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onenote

(42,374 posts)
Thu Jan 30, 2020, 02:31 PM Jan 2020

I don't think Roberts will break a 50-50 tie on a motion to call witnesses

Assuming he even allows a vote, if the result is a 50-50 split, I would guess he would declare that the motion did not pass because it failed to get a majority. It would be his way of avoiding being the tie breaker.

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I don't think Roberts will break a 50-50 tie on a motion to call witnesses (Original Post) onenote Jan 2020 OP
It would be the cowardly way out of a situation. eom guillaumeb Jan 2020 #1
Rethugs have proven themselves to be cowards....over and over. walkingman Jan 2020 #2
Agreed. Cowards, and hypocrites. eom guillaumeb Jan 2020 #4
Wait just a minute! at140 Jan 2020 #12
He did, in a fashion. guillaumeb Jan 2020 #17
Roberts is a weasal and a coward RANDYWILDMAN Jan 2020 #15
Welcome to DU, and yes, you are correct. guillaumeb Jan 2020 #18
The ultimate f-you would be if he said Pence (given he's VP) gets to break the tie ... mr_lebowski Jan 2020 #3
That won't happen. onenote Jan 2020 #6
You'd think witnesses and evidence WOULD have a role in an impeachment trial ... mr_lebowski Jan 2020 #7
Only if the Senate votes to allow witnesses. onenote Jan 2020 #9
Okay but that's why it'd be the ultimate f-you ... mr_lebowski Jan 2020 #10
No the biggest FU would be to vote in witnesses jimfields33 Jan 2020 #13
Your scenario would be the BIGGEST FU ever at140 Jan 2020 #19
Holy cow. You would be right! jimfields33 Jan 2020 #20
Would Senate Rules Dictate That, Though? The_Counsel Jan 2020 #5
He's got nothing to lose, so that would be a massive test of his patriotism Siwsan Jan 2020 #8
I disagree - I think he would break the tie and vote for witnesses Pachamama Jan 2020 #11
Just one question on this bluestarone Jan 2020 #14
It's his call Brother Buzz Jan 2020 #16
It would probably have to go to the Senate parliamentarian for a ruling DeminPennswoods Jan 2020 #21

at140

(6,110 posts)
12. Wait just a minute!
Thu Jan 30, 2020, 02:44 PM
Jan 2020

Didn't chief justice Roberts save Obamacare by declaring it was a tax or something?
I do not recall the details.

RANDYWILDMAN

(2,644 posts)
15. Roberts is a weasal and a coward
Thu Jan 30, 2020, 03:22 PM
Jan 2020

Most of this damage of the Dump, was done by his leading decision of Citizens united and he know's it.

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)
18. Welcome to DU, and yes, you are correct.
Thu Jan 30, 2020, 05:59 PM
Jan 2020
Citizens United v FEC joined Buckley v Valeo in equating money with speech.
 

mr_lebowski

(33,643 posts)
3. The ultimate f-you would be if he said Pence (given he's VP) gets to break the tie ...
Thu Jan 30, 2020, 02:34 PM
Jan 2020

I wouldn't be surprised frankly ...

 

mr_lebowski

(33,643 posts)
7. You'd think witnesses and evidence WOULD have a role in an impeachment trial ...
Thu Jan 30, 2020, 02:37 PM
Jan 2020

And apparently we're not getting that.

VP gets to break Senate vote ties, per the Constitution. Does it specifically say that's negated during impeachment? Would it even matter if it were?

I put nothing past these jokers.

onenote

(42,374 posts)
9. Only if the Senate votes to allow witnesses.
Thu Jan 30, 2020, 02:40 PM
Jan 2020

The Senate is sitting as a court of impeachment when it votes on a motion in an impeachment trial and the Constitution is clear that the CJ, not the VP presides over the Senate at such times.

It's not even a debatable point.

jimfields33

(15,456 posts)
13. No the biggest FU would be to vote in witnesses
Thu Jan 30, 2020, 03:01 PM
Jan 2020

But vote down Bolton, mulvaney and others but vote in joe Biden, hunter and others they want. That could happen since after the witness vote, each witness is voted separately. That’d be terrible.

at140

(6,110 posts)
19. Your scenario would be the BIGGEST FU ever
Thu Jan 30, 2020, 06:28 PM
Jan 2020

If that happens, I can visualize a fist fight in the senate chamber similar to what we see all the time in some foreign
parliaments.

jimfields33

(15,456 posts)
20. Holy cow. You would be right!
Thu Jan 30, 2020, 06:54 PM
Jan 2020

Japan and Hong Kong are two I believe I’ve seen before in media somewhere. I think our senate would make those look like child’s play.

The_Counsel

(1,660 posts)
5. Would Senate Rules Dictate That, Though?
Thu Jan 30, 2020, 02:35 PM
Jan 2020

I'm pretty sure the Constitution says the presiding officer in the Senate only votes to break ties, but half of Congress is already wiping their collective ass with the Constitution...so...

Siwsan

(26,177 posts)
8. He's got nothing to lose, so that would be a massive test of his patriotism
Thu Jan 30, 2020, 02:38 PM
Jan 2020

Is he a patriot, or is he a GOP enabler. I fear it's the second but hope it's the first. What ever happens, it will mark his legacy, from that day forward.

Pachamama

(16,874 posts)
11. I disagree - I think he would break the tie and vote for witnesses
Thu Jan 30, 2020, 02:43 PM
Jan 2020

I think that he would have more to lose as a Judge to be remembered in history for voting against witnesses.

Brother Buzz

(36,212 posts)
16. It's his call
Thu Jan 30, 2020, 03:38 PM
Jan 2020

It's not spelled out specifically, but there IS a precedence for the Chief Justice to break a tie vote.

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