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Judi Lynn

(160,586 posts) Sat Oct 26, 2019, 03:19 AM Oct 2019

Bill Weld: Trump faces higher risk of removal if senators go to secret ballot

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David Smith in Washington

Trump impeachment inquiry
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David Smith @smithinamerica
Sat 26 Oct 2019 02.00 EDT

Donald Trump faces a higher risk of being removed from office than is widely assumed if senators vote on his fate by secret ballot, according to a Republican challenging him for the US presidency.

Bill Weld, the former governor of Massachusetts, is mounting a long-shot challenge to Trump in the Republican primary and he is now suggesting the president might not even be on the ballot in November 2020.

Conventional wisdom holds that, in the wake of the damning testimony of the acting ambassador to Ukraine, Bill Taylor, of a quid pro quo, House Democrats’ inquiry will inevitably result in Trump’s impeachment before the end of this year but the Republican-controlled Senate will then acquit him.

“I do think the House will send it over to the Senate for a trial,” Weld said before a recent campaign stop in New Hampshire. “I don’t really have a prediction on the Senate. I have no idea what the chances are.

“A straw in the wind was provided by former senator [Jeff] Flake of Arizona recently when he said if there was a secret ballot, there would be 30 to 35 votes to convict. Well, all you need is 20. I think from Senator Flake that was a trial balloon to plant the idea in Leader [Mitch] McConnell’s head that maybe a secret ballot would inform his judgment. If they go to a secret ballot, I think you could see some real movement.”

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/oct/26/bill-weld-trump-challenger-impeachment-senate

10 replies

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Bill Weld: Trump faces higher risk of removal if senators go to secret ballot (Original Post) Judi Lynn Oct 2019 OP

Well, duh. Who could have guessed that? TreasonousBastard Oct 2019 #1

And that's why the vote won't be secret. dem4decades Oct 2019 #2

If the Repubs want save their party. djacq Oct 2019 #3

I hope they don't use a secret ballot. Cowards need to be outed. rainin Oct 2019 #4

I'm torn. crickets Oct 2019 #5

I agree with secret ballot. The primary job is to get knucklebutt out. Karadeniz Oct 2019 #6

They're so courageous. DavidDvorkin Oct 2019 #7

what a bunch of fucking cowards they are Skittles Oct 2019 #8

True MustLoveBeagles Oct 2019 #9

well there's that Skittles Oct 2019 #10

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)

1. Well, duh. Who could have guessed that?

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sat Oct 26, 2019, 04:45 AM

Oct 2019

dem4decades

(11,299 posts)

2. And that's why the vote won't be secret.

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sat Oct 26, 2019, 05:52 AM

Oct 2019

djacq

(1,634 posts)

3. If the Repubs want save their party.

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sat Oct 26, 2019, 06:19 AM

Oct 2019

Such as it is.

rainin

(3,011 posts)

4. I hope they don't use a secret ballot. Cowards need to be outed.

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sat Oct 26, 2019, 06:24 AM

Oct 2019

They need to be forced to put their name next to a vote of aye or nay, and live with it for the rest of their lives.

crickets

(25,981 posts)

5. I'm torn.

Reply to rainin (Reply #4)

Sat Oct 26, 2019, 04:43 PM

Oct 2019

On the one hand, I agree with you. An open government should insist that the vote of our representatives is public, and any secret ballot sets bad precedent. On the other hand, for the sake of this country's survival, Trump has got to go.