Kenny Paxton/Dave P's Impeachment Game Day Thread

[VinyVango 677]

Yep.
What I have learned from this process is that Rusty is old.
 

Rusty is rusty

[Brisketexan 104594]

1 hour ago, atomheartbevo said:

Here's the thing: Paxton may have made his biggest mistake a couple of weeks ago, when he publicly vowed to campaign against every one of the 60 Republicans who voted for his impeachment in the House, and presumably, he will campaign against every Republican in the Senate last week who didn't vote to toss out the charges against him.  And we know he's petty enough and angry enough to do it.

This is a very good, and realpolitik observation.

Paxton is on trial for his political life.  He has said that if he survives the trial, he will seek vengeance on.....everyone.  If you are....anyone.....that creates a very, very strong incentive to END Paxton's political life.

"If you acquit me and I'm allowed to walk the streets a free man, I'm going to kill you."  "Well, okay then....I'm damned well gonna make sure you never walk the streets a free man again."

[The Original Greaser Bob 2791]

Lyrics aren't completely applicable, but still good song.

 

[Nice Guy Eddie 13411]

You have to figure that the DOJ is going to come down on Paxton ASAP after this trial. It will add to his narrative that he's being persecuted but that doesn't make it false.

[chainsaw 9838]

1 hour ago, Brisketexan said:

This is a very good, and realpolitik observation.

Paxton is on trial for his political life.  He has said that if he survives the trial, he will seek vengeance on.....everyone.  If you are....anyone.....that creates a very, very strong incentive to END Paxton's political life.

"If you acquit me and I'm allowed to walk the streets a free man, I'm going to kill you."  "Well, okay then....I'm damned well gonna make sure you never walk the streets a free man again."

Come at the King, best not miss.

Not that he's really the King, but if you are going to make the consequences of a miss high, all you're doing is ensuring they do everything possible not to miss.

[DDD Dad 14251]

I wonder if Danny G is sustaining all of these objections so when Paxton gets curbstomped by the senate vote he'll have nothing about which to complain as to the proceedings.

[chainsaw 9838]

this dude is lying

[Captainant 27447]

8 minutes ago, chainsaw said:

this dude is lying

Prosecution is fighting for her life against all the absurd sustained objections from the defense. It's completely a tactic to prevent this witness from truthfully answering questions 

[The Original Greaser Bob 2791]

I like her.

[chainsaw 9838]

This is the first witness who I felt was characterized by evasiveness.

[C-Man 27050]

18 minutes ago, DDD Dad said:

I wonder if Danny G is sustaining all of these objections so when Paxton gets curbstomped by the senate vote he'll have nothing about which to complain as to the proceedings.

Why would that matter? This isn't a real trial. It's simply a show for the senators who will then cast votes to convict or not at the end. It's not criminal or civil court so WGAF what is or is not allowed by Patrick?

[DDD Dad 14251]

5 minutes ago, C-Man said:

Why would that matter? This isn't a real trial. It's simply a show for the senators who will then cast votes to convict or not at the end. It's not criminal or civil court so WGAF what is or is not allowed by Patrick?

My point was to speculate whether Patrick may be trying to appear to be deferential to Paxton for appearances (hence re-election chances) if the ultimate outcome is in the bag against him.

Albino did not appear credible.

[C-Man 27050]

Just now, DDD Dad said:

My point was to speculate whether Patrick may be trying to appear to be deferential to Paxton for appearances (hence re-election chances) if the ultimate outcome is in the bag against him.

Ah, that makes more sense. Thanks for clarification. But to paraphrase Bob Uecker from Major League: "Nobody's watching anyways."

[royiv 9154]

I wonder if the deliberations will have an open bar.

[Eskimohorn 5613]

I think it’s pretty obvious at this point that elected officials should not be able to plead the fifth and keep their job. Avoid self-incrimination? Yes. Stay General? No.

[chainsaw 9838]

It's funny to see paxton's lawyers get so sweaty about whether something's "in evidence" like they're trying to avoid talking about something that the lawyers then debate in full earshot of the whole senate.

[chainsaw 9838]

Did he just say Brickman was fired?

[Guest]

Lol.... the defense offers "Objection. Argumentative."

That's rich.

[Guest]

I'm amazed at how good the prosecution lawyers outside of the big names seem to be. 

[Guest]

Holy shit that was a brutal takedown. Wow. Seems like a highlight of the entire trial.

[Teebox 89]

Boom.  That's how you do a cross.

[hornian 5205]

12 minutes ago, Teebox said:

Boom.  That's how you do a cross.

Damnit. What did I miss?

[South Austin 52142]

3 minutes ago, hornian said:

Damnit. What did I miss?

The system was just put on trial.

[The Original Greaser Bob 2791]

Was this the about the HR guy who got hammered?  (During and probably after his cross.)

[chainsaw 9838]

Yes.

This lawyer is fucking good.

[Guest]

So De La Garza -- the OAG HR guy -- was on the stand on cross. Went like this...

"Mr. De La Garza, are you familiar with the whistleblower act?"

"Yes"

"Then you know it says anyone fired within 90 days of being a whistleblower is given the presumption of being retaliated against?"

"Yes."

Lawyer then asks about all the whistleblowers fired within 90 days of reporting Paxton to FBI and the HR guy confirms the dates.

"Mr. De La Garza, are you familiar with the saying 'there are no coincidences in Austin'?" "No more questions."

