Another Painful Elevator Escape For Cory Gardner

12 Comments

by: Colorado Pols

CNN’s Manu Raju is the latest reporter in Washington to make a run at the nation’s most elusive U.S. Senator, Cory Gardner of Colorado–and in the few literal seconds they had together, Gardner actually revealed quite a bit about where he stands in the ongoing impeachment trial against President Donald Trump.

That is, with Trump:

Asked if he wants to hear from Bolton or Mulvaney, Gardner said: “We have a lot of impeachment witnesses.” And the elevator doors closed.

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 24, 2020

The key thing to note here that Gardner is committing only to consider the testimony from “witnesses that we’ve heard from in the House”–not any of the damning new evidence that emerged since the House passed the articles of impeachment, and not even the testimony being freely offered by potentially explosive witnesses like ex-National Security Adviser and alleged friend of Cory John Bolton. For anyone trying to do the math to get Democrats to a majority needed to introduce new witnesses and evidence now or later in the trial, this is a strong signal that Gardner will not be breaking ranks with the President.

And it’s not surprising anyone in the know:

Sen. Cory Gardner (R).

At the same time, Gardner’s continuing refusal to take a concrete position even as he votes with the President is politically self-destructive in its own right. Although this time Gardner had the mercy of a closing elevator door, he’s already become a nationwide metaphor for the total inability of Republican Senators to conduct effective oversight of their own President–or even answer the most basic questions about the case against him.

Yesterday, GOP Senators were told bluntly: “vote against the President and your head will be on a pike.” For Cory Gardner, on trial for his future as much as Trump himself, the doublespeak that served him so well winning statewide office has run head-first into the reality of who he truly serves–and it is hurting him now worse than saying nothing at all.

It’s just too easy to read between the lines.

12 thoughts on “Another Painful Elevator Escape For Cory Gardner”

harrydoby says:

January 24, 2020 at 10:32 am

Here's Cory!

Log in to Reply
Moderatus says:

January 24, 2020 at 11:03 am

Party discipline is a bitch. Dems wish they had it.

Log in to Reply
1. spaceman65 says:
  
  January 24, 2020 at 11:07 am
  
  Nah, we're content to not be Nazis.
  
  Log in to Reply
2. unnamed says:
  
  January 24, 2020 at 11:20 am
  
  Moderatus says:
  
  January 24, 2020 at 11:03 AM MST
  
  Goosestepping is a bitch. Dems wish they had it.
  
  No thank you
  
  Log in to Reply
  1. MADCO says:
    
    January 24, 2020 at 12:43 pm
    
    it's hard on the feet- esp with bunions or bone spurs
    
    Log in to Reply
3. Diogenesdemar says:
  
  January 24, 2020 at 12:13 pm
  
  Well yeah, . . .
  
  Gardner said: “We have a lot of impeachment witnesses.”
  
  . . . if by “party discipline” you mean, “all Republicans are required to suck at math”??!!
  
  Log in to Reply
4. MADCO says:
  
  January 24, 2020 at 12:43 pm
  
  party discilpline is one thing
  
  Occult of personality is another.
  
  “The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
  
  Log in to Reply
RepealAndReplace says:

January 24, 2020 at 11:34 am

Gardner should have just done a McSally and called Raju a "liberal hack." At least he could have fundraised off of it and Trump would have given him an "Atta boy" pat on the back.

Log in to Reply
observe says:

January 24, 2020 at 1:34 pm

1. Who is Alexander? Why the giant headline reference to "Alexander" but no mention of who that is and why referenced?

2. Exactly who told the GOP Senators they would be in big trouble? I read article and perhaps missed it. But if not attributable to someone carrying importance, sounds just like false story. (Maybe I missed seeing the name.)

Log in to Reply
1. MADCO says:
  
  January 24, 2020 at 2:17 pm
  
  Do you read any of it?
  
  Trumps Trial may Hinge on Lamar Alexander
  
  A @POTUS confidant tells CBS News that GOP senators were warned: “vote against the president & your head will be on a pike.”
  
  When you decide to create your sock Pols puppet, try "unobserve"
  
  Log in to Reply
  1. Voyageur says:
    
    January 24, 2020 at 2:31 pm
    
    A more helpful reply would have been that Alexander is a relatively moderate Republican from Tennessee who is not seeking re-election..
    
    Log in to Reply
2. notaskinnycook says:
  
  January 24, 2020 at 9:58 pm
  
  Beat me to it, V.
  
  Log in to Reply