In this image from video, House impeachment manager Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., answers a question during the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. (Senate Television via AP)
When it comes to being House Intel Chair Adam Schiff’s biggest cheerleader during the Senate’s impeachment trial, we’ve documented some serious competition among Democrats and Never Trumpers for the distinction.
In a fair competition, Jennifer Rubin would easily defeat liberal NY Times columnist Paul Krugman, MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell, and Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who have all had nothing but high praise for how Schiff has conducted himself during proceedings.
But while the bar is clearly already low for what passes as a “great speech/performance” in their eyes, it was significantly lowered after the California congressman gave his closing remarks today on the eve of Trump’s State of the Union speech and two days out from his likely acquittal.
As Twitchy documented, Schiff suggested during his speech that not voting to acquit Trump could open the door to Trump “offer[ing] Alaska to the Russians in exchange for support in the next election” or appointing son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner “to run the country, delegating to him the decision whether they go to war.”
It was a bizarre moment in a trial full of them, but for Schumer and Rubin, the speech was worthy of Harlequin romance-esque descriptions.
Schumer almost seemed at a loss for words, telling reporters while gesturing to his stomach that he was “so moved” by Schiff’s speech:
Sen. Chuck Schumer on Rep. Adam Schiff's closing: "I've been here a long time. That was just about the best speech I have ever heard." https://t.co/lCrIAfTgkR pic.twitter.com/hSnGvtkNmG
— ABC News (@ABC) February 3, 2020
Rubin, who has characterized Schiff as a “magnificent” House impeachment manager who she was so glad she “was alive to hear speak“, stated that Schiff “finishes beautifully … heart-wrenching”:
Schiff finishes beautifully. Heart- wrenching: 1 party isn't decent, does not care about truth and is indifferent to right and wrong. That includes Ernst and Alexander who cannot even formulate a coherent explanation for their action. It includes Rubio, McConnell and all the rest
— Jennifer Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) February 3, 2020
Naturally, both of them were widely mocked:
— Phineas Fahrquar (@irishspy) February 3, 2020
Lmfao🤣 pic.twitter.com/TalxCGkZ2h
— carltonAdams (@realadamcarlson) February 3, 2020
— farra521 (@farra521) February 3, 2020
This is hysteria pic.twitter.com/3voi1JJCYO
— Sunshine (@Sunshin21176498) February 3, 2020
— Madlaw (@madlaw1071) February 3, 2020
— Skybuster (@Skybuster187) February 3, 2020
Bonus take from Glenn Greenwald, responding to an over the top tweet from MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow about Schiff:
Schiff probably is going to be carved into Mt. Rushmore, & his speech will replace both the Bible & the Constitution as the principal text studied by scholars, students and aspiring gurus.
I'm gathering a group to saw off Lincoln's head from the Memorial & replace it with his. https://t.co/MMweGEQuyu
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) February 3, 2020
Hahaha. What’s next? Fabio on the cover of the Democrats’ impeachment trial retrospective campaign mailer?
Just remember: You heard it here first, folks! 😉
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