1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:04,640 Speaker 1: It all comes down to this, the final impeachment vote 2 00:00:04,680 --> 00:00:08,240 Speaker 1: on whether or not to remove President Trump from office, 3 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:11,080 Speaker 1: and straight from the Capitol, we have one of the 4 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 1: judge slash jurors. This is verdict with Ted Cruz. The 5 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,759 Speaker 1: final vote has happened. Can I get a drum roll? Please? 6 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: The President has not been removed from office. Senator you 7 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:32,639 Speaker 1: are so shocked and excited by this news that you're 8 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:35,879 Speaker 1: sitting there tweeting during the introt. Well, I am, I 9 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 1: was just just reading a second ago, a tweet that says. 10 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 1: In other Democratic comments, Representative Sheila Jackson Lee suggests that 11 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:48,200 Speaker 1: the Russians may be behind the Iowa Democratic Caucus app debacle. 12 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 1: She mentions Russia as she tells FBI Director Chris Ray, 13 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 1: I hope the Iowa Democrats will ask for an FBI 14 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 1: investigation on the app. And so I just retweeted it 15 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 1: and made a very simple observation. Well, Bernie did honeymoon 16 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 1: in the Soviet Union. So your mind is now past impeachment. 17 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: The impeachment vote has happened, and it turned out the 18 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:13,759 Speaker 1: way that we all knew it was going to turn out. 19 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 1: This was the inevitable outcome. Yeah, we knew this in October. 20 00:01:17,959 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 1: We knew this in November, we knew this in December, 21 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 1: we knew this in January, we know this in February, 22 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:24,680 Speaker 1: and we will know this one hundred years from now. 23 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 1: This impeachment was always a partisan circus, and it was 24 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:32,959 Speaker 1: appointing to end with acquittal, right, But it wasn't about 25 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:37,320 Speaker 1: convicting the president. That That wasn't the Democrats objective. It 26 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 1: was about appeasing their base. That Hatson. The impeachment and 27 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,480 Speaker 1: the Democratic reaction to the sta State of the Union 28 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 1: last night are the same thing. Huh. It's like it's 29 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 1: a different part of the identical phenomenon. Nancy Pelosi ripping 30 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 1: the speech in half is the same thing as impeachment. 31 00:01:57,520 --> 00:02:01,560 Speaker 1: It is all a giant fu apologies to Donald Trump. 32 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:04,560 Speaker 1: That's what That's what this whole thing was. But then 33 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 1: what did they get out of it? I guess if 34 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: if we always knew how it was going to end, 35 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 1: and it was always a partisan circus, was there a 36 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:17,000 Speaker 1: political victory? When you the bloods of the mob, it 37 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 1: satiates the mob, at least briefly, if nothing else. It 38 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 1: gets messy. I mean, this was look the beginning of 39 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 1: last year. You had famed centrists like Nancy Pelosi saying no, 40 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 1: no, no no, no, we can't do impeachment. It can't be partisan. 41 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:36,679 Speaker 1: It will never succeed. Even Nancy Pelosi didn't want to 42 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 1: do impeach, you had that wonderful rock of moderation, Jerry 43 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:44,800 Speaker 1: Nadler saying no, no no, no, no, we can't do we 44 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 1: can't do impeachment if it's partisan. So what changed? What 45 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 1: change is their base got angrier and angrier and angrier, 46 00:02:56,960 --> 00:03:01,960 Speaker 1: and ultimately, listen, I viewed Nancy Loosi almost like a 47 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 1: hostage tied up an abasement somewhere little ironic because we 48 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 1: are in fact in abasement right now. But but look, 49 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:12,360 Speaker 1: she's she was telling AOC, she was telling the squad, 50 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 1: she was telling the fired up Bernie Sanders. Bernista's no, no, no, 51 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:23,320 Speaker 1: and they just couldn't fight him anymore. And and so 52 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 1: all of impeachment. One of the reasons I think Pelosi 53 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 1: was so pissed last night is I think the Democrats 54 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:34,679 Speaker 1: have done real political damage to themselves in the last 55 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 1: three months. Then they strengthened President Trump. I mean, I 56 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:42,120 Speaker 1: mean it. You know, if I were Donald Trump, I 57 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 1: would send a letter to the FEC today the Federal 58 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 1: Election Committee saying, dear FEC, I just like clarification, do 59 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: I have to declare Nancy Pelosi's actions as an in 60 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 1: kind contribution? It is my reelection camp. It has helped 61 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 1: his numbers. So then I guess this is just what's 62 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 1: confusing to me. We're saying is Nancy Pelosi and the 63 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 