[Nice Guy Eddie 13411]

40 minutes ago, FirstTimeCaller said:

So De La Garza -- the OAG HR guy -- was on the stand on cross. Went like this...

"Mr. De La Garza, are you familiar with the whistleblower act?"

"Yes"

"Then you know it says anyone fired within 90 days of being a whistleblower is given the presumption of being retaliated against?"

"Yes."

Lawyer then asks about all the whistleblowers fired within 90 days of reporting Paxton to FBI and the HR guy confirms the dates.

"Mr. De La Garza, are you familiar with the saying 'there are no coincidences in Austin'?" "No more questions."

Was he asked if he was aware that Ken Paxton agreed that the whistleblowers were owed $3.3m for Paxton's and presumably his actions as the HR lead? Speaking of which, that's quite the achievement as an HR rep to not mitigate the problems in firing people. Well done Mr. De La Garza in protecting the Texas taxpayers.

[hornian 5205]

The AG's attorney is waiving attorney client privilege on behalf of the client? That's a client's privilege to waive, not the attorney's privilege. 

[elfenix 34171]

wfaa commentator: "part criminal, part civil, part whatever, part just made up"
 

well those last two are accurate. 

[elfenix 34171]

"instead of our lawyers working on this they could be doing something productive like filing biden administration lawsuits"

[elfenix 34171]

letterhead! drink!

[South Austin 52142]

Tony Buzbee:  "Your honor, [disgraced] Attorney General Ken Paxton rests."

[chainsaw 9838]

I don't know why they didn't allow the e-mail into evidence.

[atomheartbevo 89416]

So Paxton supporters want to hold a rally now, as the trial is wrapping up, when they could have been packing the balcony and protesting outside the chambers/Capitol....dozens of them.

 

[Brisketexan 104594]

1 minute ago, atomheartbevo said:

So Paxton supporters want to hold a rally now, as the trial is wrapping up, when they could have been packing the balcony and protesting outside the chambers/Capitol....dozens of them.

 

Yes!  It's the Bush family...they did this!  And also the Colonel, with his wee beady eyes and the secret ingredient he puts in his chicken that makes you crave it fortnightly! 

[atomheartbevo 89416]

Want to know how he's going to pay for his revenge tour against every Republican that voted against him?

 

[atomheartbevo 89416]

This is actually a pretty good observation, yes Surly lawyers??

 

 

Edited September 14, 2023 by atomheartbevo

[South Austin 52142]

Well yeah, that strategy wasn’t exactly a bold and genius move.

[Brisketexan 104594]

9 minutes ago, atomheartbevo said:

This is actually a pretty good observation, yes Surly lawyers??

 

 

That observation isn't wrong.  If I was representing Paxton, where my duty was to pursue and preserve his interests, in order of importance....yeah, "don't say shit that will send you to pound-me-in-the-ass prison" would be chief among my goals for him.  It was kind of the baseline strategy here - a "first do no harm" kind of thing.

Edited September 14, 2023 by Brisketexan

[chainsaw 9838]

1 hour ago, Brisketexan said:

That observation isn't wrong.  If I was representing Paxton, where my duty was to pursue and preserve his interests, in order of importance....yeah, "don't say shit that will send you to pound-me-in-the-ass prison" would be chief among my goals for him.  It was kind of the baseline strategy here - a "first do no harm" kind of thing.

I think Paxton's team promised way more than what we got. The "we've got nothing to hide" remark at the beginning can't really be squared with all the obstruction and Paxton not only refusing to testify but refusing to even be present. Pay attention to their actions, not their words. That would be my theme.

[cactusflinthead 27594]

 

[Nice Guy Eddie 13411]

34 minutes ago, cactusflinthead said:

 

If accurate, that would have been a good line of questioning.

[Cap33 381]

I rewatched De La Garza's cross, and when the defense was asking him about the time line, he didn't want to concede the date the whistleblowers went to the FBI because he didn't have personal knowledge of it. The lawyer was incredulous and asked him something like "you don't know? You're the head of HR, aren't you?" He answered "now, yes."

If it were a regular trial, I have no doubt Dutko would've picked up on it, but he was thrashing the guy and on the clock.

And as someone mentioned up thread, these senators are reading all of this anyway.

[atomheartbevo 89416]

Wrapping it up tomorrow

 

[South Austin 52142]

7 hours ago, Cap33 said:

And as someone mentioned up thread, these senators are reading all of this anyway.

I think some of them have posted on the Alabama game thread.

[atomheartbevo 89416]

This fucking timeline, where Briscoe Cain is listened to, and is one of the impeachment managers.

But yeah, sounds like today will move fast.

[Js1 85104]

Briscoe never forgoes his time for butt 

[Dahobbs 17444]

11 hours ago, Cap33 said:

I rewatched De La Garza's cross, and when the defense was asking him about the time line, he didn't want to concede the date the whistleblowers went to the FBI because he didn't have personal knowledge of it. The lawyer was incredulous and asked him something like "you don't know? You're the head of HR, aren't you?" He answered "now, yes."

If it were a regular trial, I have no doubt Dutko would've picked up on it, but he was thrashing the guy and on the clock.

And as someone mentioned up thread, these senators are reading all of this anyway.

He was getting good stuff that he knew he had him on. During a deposition he would have definitely explored that. I'm not sure, even without a clock, that he pushes on it at trial. If he doesn't know the answer, it could all end up being nothing and diluting the cross. 

[chainsaw 9838]

pre-game coverage is up

[Sawbonz 27422]

Please tell me Rusty is not giving the closing argument