Two Notes re the Senate Impeachment Trial

As our loyal readers and other readers know, we don't do politics here. But we do not hesitate to comment on things like strategy, tactics, and predictions. That said:

Re Strategy and Tactics: The Democrats are masters of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. When David Boies (clearly with the consent of Al Gore and likely driven by Joe Lieberman) made the tactical decision to cherry-pick counties for re-count, instead of seeking a re-count of the entire state including ballots from overseas, the case was doomed, and Bush became president. The House Intelligence and Judiciary Committees likewise made a short-sighted decision in not putting the Republicans on the spot by agreeing to their request that Biden and his son testify provided the Republicans agreed to join in their request for Bolton, Mulvaney, Giuliani, and others. As they get backed against the wall, the Senate Republicans are going to demand that Biden and his son testify if Bolton et al are allowed to testify. Not only should the Dems not oppose that move, they must embrace it. Otherwise, they will prove to all they are dumber than a box of rocks.

Re Predictions: If the moment comes that Senator McConnell believes that the Republican majority in the Senate will be lost if the vote to hear from witnesses loses, the vote to hear from witnesses will win. And if the moment comes that Senator McConnell believes that the Republican majority in the Senate will be lost unless Trump is convicted and removed, Trump will be convicted and removed. Let the record reflect that the odds of that happening is not nearly as low as all the pundits think it is. And let the record further reflect that, if Bolton testifies, and documents keep coming out as they have recently come out, the odds of that happening are pretty darn good. Pretty pretty pretty darn good. And to my erstwhile real-politic friends who say McConnell would never turn on the president like that, I say this: The one thing you can count on when it comes to McConnell is he will do anything, absolutely anything--his ruthlessness knows no bounds, to remain Majority Leader of the Senate.

PS: One important thing, from the Dems side, is to keep Nadler, who is an impeachment manager, out of the process and off TV as much as possible.