Reputational Hara-Kiri on the Trump team

The opening statements were astonishing. Adam Schiff laid out the case for impeachment. Jay Sekulow and Pat Cipollone whined and lied. I’m not exaggerating.

It’s the Kavanaugh strategy. Democrats make a logical and compelling case. The Republicans answer with incoherent, feral, hostility that pleases Trump and intimidates everyone else.

I hope the Democrats just keep plugging. I don’t know if it will work but it’s our best hope for hanging on to some sort of reality.

Some random highlights:

I sat in chamber for entire Schiff speech. That was a mauling. Trump team thought they were there to debate process and Schiff ambushed them with a full-throated case for impeachment. Republicans were visibly uncomfortable. Sekulow & Cippolone responses were rambling & bombastic

— Jon Ward (@jonward11) January 21, 2020

Schiff notes that just last month, Trump said he "would love" to have his top aides testify.

"The Senate has an opportunity to take the president up on his offer," he adds. pic.twitter.com/Pr3Hjxah4a

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 21, 2020

Jay Sekulow's defense of Trump was just one extended whining session about Democratic process pic.twitter.com/9qHwf6ODP3

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 21, 2020

"Not even Mr. Schiff's Republican colleagues were allowed into the SCIF" — this is a blatant lie from Cipollone pic.twitter.com/A4cWhwRSUo

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 21, 2020

I didn’t expect much but I didn’t think the Trump team would be this Trumpy in the well of the Senate in front of the whole country. They are, apparently, only concerned with giving Fox News some clips for their in-house propagandists to wank to for the cult. They are clearly completely unconcerned with the seriousness of the procedure or even their own reputations.

These lawyers are committing professional hara kiri for Donald Trump.

And they don’t have to face voters.