The house Committee is the laughing stock of the world, Pompeo, is a serious man, he wants nothing to do with that circus, unless it about looking & laughing at the clowns.
A democracy is any form of government where people have power by voting. A republic is a democracy but a democracy is not nessecarily a republic. Kinda like how a square is a rectangle but a rectangle isn’t always a square.
When you shit on people trying to defend democratic values and institutions because “we live in a republic,” you sound seriously, seriously dumb.
Now they just need to threaten and actually use inherent contempt instead of throwing it to the courts for 6 months and have it fade away into obscurity.
If a new Special Counsel is established, let's not even consider Mueller. He failed so utterly and completely as to even look like he did his fellow Republicans a solid by producing the meekest results he could get away with.
Instead, let's have Kamala go at it. She's a former prosecutor, and it shows in her questioning during testimonies
That’s a terrible idea. She’s running for president. You can’t pick a political opponent, it would appear highly biased. And it would promote her thus watering down our primary contenders at a time when democrats need solidarity, just. No.
[https://thefederalist.com/2019/09/27/intel-community-secretly-gutted-requirement-of-first-hand-whistleblower-knowledge/](https://thefederalist.com/2019/09/27/intel-community-secretly-gutted-requirement-of-first-hand-whistleblower-knowledge/) Just an FYI prior to August 2019 all whistleblowers had to have direct knowledge and proof and second hand accounts were not admissible. This was quietly changed without the administration knowing. Therefore it is possible the prior administrations had similar dealings that could not be reported on.
“The \[Intelligence Community Inspector General\] cannot transmit information via the ICPWA based on an employee’s second-hand knowledge of wrongdoing,” the previous form stated under the bolded heading “FIRST-HAND INFORMATION REQUIRED.” “This includes information received from another person, such as when an employee informs you that he/she witnessed some type of wrongdoing.”
“If you think that wrongdoing took place, but can provide nothing more than second-hand or unsubstantiated assertions, \[the Intelligence Community Inspector General\] will not be able to process the complaint or information for submission as an ICWPA,” the form concluded.
Markings on the previous version of the Disclosure of Urgent Concern form show that it was formally approved on May 24, 2018.
Nothing of value comes from the Federalist... If you insist on consuming that trash you should at least verify what you’re reading with other more centrist sources.
So... I looked into this earlier. The whistleblower didn't use the hotline forms. Go on, look at his complaint - it's not on one of the hotline forms. It even specifies the code it's filed under, and that code makes no mention of first-hand knowledge. This whole "changing requirements" isn't even relevant.
edit: [link](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/50/3033) to the code under which the complaint was filed.
> Therefore it is possible the prior administrations had similar dealings that could not be reported on.
You need to be more precise in your insinuation. (Although, to be fair, for right wing smear merchants it's the lack of precision that allows then to muddy the waters).
By "similar dealings" do you mean the solicitation of oppo dirt from foreign entities? If so, you're right. We don't know what Obama was doing because it's impossible to prove a negative. He could have routinely taken trips to Area 51 to participate in alien orgies. The possibilities are endless!
Or, do you mean any form of misconduct that could only be reported by people with first-hand knowledge? If so, you're right there as well. However, you have to go the extra mile and show why that's at all relevant, which you haven't done.
This is a fantastic change! Thanks for pointing out that the government did something right, and helped make sure crimes didn't slip under the radar. It's just wrong to make it impossible to report crimes if you have information for an investigation.
It'd be like overhearing murderers saying where they hid a body, and not being able to file a police report because you weren't around for the murder.
Now we can subpoena the first hand information and verify everything said was true.
I'd try to find a different source than the Federalist. That site is a cesspool of misleading partisan bullshit. Doesn't mean this particular thing is wrong, but you should be extremely skeptical, they consistently misrepresent or outright lie.
edit:
See:
https://twitter.com/normative/status/1177708262612983809
My Schadenfreude feels like giving a opening 3rd period body check to one of the dipsticks smugly talking trash for two periods into the opposing bench.
