# Forget Trump: Impeach Mitch McConnell **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 31, 2019, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-trump-impeach-mitch-mcconnell/834833 "2019-05-31T15:32:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-trump-impeach-mitch-mcconnell/834833/1 "2019-05-31T15:32:19Z")
[Mitch McConnell Says He’d Go After Supreme Court Vacancy In 2020: ‘We’d Fill It’](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mitch-mcconnell-supreme-court-2020_n_5cedc377e4b0ae671058a60d) > [@](#): > > Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday he would work to fill any Supreme Court vacancy in 2020, an election year, despite his efforts to scuttle Judge Merrick Garland’s nomination to the bench for that very reason in 2016. If you don’t think this is exactly the abuse of partisan party politics that they founders wanted to stamp out, your reading in history is inadequate. This is the smoking gun that the case against Trump lacks. The entire public can get this, in simple terms, black and white. [Harvard Constitutional Law Professor Unloads On ‘Flagrant Dickhead’ Mitch McConnell](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/harvard-law-professor-mitch-mcconnell_n_5cf0f6cce4b0e8085e381e5e). “Flagrant dickhead” is a term of art, BTW. It was approved as an impeachable offense 19-6 in the Constitutional Convention. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-trump-impeach-mitch-mcconnell/834833/2 "2019-05-31T15:51:04Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > [Mitch McConnell Says He’d Go After Supreme Court Vacancy In 2020: ‘We’d Fill It’](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mitch-mcconnell-supreme-court-2020_n_5cedc377e4b0ae671058a60d) > . . . The entire public can get this, in simple terms, black and white. . . . Unfortunately, you give [40+ percent of the US public](https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/trump-approval/) far too much credit. In fact, Tribe’s ad hominem will probably be the only thing that penetrates their consciousness and, as such, will simply serve to solidify their _Eid auf den Führer_. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-trump-impeach-mitch-mcconnell/834833/3 "2019-05-31T15:54:33Z")
You can’t impeach a Senator. You can’t recall a Senator. You can vote him out of office (if you live in KY) or he could be expelled by his fellow Senators, but given that he’s the elected Republican leader it’s kind of hard to see how that happens. But, if nothing else, this illustrates how whatever high-sounding pronouncements might issue forth from Republican mouths, they’re all merely rationalizations to cover their true motivations. Remember that and don’t respond to the rationalizations, only the motivations. Don’t be the stupid bull that wears itself out on the cape and doesn’t see the sword coming. ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-trump-impeach-mitch-mcconnell/834833/4 "2019-05-31T16:01:47Z")
“Flagrant Dickhead”? IMO, the professor’s being awfully polite. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-trump-impeach-mitch-mcconnell/834833/5 "2019-05-31T18:03:02Z")
I’d be all for impeaching Mitch if it were a thing that could be done. Unlike Trump, he’s both evil and exceedingly competent at what he does. He’s the true soulless face of the Republican Party. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-trump-impeach-mitch-mcconnell/834833/6 "2019-05-31T18:22:31Z")
Senator McConnell is the Republican reaction to Harry Reid. You’re reaping what you sowed. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-trump-impeach-mitch-mcconnell/834833/7 "2019-05-31T18:23:25Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > You can’t impeach a Senator. You should have told the founders that. In fact, the very first impeachment trial was of a [Senator](https://history.house.gov/Institution/Impeachment/Impeachment-List/), William Blout of Tennessee, in 1797. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-trump-impeach-mitch-mcconnell/834833/8 "2019-05-31T18:30:48Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Senator McConnell is the Republican reaction to Harry Reid. You’re reaping what you sowed. McConnell was the leader of the Senate GOP before Reid was the leader of the Senate Dems. Guess you guys mastered time travel and haven’t shared it with the rest of us. McConnell filibustered practically all the legislation passed by the Democratic-controlled House in 2007-2008 for no purpose other than to save Dubya the hassle of having to veto it. Tell me how that was a reaction to Harry Reid. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-trump-impeach-mitch-mcconnell/834833/9 "2019-05-31T18:38:38Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Senator McConnell is the Republican reaction to Harry Reid. You’re reaping what you sowed. What’s wrong with Harry Reid? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-trump-impeach-mitch-mcconnell/834833/10 "2019-05-31T18:39:12Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > McConnell was the leader of the Senate GOP before Reid was the leader of the Senate Dems. … [I don’t think that’s true](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_leaders_of_the_United_States_Senate#List_of_party_leaders). ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-trump-impeach-mitch-mcconnell/834833/11 "2019-05-31T18:43:03Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > What’s wrong with Harry Reid? What, you want McConnell to be responsible for his own actions? (Or in the case of Garland, inaction.) There has to be a Democrat responsible for the Republican, see? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-trump-impeach-mitch-mcconnell/834833/12 "2019-05-31T18:44:03Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > What’s wrong with Harry Reid? Aside from [his lying](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/09/15/harry-reid-lied-about-mitt-romneys-taxes-hes-still-not-sorry/), are you familiar with the “nuclear option”? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-trump-impeach-mitch-mcconnell/834833/13 "2019-05-31T18:45:21Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > What, you want McConnell to be responsible for his own actions? (Or in the case of Garland, inaction.) There has to be a Democrat responsible for the Republican, see? It’s a ridiculous argument. Reid ended the filibuster for non-SCOTUS nominees because the Republicans were using Senate rules to prevent even the consideration of nominees, preventing the Senate from actually fulfilling their constitutional duties. So Reid acted in response to McConnell’s actions. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-trump-impeach-mitch-mcconnell/834833/14 "2019-05-31T18:49:40Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Aside from [his lying](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/09/15/harry-reid-lied-about-mitt-romneys-taxes-hes-still-not-sorry/), are you familiar with the “nuclear option”? Yeah, but he’s also a straight shooter: > [@](#): > > This is hardly the first time Reid has criticized Trump. He has called him a “spoiled brat,” “con artist,” and “human leech.” In 2016, he said Trump’s campaign was “kind of fat, ugly, and dirty.” In the recent Times profile, Reid declared that Trump is the “worst president” the US has ever had. “He’ll lie. He’ll cheat. You can’t reason with him,” he said. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-trump-impeach-mitch-mcconnell/834833/15 "2019-05-31T18:50:01Z")