1: Democrats had to go along with impeachment because they're fired 64 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: up base demanded it. But the impeachment has damaged the Democrats, 65 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 1: and it was always going to damage the Democrats. I 66 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 1: think that's right, and I think that their base has 67 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 1: radicalized and they have no choice but follow them off 68 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:25,279 Speaker 1: the cliff. Now, there were some surprises today. Yep. We 69 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:28,320 Speaker 1: had been talking about. Obviously the president was going to 70 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:30,599 Speaker 1: be acquitted, but there were some swing votes in play. 71 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 1: Mitt Romney was the biggest one, but also Doug Jones 72 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:39,920 Speaker 1: of Alabama, who's a Democrat. Also Kirsten Cinema of Arizona. Right, 73 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 1: there were a few other votes in play. It was 74 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:47,360 Speaker 1: a completely party lined vote except for Mitt Romney. Well, 75 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 1: let's take each piece of that. So this weekend, as 76 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 1: you and I talked about, I thought there were anywhere 77 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:57,159 Speaker 1: between fifty and fifty six votes for not guilty. We 78 00:04:57,240 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 1: ended up at fifty two. Sorry about that. It's been 79 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:05,839 Speaker 1: a long week, it has. We ended up at fifty two. 80 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:09,040 Speaker 1: So the six votes that were in play three Republicans 81 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 1: Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney, and three Democrats Joe Mansion, 82 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 1: Kirsten Cinema, Doug Jones. I was right that Collins would 83 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:23,600 Speaker 1: vote to acquit. I was right that Murkowski would vote 84 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 1: to acquit. I was wrong on Mitt. So last podcast 85 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:29,240 Speaker 1: we did, I told you I thought Mitt would be 86 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 1: a not guilty. I also told you I thought Joe 87 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 1: Mansion would be a not guilty, Joe Mansion, Democrat from 88 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 1: West Virginia, but from West Virginia. And I said Cinema 89 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 1: might be that she was a plausible not guilty. And 90 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:46,200 Speaker 1: I also told you Doug Jones won't be and Jones 91 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:48,600 Speaker 1: I was exactly right. Joe Jones is running in Alabama. 92 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:51,880 Speaker 1: It's a bright red state. Voting for impeachment is a 93 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:55,039 Speaker 1: terrible vote for Doug Jones. And I think he doesn't care. 94 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:59,159 Speaker 1: He's like the end of Doctor Strangelove, the guy on 95 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:01,719 Speaker 1: top of the rock, on top of the bomb with 96 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 1: a cowboy hat cheering is a fat Jones. It's like 97 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:08,200 Speaker 1: I'm losing, and damn it, I am going to be 98 00:06:08,279 --> 00:06:11,000 Speaker 1: praised by every liberal in Alabama. There are a few 99 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 1: of them, are not many, but but he's going to 100 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:15,120 Speaker 1: be there here. Senator, do you know how I know 101 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:18,360 Speaker 1: that you are new to political podcasting is that you 102 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:22,279 Speaker 1: are actually holding up your predictions against reality. Normally we 103 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 1: just move right along, doesn't matter, no accountability. Mitt Romney 104 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 1: was the big story. Yeah, Mitt Romney comes out. We 105 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 1: actually surprised me. We have a clip of it, Mitt 106 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 1: Romney declaring why he's going to vote against President Trump. 107 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:38,880 Speaker 1: As a senator juror, I swore an oath before God 108 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 1: to exercise impartial justice. I am profoundly religious. My faith 109 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:52,279 Speaker 1: is at the heart of who I am. The grave 110 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 1: question the Constitution tasks senators to answer is whether the 111 00:06:56,240 --> 00:07:00,839 Speaker 1: President committed an act so extreme and egregious that it 112 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:07,360 Speaker 1: rises to the level of a high crime and misdemeanor. Yes, 113 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 1: he did. Your reaction, Look, I think he's wrong. I 114 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:18,520 Speaker 1: think he is very mistaken, and I think that's unfortunate. 115 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 1: I think that is a bad decision. I think it's 116 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 1: it's bad for the country. I think it's bad for MIT, 117 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:28,440 Speaker 1: and I don't think it's consistent with the Constitution. Now 118 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 1: that being said, every Senator has to make up his 119 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 1: or her mind and then that that is what MIT 120 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 1: has done. But I think that's a very unfortunate decision. 121 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:42,560 Speaker 1: Do you think Senator Romney's decision to be the only 122 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:45,440 Speaker 1: vote that to cross party lines to vote against the 123 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 1: president on actually on only one charge on abuse of power? 