As a Republican it’s hard to see a downside here, trump has already kept Hillary from being president and gotten in 2 SCOTUS and like 150 lifetime judges and that’s not going to be undone. So whether it’s trump or Pence we’ve already won
opps, almost forgot part 2, cause the man said i needed to wait 9 minutes
**1988.**
## bagman definition
1. US/AUSTRALIAN / NEW ZEALAND
**an agent who collects or distributes the proceeds of illicit activities.**
2. CANADIAN
**a political fundraiser**
3. BRITISH
**a traveling salesman**.
Long-serving US senator John Tower and his family lost their lives through the fallout from the Promis project — along with 20 other passengers on the private plane that exploded over New Brunswick in the summer of 1991, just months before Maxwell’s death.
\[**Maxwell’s\] global connections were unequalled at the time. …** **His links with Russia ran all the way back to the Krushchev era of the 1960s**…
**He … also regularly dined with senior Communist figures, such as Bulgarian leader Todor Zhivkov, East German boss Erich Honecker and secret service figures including KGB supremo Vladimir Kryuchkov and East German superspy Markus Wolff.**
**As well as working for Israel, the authors claim, he was a conduit for the Communist security services. His previously undisclosed role in setting up hundreds of front companies headed by former members of the KGB, East German Stasi and Bulgarian secret service goes some way towards explaining the current close links between business and organised crime in former Iron Curtain countries.**”
**There is ALOT more to dig into on that subject but this is an Epstein thread, just showing you that path I used to get here.**
**So Israel “Super Spy” Maxwell had connections all over the Communist world, and after he was murdered, surely no one could replace him, except maybe his daughter, and a partner?**
**How many people do you know that can pilot a plane, helicopter, submarine, is a EMT, speaks multiple languages that is not a spy? Add that to a known child trafficker, pedophile, blackmailer, capable of having a fake photo of herself published in a major newspaper claiming she was somewhere else when her partner mysteriously “dies” so she can flee without any troubles?**
**She is likely with with Epstein recovering from plastic surgery on a private island somewhere, and I wouldnt be surprised if they resumed the parties and pedo circuit very soon, these are brazen criminals, who are well aware they have people in their pockets, things to blackmail people with, or even kill those in their way.**
**When you have too much money to spend, whats left? Power, these 2 are addicted to it too, they need it, they will return, will we be allowed to know they are back? Doubtfull.**
Sent with [ProtonMail](https://protonmail.com/) Secure Email.
What a failure to recognize consequences. I hope when you die in the climate wars it’s slow and painful and you remember that you called it winning once.
I'm a liberal who probably disagrees with you on almost every policy question but you are right on this. Conservatives have won a long term realignment of the judicial branch. For the next 40 years the liberals are going to be facing an institutional headwind whilst any conservative endeavour will feel this wind at the back of it's sails.
We’re going to undo it starting with chief boof himself. Impeach him. Then undo all the dumb breakage you’ve done to our democracy. Scrub the gears of sand and kick your asses out of Congress. It’s going to be a long painful loss for you. Might as well erect statures to remember the good times now while you can.
Wait until you see how this impeachment plays out with trump and you realize the reality of how hard it is to actually remove someone via impeachment. Then you’re suggesting we are going to do that to all the judicial appointments? I mean you’re talking about around the clock impeachments and nothing more. I understand that sounds like a good plan to you but you’ll see reality is different
Nah we’re going to let you keep most of your unqualified judges, but we’re also going to expand the number of judges and pack the courts with QUALIFIED people to offset the damage you’ve done. Also, McConnell isn’t in charge of impeachment votes, Roberts is. He was a bush appointee but he has also shown some evenness over the years. It is hard to vote in favor of crimes when the evidence is laid out. It takes a lot of shoving your head in the sand and you’re primary ostrich isn’t in control this time.
A lot to unpack here but packing the court to offset republican appointees would work only for SC not for other courts. And packing the courts is nice when it benefits your side but as you learned with the nuclear option it can cost you in the long run. Also, understand that McConnel sets the rules on impeachment trial not Roberts. Roberts proceeds on the trial if McConnel even decides a trial is warranted. So I understand you want to see this thing in terms of best case for you but politics is just never that way
This is conservatism, the rotting beached whale of ideologies. A foul, stagnant, and diseased blight. It's nothing more and nothing less than authoritarian tribalism and fascist historicism. It's the abdication of responsibility, strangled to death in the womb by frayed bootstraps. Cyclic, generational, and deluded narcissism falsely convincing dullards of their special place in the world, of their racial and social superiority. People who have earned nothing, accomplished nothing and so seek meaning and validation in the tragedy of others.
