to make sensible decisions regarding impeachment.

Soon, I’ll see just how far he’s willing to go in his lying and covering for the pResident. While I hope he surprises me, I’m not putting any money on him doing the right thing.

Apparently, we'll have to listen to Jim Jordan during the trial.

Roberts just swore in Inhofe who was absent last week.

We nominated you, mersky and crickets

I’m all for an official thread, except I’m all thumbs.