124 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:50,960 Speaker 1: He didn't. He voted to quit the president on the 125 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 1: other charge, obstruction of Congress. But do you think Senator 126 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:57,120 Speaker 1: Romney's decision influenced some of those other swing votes on 127 00:07:57,160 --> 00:08:01,560 Speaker 1: the Democratic side. Yeah, that's an interesting question. And maybe 128 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 1: you know when we started voting, So we voted to 129 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:06,360 Speaker 1: day at four, so we all came to the Senate floor. 130 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 1: We got there a few minutes early. Mitch McConnell was 131 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 1: giving a speech about how impeachment was all nonsense. Yeah, 132 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 1: four o'clock, the vote comes in. The Chief Justice comes 133 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:22,200 Speaker 1: and takes the seat, reads the first article. We vote, 134 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:24,000 Speaker 1: now the way we vote. Every one of us stands 135 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 1: up and votes either guilty or not guilty. Right before 136 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 1: that started, it was interesting. Joe Manchin and Kirsten Cinema 137 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:35,719 Speaker 1: hugged each other. And I have to say, Cinema, who 138 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:40,079 Speaker 1: who I like? I work with her? She looked pale, 139 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 1: she looked haggard. I mean it was it was noticeable. 140 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:49,079 Speaker 1: And I will say another Republican senator was speculating with 141 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:53,319 Speaker 1: me if Chuck Schumer had had taken them back in 142 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 1: his office and strapped them to a chair and taken 143 00:08:56,800 --> 00:08:59,080 Speaker 1: out a rubber hose on them. It seemed as though 144 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:02,720 Speaker 1: it was in their personal political interest to vote to 145 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:06,680 Speaker 1: acquit the president. So what's interesting is is when Mansion 146 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:09,280 Speaker 1: cast his vote, I leaned over to David Produce, it's 147 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 1: next to me on the on the Senate floor, and 148 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 1: I said, well, Mansion just announced he's not running for reelection. 149 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:18,439 Speaker 1: That's what it seems like. Look, West Virginia, this may 150 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:20,679 Speaker 1: be a worst vote for worst vote for Mansion than 151 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:23,160 Speaker 1: it is for Doug Jones. I'd put West Virginia and 152 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:25,840 Speaker 1: Alabama side by side in terms of where the voters 153 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 1: are on that. And I'm actually not shocked that Mansion 154 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:31,880 Speaker 1: would do that because because I don't think he actually 155 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 1: really likes the Senate. He used to be governor in 156 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:38,240 Speaker 1: West Virginia. He liked being Governor Moore, and this was 157 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:41,440 Speaker 1: a vote. I don't know how much Schumer pounded them. 158 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:46,000 Speaker 1: I actually wonder the Democrats are much better at party discipline. 159 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:48,679 Speaker 1: I don't know what Schumer threatens. I don't know if 160 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 1: he did. This is pure speculation, but it wouldn't shock me. 161 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 1: So Romney announced earlier this afternoon he was going to 162 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:04,320 Speaker 1: be a guilty And if Schumer hadn't gotten mansion and 163 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:07,640 Speaker 1: or sent him a to flip, then I suspect Romney 164 00:10:07,679 --> 00:10:11,280 Speaker 1: coming over Schumer would have said, hey, you can't vote 165 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:13,520 Speaker 1: the other way because we need the messaging. I haven't 166 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:15,760 Speaker 1: even seen what the Democrats have said, but I'm sure 167 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:18,840 Speaker 1: they're all saying it was a bipartisan vote. Well that's 168 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:21,600 Speaker 1: what changes. This is why the Romney vote matters, is 169 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:25,040 Speaker 1: not because you don't think so. There are five hundred 170 00:10:25,040 --> 00:10:28,200 Speaker 1: and thirty five members of the United States Congress throughout 171 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:35,280 Speaker 1: this entire show. It was a diplomatic choice of words. 172 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:39,320 Speaker 1: I said the second half of the word. They got 173 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:42,400 Speaker 1: one Republican one out of five hundred and thirty five. 174 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 1: So you'll forgive me for not being oh terribly excited 175 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:49,600 Speaker 1: that they got one. This was a partisan endeavor from 176 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 1: day one, and the fact that that Mitt decided to 177 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:54,839 Speaker 1: do what he did. Listen, I don't really want to 178 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 1: pound Mit, frankly, because everyone else on earth is landing 179 00:10:57,280 --> 00:10:58,800 Speaker 1: on him so hard. I don't know if you've checked 180 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:02,520 Speaker 1: Twitter recently that it's tough on him. But I will say, 181 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 1: you know one reaction I have, so I'm reminded of 182 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:11,200 Speaker 1: another difficult moment on the Senate floor. By the way, 183 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:14,480 Speaker 1: an interesting observation, Mit I think sits at the same 184 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:18,000 Speaker 1: desk that I sat in as a freshman. Looking at 185 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 1: that image of that clip, that's the same image that's 186 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:25,200 Speaker 1: behind me when I'm doing the Obamacare filibuster. He's really junior. 