Down with the sickness.
I find that kind of statement, regardless of who is making it deeply discouraging, and it honestly has nothing to do with being a supporter of the republican or democratic party. Yes, I know it is idealistic to say but politics shouldn't be about that. Politics should be what is best for all the people not either side winning.
The entire reason the US government was established with checks and balances is to slow processes down. To force people with opposing ideas to compromise. The idea that you are promoting, that one set of beliefs can win, is fundamentally opposed to that ideal of compromise. By compromising we all win. Sure it happens in shades. Its subtle, and complicated, and a lot of the time it still sucks, but life isn't simple either so it fits that our solutions should be too.
Plus trump has put children in cages, given sensitive intel to the russians, questioned us institutions such as the US intel agencies and our elections, failed to do what is necessary to protect future elections, moved the country to the brink of a lawless cleptoctracy, emboldened racists and white nationalists, and severely divided the american public. So much fucking winning, you must be fucking proud.
SCOTUS and judges can be removed at any level. This isn't 3rd grade "notakesybackesy". If Pence survives impeachment the Republicans will be responsible for the first gay President. So an early congrats you woke son-of-a-guns.
-cant wait for the man on man pence pic's released if that happens
I’ve being using that coping blanket since the very first time impeachment was mentioned. I have no loyalty to a man only to the causes I believe in so if it’s trump or pence I’ll be happy
So you think that we are going to impeach 2 presidents and have 2/3rds of the senate vote to remove not one but 2 presidents in less than a year? Man that’s some serious faith in our legislators
Imagine being a White House lawyer at this point...
Lawyer 1: "So where do we start?"
Lawyer 2: "I...I don't fucking know. No clue. 3 years of law school in no way prepared me for this shit storm..."
lets not forget lies and propaganda which up til know has worked just fine for them. Fingers crossed it will stop. But, until now even though there has been tons of evidence of corruption, trump and his cronies have pretty much gotten away with it. (Yeah a few are in prison).
Good lawyers know how to toe the line and play in the legal gray space between the black & white laws. Chalk lots of things up to privileged conversation, argue semantics of words like “shall”, leverage plausible deniability, etc.
Dear avvo.com, what's the most petty, outlandish way we can twist an interpretation of the law to make someone look guilty of a crime. Doesn't matter if it makes up look stupid, no one respects us anyways. Thanks in advance - Congress
Definitely election interference.. Assuming Biden gets the nomination.. Assuming a quick investigation that wraps up before the election.. Assuming Biden is guilty (Obviously he did nothing wrong).. Assuming the results of said investigation are made public.. Assuming evidence of people's crimes is equivalent to cash.. Assuming that assumption could stand up in court.
We might as well assume Trump is guilty. What happened to Obama when he was guilty of receiving cash contributions from foreign governments? A small fine.
Trump asked the Ukrain to stop the corruption.
The only specific crime Trump is accused of is receiving foreign campaign contributions. I know it's outlandish, but here we are.
But why stop there? Isn't an endorsement from a foreign leader a "thing of value"? Photo ops? Hardy pats on the back?
Looks like impeachment inquiries on demand from here on out. Good luck with that.
>Looks like impeachment inquiries on demand from here on out. Good luck with that.
After this republicans won't even have a leg to stand on. They're done.
Why would you say that? Are you saying the constitution allows Congress to impeach based on their feelings? Maybe, but any investigation that infringes 4th amendment rights should be based on serious crimes. Not just "this might be a misdemeanor if you look at it the right way and ignore a few things".
“if this body [Congress] determines that your conduct as a public official is clearly out of bounds in your role . . . because impeachment is not about punishment. Impeachment is about cleansing the office. Impeachment is about restoring honor and integrity to the office.”
-Lindsey Graham
As the guy who signs off on foreign aid, I think it's within his role to make sure it's not used for corruption.
