There's a Certain Impotent Frustration There

McConnell: There will be no haggling with the House over Senate procedure. We will not cede our authority to try this impeachment. The House Democrats’ turn is over. The Senate has made its decision

— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) January 8, 2020

First, this sounds rather like Trump:

Trump: "Our missiles are big, powerful, accurate, lethal and fast....The fact that we have this great military equipment, however, does not mean we have to use it. We do not want to use it.”

— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) January 8, 2020

Talking about it is not the same as doing it.  Bullies talk about how tough and scary they are.  Competent people let their actions speak for them.  McConnell is talking; but he's not acting.  Indeed, he knows he can't act.

If the House subpoenas Bolton, the House could amend or add Articles of Impeachment based on his testimony.  That would justify withholding the Articles while taking Bolton's testimony.  If Bolton resists, all the better.  At that point the Speaker would have good reason to hold the Articles while enforcing the House subpoena in court, because the House can't proceed without that testimony, and can't insure the impeachment process is complete without that testimony.

McConnell is mistaken if he thinks Pelosi is haggling.  This is not a negotiation.  Rubio has locked the Senate in with his argument that it can only consider what the House sends.  Speaker Pelosi can use that argument to insist the House must revise the Articles and send over ALL evidence of Trump's malfeasance.

I want to see McConnell object to that.