187 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 1: He's in the back corner. Those were very different speeches, 188 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 1: very different. But I was reminded of another deeply disappointing 189 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:41,559 Speaker 1: moment on the floor, which was in twenty seventeen when 190 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:45,600 Speaker 1: we voted on Obamacare repeal, and you'll recall we came 191 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:48,680 Speaker 1: one vote short of Obamacare repeal. Now that there's nothing 192 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:51,800 Speaker 1: I have bled more than taking on and trying to 193 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 1: repeal Obamacare, I haven't given up on that yet, just 194 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:57,960 Speaker 1: to be clear, But you'll recall three Republicans voted against it, 195 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:00,319 Speaker 1: and the last one was John McCain from Arizona, who 196 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:03,199 Speaker 1: put his put his fist out and sort of wiggled 197 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:06,000 Speaker 1: it for a minute to thrust his thumb down. And 198 00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:07,559 Speaker 1: that was That was about two in the morning. So 199 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:09,560 Speaker 1: actually we should have been podcasting that. Yeah in the 200 00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:15,440 Speaker 1: morning's we need to own two am. You know it's 201 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:17,160 Speaker 1: two am. Do you know where your senator? They have 202 00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:18,959 Speaker 1: got to let you get to your second job. That 203 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:24,760 Speaker 1: is exactly right. So I remember at that moment and listen, 204 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 1: John McCain and I we became friends. I respect and 205 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:33,319 Speaker 1: admire him personally, certainly for his heroism, for his serving 206 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:38,040 Speaker 1: his country. But I had to turn and walk off 207 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:40,679 Speaker 1: the Senate floor because if I had spoken to him 208 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:44,480 Speaker 1: that night, it would not have been language suitable for 209 00:12:44,559 --> 00:12:47,320 Speaker 1: the floor. It was and infuriating though, but but I 210 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 1: want to draw a distinction. Let me contrast, so someone else. 211 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:55,120 Speaker 1: The two other no votes that night were Susan Collins 212 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:59,360 Speaker 1: and Lisa Murkowski. I had a very different sentiment about 213 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:02,360 Speaker 1: McCain's vote that I did about Collins's vote. Why look, 214 00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 1: I didn't like how Susan voted, but Susan was honest 215 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:09,480 Speaker 1: with her voters. Susan when she campaigned and when elect 216 00:13:09,559 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 1: was elected in Maine, she never campaign saying she opposed Obamacare. 217 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:16,400 Speaker 1: She's a moderate. The voters of Maine knew what they 218 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:18,720 Speaker 1: were getting. She she wasn't out there on the stump 219 00:13:18,760 --> 00:13:22,160 Speaker 1: saying if you elect me, I will vote to repeal Obamacare. 220 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:26,320 Speaker 1: And so I disagree with her on that issue. But 221 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:29,240 Speaker 1: but but I think being honest with your voters and 222 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:31,520 Speaker 1: doing what you told them to is is right at 223 00:13:31,559 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 1: the heart of what we're supposed to do. YEA, what 224 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:38,520 Speaker 1: was so infuriating about McCain's vote. He had just been 225 00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 1: re elected and he had run ads all across Arizona, 226 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 1: John McCain leading the fight to repeal Obamacare. That that's 227 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:55,360 Speaker 1: why it was so infuriating. And I gotta say about Mitt, 228 00:13:57,440 --> 00:13:59,720 Speaker 1: they saying how he campaigned to get elected to Senate. 229 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 1: I noticed that if Mitt had wanted to tell the 230 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:08,199 Speaker 1: people of Utah elect me, and I will be a 231 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:11,559 Speaker 1: check on Donald Trump. I will stand up to Donald Trump. 232 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:13,680 Speaker 1: I will be a statesman. And you know what, if 233 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 1: the people of Utah and elected elected him for that, 234 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 1: God bless him. But that's not what he told the voters. 235 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:28,800 Speaker 1: And it's a pattern the rage across this country. Washington 236 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 1: doesn't doesn't get the rage across this country. That rage 237 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 1: is what elected Trump is. People were tired of their 238 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 1: elected officials telling him one thing on the campaign it 239 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:43,920 Speaker 1: just flat outline, and then doing exactly the opposite. And 240 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:47,640 Speaker 1: and that I don't have a problem. I don't have 241 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 1: a problem with Bernie Sanders voting like a socialist. Look, 242 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:53,000 Speaker 1: his policies are luni and would destroy the country in 243 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 1: the world. But but other than that, missus Lincoln, how'd 244 00:14:56,520 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 1: you like to play? But he tells the people of 245 