Republicans are never responsible for their own actions. They were always forced to do it by the evil Democrats. Same logic abusive spouses use. I didn’t want to, but you made me do it. The party of personal responsibility my ass. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-trump-impeach-mitch-mcconnell/834833/16 "2019-05-31T18:52:07Z")
If treating judicial nominations based on partisanship was enough to get you kicked out of the Senate, they wouldn’t have a quorum. On either side of the aisle. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-trump-impeach-mitch-mcconnell/834833/17 "2019-05-31T19:02:23Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > [I don’t think that’s true](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_leaders_of_the_United_States_Senate#List_of_party_leaders). Ah, you’re right. Wikipedia’s summary of Reid’s time as minority leader listed his stints in that role in reverse chron order, so I missed his first go-around. Still, my other point stands. Mitch was an obstructionist not only from the get-go, but for no purpose other than to save Dubya the hassle of vetoing legislation. What did Harry Reid do to bring that on? ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-trump-impeach-mitch-mcconnell/834833/18 "2019-05-31T19:47:56Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > You should have told the founders that. > > In fact, the very first impeachment trial was of a [Senator](https://history.house.gov/Institution/Impeachment/Impeachment-List/), William Blout of Tennessee, in 1797. The impeachment of Blount was brought by the House on the same day Blount was expelled from the Senate (under Art. 1, Section 5). The Senate, after debating the matter for four days, concluded that members of Congress are not “civil officers of the United States” and are therefore not subject to impeachment by the House and trial by the Senate. The impeachment was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction and no Congressperson has been impeached since. It would be interesting perhaps to see if that Senate interpretation would stand up to Judicial review, but IANAL and have no idea if or how such a review could be accomplished. (If the HoR attempted such an impeachment, it would be dismissed immediately by the Senate, and there’s no clear --to me-- path of appeal.) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-trump-impeach-mitch-mcconnell/834833/19 "2019-05-31T20:43:56Z")
Functionally, how is expulsion by the Senate any different from impeachment? The only difference I can see is that expulsion by the Senate is easier, because it doesn’t require involvement by the House. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-trump-impeach-mitch-mcconnell/834833/20 "2019-05-31T20:44:19Z")
> [@xenophon41](#): > > The impeachment of Blount was brought by the House on the same day Blount was expelled from the Senate (under Art. 1, Section 5). The Senate, after debating the matter for four days, concluded that members of Congress are not “civil officers of the United States” and are therefore not subject to impeachment by the House and trial by the Senate. The impeachment was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction and no Congressperson has been impeached since. It’s nowhere as straightforward as you make it out to be. Here’s what the official [Senate](https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/expulsion_cases/Blount_expulsion.htm) history page has to say: > [@](#): > > Statement of the Case > > On July 3, 1797, President Adams sent the incriminating letter to both the Senate and House, accompanied by a special message charging that Blount had sought the aid of a United States government interpreter to seize Spanish Florida and Louisiana with British and Indian help. Adams acted on an opinion from the attorney general that the letter was evidence of a crime and that Blount, a senator, was liable to impeachment under the Constitution. For the first time in the Senate’s then brief history, its powers to expel and to convict in an impeachment case were to be tested. > > Response of the Senate > > The House and Senate promptly appointed special committees to review the matter. On July 7, the House concluded, after spirited debate, that a senator was an impeachable official and ordered the chairman of its committee to inform the Senate that the House planned to present articles of impeachment. The House also demanded that the Senate suspend Blount from his seat and guarantee his appearance to answer the charges. … > > On July 8, after hearing two of Blount’s colleagues testify that the letter was in his handwriting and listening to a response by defense counsel, the Senate took up its committee’s report. The committee had cited Blount’s conduct as “entirely inconsistent with his public trust" and recommended that he be expelled from the Senate. By a vote of 25 to 1, the members upheld the report in the first expulsion of a United States senator. Further, the Senate ordered Blount to appear on July 10 to answer the representatives’ articles of impeachment. Although Blount gave assurances that he would appear on that date, he instead spurred his horse home to Tennessee. > > Conclusion > > The Senate’s actions on July 8 were actually contradictory: while attempting to ensure that Blount would be present at his impeachment trial, it simultaneously declared him already guilty when it voted to expel him. In the succeeding months, the Senate unsuccessfully sought to take custody of Blount and return him to the capital. Although Blount graciously received the acting Senate sergeant at arms at his home, the unrepentant Tennessean’s supporters and state authorities warned the official to make no attempt to remove their friend. > > Despite Blount’s absence, his impeachment trial began in the Senate on December 17, 1798, and quickly focused on the Senate’s right to try an expelled senator. In a narrow vote, the Senate defeated a resolution that asserted William Blount was an impeachable officer. In this vote, the Senate failed to make clear whether its decision stemmed from a belief that no senator could be impeached or from the belief that someone who ceased to hold a “civil office” also ceased to be impeachable. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-trump-impeach-mitch-mcconnell/834833.md?page=2)