The Fix Is In -- Repubs Will Vote To Acquit On Friday (UPDATED

Democracy destroyer Moscow Mitch McConnell has apparently found the right number of spineless charlatans to complete the cover- up of crime family boss Donald "Impeached Forever" Trump:

It was clear to Senate Republicans on Wednesday after a morning meeting between Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) that the question of having additional witnesses is settled, and the Senate will vote Friday to wrap up the impeachment trial of President Trump.

There was no discussion of witnesses at a Senate GOP lunch meeting Wednesday, which was held a couple hours after McConnell and Murkowski met for about 20 to 30 minutes

That was seen as a sign by several senators that Democrats will fail to convince four Republicans to join them in calling for witnesses. Without a vote to hear from witnesses, the trial could end as soon as Friday.

“We’re going to get it done by Friday, hopefully,” Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said following the meeting.

Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.), emerging from the lunch, said, “I think I can say the mood is good.”

Braun expressed confidence that McConnell will be able to keep his conference unified enough to defeat a motion to consider subpoenas for additional witnesses and documents.

“If I had to guess, no witnesses,” he said.

You don't object to calling witnesses unless you've got something to hide, and most Americans can see that clearly (and 75% of Americans want to hear from witnesses).  You don't try to stop a book from being published unless you've got something to hide, and most Americans see that, too. Short- circuiting the impeachment trial in the face of mounting evidence against Trump is apparently Moscow Mitch's idea of making the best out of a bad situation.  But, we're inclined to agree with Steve M. at No More Mister Nice Blog, who argues:

Democrats have made their case. They'll be better off if the trial is over soon, and is perceived as one-sided and unfair. Anti-Trump voters -- who are still a majority -- will feel that the president got away with something, and will presumably take out their anger at the ballot box, just the way voters who thought Bill Clinton got away with something in his impeachment trial voted Republican in sufficient numbers to give the GOP full control of the government in the 2000 elections.

The truth will continue to come out, whether or not Moscow Mitch or Trump want it to.  Others with first- hand knowledge may also speak out about Trump's unethical and illegal behavior as Bolton has (we're waiting, Gen. Mattis).  As events unfold, it will become more and more untenable for Republicans, especially the "unbiased jurors" in the Senate, to defend to anyone outside of the Red Hat Cult their allowing this threat to our national security to, once again, escape justice.  Republicans have been exposed once and forever as being a gathering of the lowest common denominators in American life, whose only purpose is to hang onto power, whatever the cost and by whatever means necessary. 

UPDATE:  A fly got into Moscow Mitch's ointment;  the vote to acquit is now scheduled for Wednesday, February 5, the day after the State of the Union address by Dear Leader.