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 1: Vermont that I, I don't know, they're cold, they're spoken 246 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:03,280 Speaker 1: pot and they say that sounds good to us, like, 247 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:07,880 Speaker 1: I don't know, but it's at least honest. I think 248 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:16,560 Speaker 1: we need more honesty and politics. And this was not 249 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:18,720 Speaker 1: what the people of Utah. You know, this actually brings 250 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:22,520 Speaker 1: us to another point, kind of wrapping up impeachment. You've 251 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:26,120 Speaker 1: talked a lot about Hunter Biden, Bisma, this corruption on 252 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:30,160 Speaker 1: the Democratic side, and other senators have gone along with this, 253 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:32,320 Speaker 1: but you always wondered if it was just maybe a 254 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:36,440 Speaker 1: little more opportunistic. What we've just heard, this is breaking 255 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:40,080 Speaker 1: news Senators Chuck Rassley and Ron Johnson have sent letters 256 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:44,240 Speaker 1: to the Secret Service requesting information on Hunter Biden's travel records. 257 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:47,760 Speaker 1: Obviously you have been leading the charge to get to 258 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:52,280 Speaker 1: the bottom of this kind of corruption. Are there going 259 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:55,400 Speaker 1: to be enough other senators to go along with this 260 00:15:55,560 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 1: to get to the bottom of the Biden potential corruption 261 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:04,920 Speaker 1: or is this just going to be forgotten? I hope so. Um, 262 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:08,120 Speaker 1: let me say a couple of things on that one. 263 00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 1: In the Senate and in the House. I think the 264 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:18,640 Speaker 1: political appetite for any further investigation diminished dramatically because Joe 265 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:21,360 Speaker 1: Biden is in free fall now. Fourth in Utah is 266 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:24,840 Speaker 1: falling in New Hampshire, Iowa action not YouTube. Sorry, I 267 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:28,000 Speaker 1: was still so fixated on Senator Romney. Yes in Iowa. Look, 268 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:31,440 Speaker 1: they're both both states with four letters and lots of owls. 269 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:35,520 Speaker 1: But but but different, beautiful, but very different. I can't 270 00:16:35,520 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 1: believe they say we don't know geography, you know, I 271 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:39,800 Speaker 1: don't know why they say that about us conservatives. Um 272 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:48,120 Speaker 1: Biden taking forth in Iowa or who knows? I mean, 273 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:50,360 Speaker 1: we still don't have results because they still can't count 274 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:55,280 Speaker 1: the votes. But it is catastrophic for him yeah, what's 275 00:16:55,320 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 1: going on behind the scenes. His donors are are in panic, 276 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 1: his supporters are in panic, His grassroots activists are in panic. 277 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:08,399 Speaker 1: His campaign staffers are in panic. When you're built on 278 00:17:08,720 --> 00:17:13,440 Speaker 1: being inevitable, placing fourth is kind of a propt because 279 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:15,639 Speaker 1: that's the whole pitch for the Biden campaign is he's 280 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:18,880 Speaker 1: the most electable guy. If he doesn't win elections, then 281 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:21,560 Speaker 1: that whole argument goes away. And remember we talked about 282 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:25,840 Speaker 1: in a previous podcast, how when the House managers threw 283 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:29,600 Speaker 1: about Joe Biden under the bus. One Republican senator speculated 284 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:33,439 Speaker 1: it was because the Democratic superdelegates had soured on Biden, 285 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:37,399 Speaker 1: and we saw some of that, some of the fruit 286 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:40,400 Speaker 1: of that playing out in Iowa. What that means they're 287 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:42,040 Speaker 1: not going to be a lot of Republicans in the 288 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:48,600 Speaker 1: Senate agitating for investigating further because Biden. Biden is politically speaking, 289 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:52,800 Speaker 1: a dead man walking right now. Right right that being said, look, 290 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:56,560 Speaker 1: rule of law matters. Biden was the vice president of 291 00:17:56,560 --> 00:17:59,200 Speaker 1: the United States. The evidence we've walked through on barisma 292 00:17:59,320 --> 00:18:02,440 Speaker 1: and correct option. When I'm back at home at home 293 00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:05,520 Speaker 1: in Texas and doing town halls, and I've done town 294 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:07,960 Speaker 1: halls in Texas and all across the country. People are 295 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:12,640 Speaker 1: understandably frustrated. A question you get all the time, how 296 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:16,000 Speaker 1: come nobody's held accountable? How come people break the law, 297 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:20,080 Speaker 1: people violate the criminal there's no consequences. They get off 298 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 1: scott free. What happened to the millions of dollars hunter 299 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:27,479 Speaker 1: Biden made? By the way, no one has ever answered 300 00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:30,200 Speaker 1: the question that was asked during the trial, what exactly 301 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:33,440 Speaker 1: did hunter Biden do for the million bucks a year? 302 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:35,520 Speaker 1: Like the managers are like, we don't want to answer that. 303 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:41,920 Speaker 1: So my view is absolutely yes, there should be an investigation. 