21 empty seats on the GOP side of the Senate, 2 on the Dem side, a couple hours into Schiff's presen

[MelissaB]

Link to tweet

Just counted 21 empty seats on the GOP side of the Senate, 2 on the Dem side, a couple hours into Schiff's presentation. Some are just stretching their legs, but most are not in the chamber. Some of them have been out of there for a while.

Couldn't see when lot of people left, but Graham, Cassidy and Risch were all out for a long time. Graham scooted back when Schiff was talking about Zelensky cancelling the CNN interview.

Cassidy was an interesting departure because, on the GOP, he's looked like the most active note-taker, attention-payer.

Link to tweet

This is pretty astounding. You also can't watch this because the U.S. Senate controls the cameras and have made sure they aren't watching the senators

[gratuitous]

1. Somebody want to wake up Chief Justice Roberts?

I thought the jurors' presence was mandatory. Why isn't the presiding officer making sure the rules are observed?

[MelissaB]

6. It seems they are making a mockery of his court

and he doesn't give a shit.

[dewsgirl]

29. ...😔

[Bettie]

34. He doesn't care

he knows that the whole thing is rigged and he likes it that way.

[gademocrat7]

2. What happened to the rules?

If 21 rethugs walk out again can Dems take a vote on witnesses and evidence?

[babylonsister]

4. I love that idea; that'd get their attention. nt

[Mme. Defarge]

11. If they have not heard all of the arguments

they should not be allowed to vote for either acquittal or conviction. That, or made to hear the testimony as it is repeated to the entire Senate which would extend the length of the trial.

[Nevermypresident]

3. WTH??!

[Tiggeroshii]

5. Lock the doors and force a vote

[Roland99]

13. That would be awesome!

[Tiggeroshii]

14. I mean technically doesnt that mean the Democrats have control of the chamber?

Too easy!

[Nevermypresident]

7. What an ad that would make. 20 something repub Senators who could care less.

Another reason Mitch didn't want but 1 camera in chamber.

[dewsgirl]

30. If he could have got away with it, we wouldn't even have the one.

Quite a few of us thought for a couple days, thought the hearings would be closed.

[aggiesal]

36. Word parsing, say that ...

40% of the (R) jurors did not hear any arguments.

In a court room, they would have been sited for contempt and
removed from the jury.

[Eliot Rosewater]

8. GOP and russian govt are now indistinguishable

Election will NOT be allowed to happen unless rump is the winner.

We better be prepared for that fact.

40% of this country WANTS the GOP to be corrupt and WANTS them to REMOVE us from the country.

When will we all get that in our heads?

[rzemanfl]

9. I hope those Repukes go home

sick and stay there until 2/3 of the remaining Senators vote the orange asshole out.

[mindem]

10. Does anyone actually think the repukes would do otherwise?

They are going through the motions and will ram through a pathetic show of a trial. Drumph will walk free and clear as a freshly minted unitary executive. Then we will endure the repukes truly vindictive payback. They are evil!

[58Sunliner]

12. Sickening.

[Bev54]

15. Probably having a drink in the back

or asleep.It is their rules and they still cannot keep them.

[Reader Rabbit]

16. Is there a list of which ones anywhere?

Can people start blasting their names all over the Interwebz?

[Karadeniz]

17. Gee, maybe they've already made up their minds!

[ooky]

18. How do you give impartial justice without listening to the testimony?

[bluestarone]

19. Seriously here

I hate that they get away with this shit! Can ANYTHING be done about it? Could they request Roberts to call them back?

[pangaia]

23. roberts doesn;t give two fucks.. he's got his....for life..

[bluestarone]

25. Heaven forbid if

We force HIM to do his fucking job!

[bucolic_frolic]

20. They are not doing their jobs. As jurors their job is to listen!

To be aware of policies, events, happenings that effect our government. This is outrageous!

[NewJeffCT]

21. so, 45 Democrats and 32 Republics

so, they should force some votes on evidence and witnesses

[FBaggins]

31. They can't

By the rules that passed overnight, such votes are out of order until after the Q/A session next week

Plus they can’t be far... they’re limited to the cloakrooms IIRC. They would be on the floor before any vote could be held

[wnylib]

35. Wish somebody could lock them out so they

would need to stay out or disrupt the procedings to get back in. It would draw attention to the fact that they left.

My guesd is that they are convening about strategy.

[ArcticFox]

22. Here's hoping for similar numbers when it's time for the vote

We're getting real close to the two thirds of the members present required to convict

[pangaia]

24. tthat would be a hoot...

convicted while repubs are out jerking off or whatever it is they d when they are alone...

[Perseus]

26. It is amazing how we have allowed the republicans to kidnap the country

And it can only get worst, I have seen this picture before in other countries.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

27. Can't someone request a quorum call?

[onenote]

32. what would that do?

A quorum is 51.

I suppose it would make public a list of those not present. Although I suspect they'd come scurrying back in time to be recorded as present.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

38. Make em scurry. But I totally get it...hearing the same thing

over and over. They already know it all. They have assimilated it and choose to side with him anyway.

Not sure why we picked managers with legal background. Most are just reading. We might have been better off just picking people who could read out loud very well???

[paleotn]

28. They simply don't care.

They'd sell their grandmothers to remain in their seats. So selling out their country is easy for them.

[onenote]

33. The rules of decorum are wishy washy

During the impeachment proceedings, standing will not be permitted on the floor and this requirement
will be strictly enforced. Accordingly, all Senators are requested to remain in their seats at all times they
are on the Senate floor during the impeachment proceedings.

In other words, the prohibition on standing will be "strictly enforced" but Senators are merely "requested", not required to remain in their seats. And even that request only applies "at all times they are on the Senate floor during the impeachment proceedings" not "at all times during the impeachment proceedings."

[rockfordfile]

37. Those people need to be called out

[Laura PourMeADrink]

39. Right! Bored to death is no excuse. They already

know it all. They just don't want to hear it again. Makes them feel too guilty. How do you sleep thing.

[Buckeyeblue]

40. With those numbers you only need 51 votes to get to 66% to convict

Wouldn't it be interesting if this many Senators (or more) decided not to be part of the final vote to convict?