Even with the American people pretty much divided along party lines on whether or not President Donald Trump deserves to be impeached and removed from office for the non-crime of asking the president of Ukraine to investigate a possible crime, Trump supporters haven’t seemed to be really all that worried about the prospect. That’s probably because of the widespread belief that, regardless of what the Democratic-controlled House does, the Senate, firmly in the hands of the venerable Cocaine Mitch’s GOP, would easily vote to acquit the president.
And those who want to see Trump removed wouldn’t just need a simple majority, something that could be obtained even without the votes of RINO squishes like Romney, Collins, and Murkowski, but a SUPER majority, or 67 senators. In other words, 20, yes 20 Republican senators would have to defect and vote to remove Trump in order to make it happen.
So we’re safe, right? ... Right??
Uh, not so fast! At least that’s what embattled Trump confidante Roger Stone says, warning Trump via a Friday media interview to take the ongoing impeachment inquiry "very seriously" and not to assume an automatic Senate acquittal.
The former Trump associate speculated that "wobbly Republican senators" could vote against the president unless pressure from their constituents is brought to bear.
"I think that those who sit back and say, 'Well, the House may impeach the president, but surely the Republican Senate will never convict him,' I think are being naive," said Stone, adding that Trump is "in for an incredible fight" because the media and the "two-party duopoly" is against him and hope the attacks against him "will wear his support down in the states where there are wobbly Republican senators, so they feel comfortable voting for his removal."
Stone said the notion that anything in Washington these days is simply “Republicans vs Democrats” is “outdated thinking.”
“This is insiders versus an outsider,” he said. “This is the status quo versus a disruptor."
So, is Stone onto something here? I sure would love to say no way, that is if my Daily Caller colleagues hadn’t contacted EVERY SINGLE Republican Senate office just last week to ask them if they would rule out impeaching and removing Trump from office. Out of 53 senators, how many do you think responded in the affirmative?
Twenty? Thirty?
How about ... seven.
Give a round of applause to Senators Jim Inhofe, Thom Tillis, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Roger Wicker, Mike Rounds, Rob Portman, Jerry Moran for seeing through this ridiculous charade right away. But what’s up with the other 46? Even accounting for some who didn’t respond because they didn’t get the message in time or others who know how they’ll vote but want to hold out official comment because of their potential role as “juror,” that’s a pretty high number. Sure, nobody thinks Ted Cruz would really vote to remove Trump from office, but they only need 20, remember? Suddenly, it doesn’t seem like such an impossible reach.
Then, you might remember, there’s GOP consultant Mike Murphy, who claimed last month that upwards of 30 Republican senators would vote to remove Trump from office if only their vote were held in secret. Sure, he’s a former Romney, McCain, and Jeb! advisor, so take what he says with more than a little grain of salt, but it’s still a disturbing thought.
What’s the answer? Well, Stone’s suggestion for the president, and it’s a great one, is to use his "incredible fundraising juggernaut" to advertise in states where "there are Republican senators who may be thinking about joining this lynch mob."
"As long as the president remains more popular in those states than those individual senators, they will be loath to cast a vote against the president, particularly based on the thinnest read that we have seen so far," he said. Stone's advice to Trump, and I completely concur: "Take this very seriously. Continue to demand total transparency. Stay very focused on those states with wobbly Republican senators. That is where this fight will be won or lost."
In sum, some of these “wobbly” GOP senators may dislike, even hate President Trump in secret, but odds are they like their power and position even more. They need to unequivocally know that stabbing Trump voters in the back will mean the end of their political career, period. Good luck getting elected dog catcher, much less to another Senate term. They can pack up and take their misguided “principles” to the house.
"Donald Trump is the toughest guy I've ever met, and he isn't doing it for himself. He's doing it for us," said Stone.
Maybe so, but going forward he’s going to need a LOT of help.
Perhaps the Senate vote will indeed turn out to be a breeze, especially if no evidence of actual lawbreaking turns up, but given today’s crazy political times, it would be a mistake to take ANYTHING for granted.