304 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:45,960 Speaker 1: Now who should investigate? To be honest, there's a game 305 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:48,560 Speaker 1: of musical chairs in the Senate because no one wants 306 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:51,800 Speaker 1: to do it. Where no committee chairman wants to do it, 307 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:54,919 Speaker 1: It's got to be a committee chairman. I don't I 308 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 1: don't care if it's Judiciary, Foreign Relations, or Intel. I'm 309 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 1: on two of those three, and I am urging the 310 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:05,360 Speaker 1: chairman to call them and to investigate. But right now 311 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:08,440 Speaker 1: you're not seeing any chairman rushing into that breach. And 312 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:12,880 Speaker 1: they control the gavel, they control the ability to investigate. 313 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:18,959 Speaker 1: But let me say, secondly, where's DOJ right. The Justice 314 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:22,840 Speaker 1: Department do have a United States Department of Justice that 315 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:26,919 Speaker 1: has these people called assistant US attorneys, and they have 316 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:31,880 Speaker 1: grand juries and their FBI agents when they're not fraudulently 317 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 1: launching a case against the president and doctoring evidence to 318 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:38,800 Speaker 1: the fives accord get wire tabs, you've got evidence here 319 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:40,560 Speaker 1: of a million bucks a year to the son of 320 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:45,760 Speaker 1: the vice president, with the vice president bragging about getting 321 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:48,159 Speaker 1: the prosecutor fired. By the way, I don't know. So 322 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:50,800 Speaker 1: in my Senate speech yesterday, every senator got ten minutes 323 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:55,120 Speaker 1: to explain, and I quoted from what podcast listeners here 324 00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:57,520 Speaker 1: know that I've affectionately referred to as the son of 325 00:19:57,520 --> 00:20:01,000 Speaker 1: a bitch Cliff and Joe Biden on video saying son 326 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:03,600 Speaker 1: of a bitch, he got fired. What I've actually asked 327 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:07,359 Speaker 1: my team to to to research that maybe the first 328 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:09,200 Speaker 1: time in history, son of a bitch has been set 329 00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:11,320 Speaker 1: on the Senate. So you did not set the milk 330 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:16,680 Speaker 1: precedent that you participated in, but you may have set Okay, 331 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:20,960 Speaker 1: that's really and I'll confess what I asked my team 332 00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:22,679 Speaker 1: that they're like, oh, come on, someone had to have 333 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:25,679 Speaker 1: said it. I said, Look, the Senate's pretty old school. 334 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:29,200 Speaker 1: I'm not even sure we've had a malarkey on the Senate. No, 335 00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:31,040 Speaker 1: there's been a lot of malarkey, but maybe not a 336 00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:34,119 Speaker 1: mention of malarkey. But by the way, Michael, you did mention. 337 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:37,960 Speaker 1: I missed this tweet, but you told me that that 338 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:41,919 Speaker 1: that that Don Junior Junior, Don Junior tweeted about the 339 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:46,040 Speaker 1: Iowa Caucuses. I'm sorry we were told there'd be no malarkey. 340 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:50,200 Speaker 1: That's funny. I didn't see Don's tweet, but that's really funny. 341 00:20:50,359 --> 00:20:54,600 Speaker 1: Spot on. Before we go, obviously wrapping up impeachment, we 342 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:56,320 Speaker 1: need to get to some of the mail bad questions. 343 00:20:56,400 --> 00:21:00,919 Speaker 1: Our listeners have been incredible. Now just what We've been 344 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:04,720 Speaker 1: doing this for two weeks, over two million audio downloads, 345 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:10,480 Speaker 1: a ton of listens on YouTube. First question from Nicholas 346 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:14,399 Speaker 1: is the Verdicts podcast going to continue or was this 347 00:21:14,440 --> 00:21:19,600 Speaker 1: a short lived gem of a listen? We ain't going anywhere, 348 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:21,879 Speaker 1: all right, I still have a job. This is great. 349 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:25,680 Speaker 1: We will keep on going and and we're going to 350 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:29,320 Speaker 1: keep doing the same thing yea, which is trying to 351 00:21:29,359 --> 00:21:32,280 Speaker 1: get to the bottom of issues, trying to engage in substance. 352 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:36,320 Speaker 1: You know, this podcast was built on a proposition that 353 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:39,320 Speaker 1: you can attest. A lot of people laughed at us 354 00:21:39,359 --> 00:21:43,720 Speaker 1: for saying yes, which is that people really care about substance. 355 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:48,120 Speaker 1: They want to understand things. Now, Look, people have jobs, 356 00:21:48,119 --> 00:21:50,720 Speaker 1: they have kids, they have lives. They don't necessarily have 357 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:53,440 Speaker 1: time to spend days and days and days studying every issue. 358 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:56,240 Speaker 1: You gotta deal with other stuff. But they do want 359 00:21:56,240 --> 00:21:58,399 Speaker 1: to understand, all right, what's really going on? What are 360 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:01,159 Speaker 1: the facts? And I had to admit, when it comes 361 00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:05,920 Speaker 1: to cable TV, I don't turn on the cable news stations. 362 00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:11,440 Speaker 1: I get very little from from people screaming anything three minutes, 363 00:22:11,480 --> 00:22:13,879 Speaker 1: sound bites, yelling over each other, and just the talking 364 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:16,600 Speaker 1: points blah blah blah. Want why it's like it's like 365 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:22,240 Speaker 1: a Charlie Brown and they're talking. Yeah, it just it doesn't. 366 00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:24,240 Speaker 1: So what we're gonna try to do. We're gonna try 367 00:22:24,240 --> 00:22:29,679 Speaker 1: to address number one, timely pressing issues right now, but 368 00:22:29,880 --> 00:22:33,720 Speaker 1: number two also issues that matter, whether raised by the 369 00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:36,679 Speaker 1: presidential campaign, raised by what's going on in the Senate, 370 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:41,560 Speaker 1: raised in the Supreme Court, or just issues that matter. 371 00:22:41,680 --> 00:22:44,320 Speaker 1: Socialism versus free enterprise, what's that all about? Those are 372 00:22:44,359 --> 00:22:47,159 Speaker 1: sort of great bumper stickers you can get all, you know, 373 00:22:47,760 --> 00:22:50,840 Speaker 1: jazzed about, but what does it mean? And and I'm 374 00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:53,440 Speaker 1: hoping that that we do it with a combination of 375 00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:58,000 Speaker 1: facts and insight and perhaps some perspectives that you don't 376 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 1: necessarily get elsewhere, but also having fun. I mean, we're gonna, 377 00:23:03,359 --> 00:23:06,920 Speaker 1: you know, cut up and laugh and and and enjoy ourselves. 378 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:09,119 Speaker 1: And hopefully that means our listeners will stay with us. 379 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:13,240 Speaker 1: Right before we go, someone has a new job recommendation 380 00:23:13,280 --> 00:23:15,359 Speaker 1: for you. You've already got two. Maybe you could have 381 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:19,680 Speaker 1: a third from Lisa thoughts on a Supreme Court seat. 382 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:25,200 Speaker 1: I think ted would be great. Well, look, I appreciate 383 00:23:25,240 --> 00:23:29,840 Speaker 1: Lisa saying that, And that's a question that I get sometimes. 384 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:32,919 Speaker 1: I will tell you that the short answer is is 385 00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:35,920 Speaker 1: that I'm not interested in doing that. Really, why not. 386 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:38,480 Speaker 1: You've worked in the Supreme Court, you clerked, you have 387 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:42,520 Speaker 1: argued cases before the Supreme Court. I respect, I admire 388 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:46,119 Speaker 1: the Supreme Court. I think it's massively important, you know 389 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:49,320 Speaker 1: the big reason. And when I've said this people they 390 00:23:49,359 --> 00:23:54,479 Speaker 1: sometimes don't believe me. But I think a principled federal 391 00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:59,320 Speaker 1: judge stays out of policy fights, stays out of political fights. YEA, 392 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:02,560 Speaker 1: if I were a judge. That's what I do. If 393 00:24:02,600 --> 00:24:05,639 Speaker 1: I found myself on the Supreme Court, I would follow 394 00:24:05,720 --> 00:24:07,959 Speaker 1: the law and I would follow the Constitution, even if 395 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:10,520 Speaker 1: it doesn't go along with your particular preference. I don't 396 00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:12,520 Speaker 1: give an issue, and I don't want to stay out 397 00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 1: of policy fights. I don't want to stay out of 398 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:17,040 Speaker 1: political fights. I want to be right in the middle 399 00:24:17,119 --> 00:24:20,560 Speaker 1: of them. And the right place in our constitutional system 400 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:22,639 Speaker 1: for that is the Senate. I mean, the Senate was 401 00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:27,280 Speaker 1: established for that, and and and so listen. I would 402 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:31,840 Speaker 1: like to be part of nominating and confirming two three, four, 403 00:24:31,960 --> 00:24:36,080 Speaker 1: five strong principled constitutionalists of the Supreme Court into the 404 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:39,440 Speaker 1: lower courts as well. Um, I think it matters massively, 405 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:42,000 Speaker 1: But I don't want to pull out of the fray. 406 00:24:42,119 --> 00:24:44,879 Speaker 1: That's too much fun. And when I look at the 407 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:49,520 Speaker 1: Senate and you don't no disrespect to my colleagues, but 408 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:52,960 Speaker 1: I don't see a whole lot of people leading the fight, 409 00:24:53,240 --> 00:24:55,760 Speaker 1: right and and if we're going to win people's hearts 410 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:57,840 Speaker 1: and minds, we got to be prepared to engage and 411 00:24:57,960 --> 00:25:00,440 Speaker 1: fight and and and and and that's what I want 412 00:25:00,440 --> 00:25:03,200 Speaker 1: to do. And you know, I'll tell you one part 413 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:05,520 Speaker 1: of it all. So I so this is not an 414 00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:10,120 Speaker 1: entirely theoretical question. Uh. For both of the last two 415 00:25:10,119 --> 00:25:15,639 Speaker 1: Supreme Court vacancies, for Neil Gorsich and Brett Cavanaugh, the 416 00:25:15,720 --> 00:25:20,360 Speaker 1: President and I had very serious conversations about the seat extended, 417 00:25:21,160 --> 00:25:23,359 Speaker 1: especially for the first one, the Gorsuch seat that was 418 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:27,520 Speaker 1: Scully a seat we had. The President and I and 419 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:31,879 Speaker 1: his team and I talked for probably two hours about it. Wow. Uh. 420 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:34,040 Speaker 1: And and I don't want to overstate it. He didn't 421 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:37,320 Speaker 1: offer me the job, but it was a really serious 422 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:39,399 Speaker 1: He didn't talk to me about it, you know. So 423 00:25:40,040 --> 00:25:42,800 Speaker 1: it's a little bit and maybe the next you know, 424 00:25:42,880 --> 00:25:44,639 Speaker 1: I can see you as a Ruth Bader ginsback. I mean, 425 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:48,960 Speaker 1: it'd be a good look for you. Um. And I'll 426 00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:51,879 Speaker 1: tell you I wrestled with it. I thought about it. 427 00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:54,919 Speaker 1: I actually spent several weeks with Heidi. I mean we 428 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:59,000 Speaker 1: were praying about it. I mean that that's I revere 429 00:25:59,119 --> 00:26:03,240 Speaker 1: Anton and Scully and and and to have the possibility 430 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:08,240 Speaker 1: of filling his spot, like holy cow. That It's one 431 00:26:08,280 --> 00:26:10,080 Speaker 1: thing to say it theoretically, but when it was being 432 00:26:10,119 --> 00:26:12,600 Speaker 1: discussed for real, you you really have a all right, 433 00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:17,200 Speaker 1: let's think about this humbling experience and and I came 434 00:26:17,359 --> 00:26:19,240 Speaker 1: very much to peace. So I told the President in 435 00:26:19,280 --> 00:26:23,840 Speaker 1: both instances, I'm not interested. I don't want the position. No, 436 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:25,840 Speaker 1: thank you. He didn't offer it to me, but I 437 00:26:26,040 --> 00:26:31,639 Speaker 1: made very clear I didn't want it. Um. When I 438 00:26:31,720 --> 00:26:34,679 Speaker 1: was thinking about it for the during the first discussions, 439 00:26:34,680 --> 00:26:37,600 Speaker 1: one of the things that happened my my pastor came 440 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:39,720 Speaker 1: over to the house. It was I forget it was 441 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:42,560 Speaker 1: a Saturday or Sunday afternoon and spent a couple of 442 00:26:42,560 --> 00:26:45,040 Speaker 1: hours talking through with me. And I got to say, 443 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:49,560 Speaker 1: among my close friends, almost everybody was saying, you're an idiot, 444 00:26:49,840 --> 00:26:51,639 Speaker 1: Like what is I wasn't going to say it, but 445 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:55,040 Speaker 1: I got a lot of that. Um. It was interesting 446 00:26:55,080 --> 00:26:59,359 Speaker 1: my pastor's take on it. He said he understood because 447 00:26:59,359 --> 00:27:01,600 Speaker 1: I was from the very beginning very hesitant and pretty 448 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:02,879 Speaker 1: sure I didn't want to do it, but I was 449 00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:09,040 Speaker 1: agonizing because it was becoming a more real possibility. And 450 00:27:09,240 --> 00:27:11,520 Speaker 1: my pastor used an analogy. He said, you know, if 451 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:15,679 Speaker 1: someone came to me and offered me the opportunity to 452 00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:19,120 Speaker 1: be the leading theologian in the world, to go to 453 00:27:19,160 --> 00:27:23,199 Speaker 1: some divinity school and drive theological thought across across the planet. 454 00:27:23,680 --> 00:27:26,560 Speaker 1: But I'd have to give up being a pastor. And 455 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:29,159 Speaker 1: I couldn't meet with the members of the church. I 456 00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:31,960 Speaker 1: couldn't visit them when they're sick. I couldn't. He said, 457 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:34,160 Speaker 1: you know what, I'd turned that down. And it matters 458 00:27:34,160 --> 00:27:37,359 Speaker 1: a lot. I want good theologians to think. And but 459 00:27:37,359 --> 00:27:40,240 Speaker 1: but my calling, my passion is to be a pastor, 460 00:27:40,600 --> 00:27:45,119 Speaker 1: and and and I have to admit that that analogy 461 00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:49,480 Speaker 1: resonated with me, and and and and I want to 462 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:55,520 Speaker 1: be fighting for conservative principles in the Senate, winning these fights. 463 00:27:55,560 --> 00:27:58,600 Speaker 1: And also, you know, one of the things Ted Kennedy did. 464 00:27:58,640 --> 00:28:01,240 Speaker 1: Ted Kennedy was a liar of the Senate, and he 465 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:07,440 Speaker 1: raised up He trained generations of left wingers who went 466 00:28:07,480 --> 00:28:10,679 Speaker 1: and populated all of government, did enormous damage to the country. Right, 467 00:28:12,240 --> 00:28:15,840 Speaker 1: I'm working very hard to train young conservatives libertarians to 468 00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:18,640 Speaker 1: go and fight for the constitution. That's a lot of fun. 469 00:28:18,640 --> 00:28:20,280 Speaker 1: And I'd rather do that, not just in the Senate, 470 00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:22,160 Speaker 1: but here. I'm glad you're staying in the fight in 471 00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:25,000 Speaker 1: both places. And we've got a lot more to get 472 00:28:25,040 --> 00:28:28,199 Speaker 1: to because we've got the final verdict on impeachment. But 473 00:28:28,240 --> 00:28:31,280 Speaker 1: I'm glad to say we don't have the final Verdict podcast, 474 00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:33,359 Speaker 1: and we will be back with a lot more to 475 00:28:33,440 --> 00:28:37,359 Speaker 1: look not just backward on this force of an impeachment trial, 476 00:28:37,520 --> 00:28:40,720 Speaker 1: but to look forward at what is at stake coming up. 477 00:28:41,160 --> 00:28:43,360 Speaker 1: Thank you so much to everybody who has made this 478 00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:46,400 Speaker 1: podcast such a big success. Please head on over if 479 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:49,360 Speaker 1: you don't mind, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever 480 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:51,959 Speaker 1: you listen to your podcasts and leave a five star review, 481 00:28:52,280 --> 00:28:54,120 Speaker 1: and we'll be back with a whole lot more. I'm 482 00:28:54,160 --> 00:29:05,040 Speaker 1: Michael Knowles. This is Verdict with Ted Cruz. This episode 483 00:29:05,080 --> 00:29:07,560 Speaker 1: of Verdict with Ted Cruz is being brought to you 484 00:29:07,600 --> 00:29:11,440 Speaker 1: by Jobs, Freedom and Security Pack, a political action committee 485 00:29:11,480 --> 00:29:16,600 Speaker 1: dedicated to supporting conservative causes, organizations, and candidates across the country. 486 00:29:16,720 --> 00:29:20,080 Speaker 1: In twenty twenty two, Jobs Freedom and Security Pack plans 487 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:23,400 Speaker 1: to donate to conservative candidates running for Congress and help 488 00:29:23,480 --> 00:29:25,760 Speaker 1: the Republican Party across the nation.