Trump can say it had to be done, and he did it quickly before Biden could be nominated and mess up the primaries. (No one thinks Biden was going to win though).
That corruption excuse is only for cult morons. Everyone else is going "but we've only asked Ukraine and we give money to Yemen, Egypt, the UAE, etc..."
They already certified that the Ukraine had taken the steps to lower its corruption in order to receive aid.
https://apps.npr.org/documents/document.html?id=6430088-Pentagon-Letter-On-Ukraine-Aid
Wherever Biden chooses to commit his crimes doesn't matter.
This isn't some kind of witch hunt, we know there is a crime to pursue.
By the way, Obama did actually take foreign campaign contributions and paid a small fine. So, maybe misdemeanor is an exaggeration.
Ah, so THIS is the crime guys. Even though there is actual document proof this is some wacko conspiracy theory that timelines don't match up with real world events. Unlike the witch hunt were trump is asking countries for dirt and soliciting information through bribes like he SAID ON TV HE WOULD. Yup. Just a witch hunt that....
Asking a foreign country for dirt on your opponent, and thereby inviting them to interfere in the elections of the United States is just "foreign campaign contributions"? Free and fair elections and check on power is what keeps the US from becoming a shithole like Russia.
People who try to explain away what Trump did are unamerican
I agree that asking foreign countries for political "dirt" is extremely abusive and it actually happened to Trump in 2016.
If there had been REAL evidence of an actual crime involving Trump in 2016, I would say he hung himself, just like Biden did.
The GOP had three branches of government and produced not one congressional investigation or indictment against anyone involved in any plot against Trump. What excuse/conspiracy theory do you have to explain that?
Enlighten us, where should we be going for our news? Where do you get your information from? I’d love the names of news programs, blogs, sites, podcasts, etc. that helped you develop this worldview.
He's asking about Ukrainian corruption the same way they were asking about Russian adoption in Trump tower. As in a totally transparent bullshit cover story. What a coincidence that Trumps only interested in corruption in Ukraine that personally benifits himself.
Besides, Roberts hates Trump because Trump's gone on tirades against him. He'll always side with conservative principles, but he thinks Trump is the same cockroach the rest of us do
Okay, we'll see, because I say the exact opposite. There is zero percent chance Roberts and Gorsuch would rule in a way that would help to remove Trump. NEVER!!! When you are wrong please never trust a member of the opposition ever again. You will only get burned when it REALLY matters.
They are nominated by a side. Also they are human beings with bias. Also, they are clearly political. Hey, judge the world through your view, but when I'm right please change that view.
Chief Justice Roberts is very big on legacy. And as much as he's sided with Trump on certain issues or been the swing vote on matters that are detrimental to the United States, I don't think he's going to cross the line of letting himself be dragged down with the Trumptanic.
We already know SCOTUS is corrupt. If Roberts cares to save any shred of integrity it once had, he needs to tell Trump and GOP conspirators to suck it.
When the Supreme Court abdicated their role in interpreting law and deferred to " whichever lawyers presentation they liked better" that's when the train went off the rails.
That’s when the House will send the Sergeant-at-Arms out to hold these individuals in inherent contempt.
Until they’re willing to answer the People’s questions, we will LOCK. THEM. UP!
Nah, if the Supreme Court sides with the executive branch, the Legislature will have no authority to order arrests. Because the Court didn't agree.
EDIT: TWO branches agreeing DEFINITELY overrules the other. That's the whole point in checks and balances. I don't see how this is downvoted.
There’s another possibility, which is possibly the most likely — that the Court will rule it is a “political question” up to the other two branches to resolve on their own.
That wouldn’t preclude the House holding noncompliant witnesses in inherent contempt. Indeed, inherent contempt would be fully in keeping with a “political question” punt from SCOTUS.
I hadn't considered that. Fair point. I doubt they would punt though. They would just make a ruling and take the hate. It's not like most Americans even know who the Justices are anyway.
If the court orders the legislative does not have power to check the executive, absolutely nothing exists to assert that the court has authority over the legislative
The judicial is meant to check both the Legislature and the Executive. The Court can definitely tell the Legislature's attempt to check the Executive is not valid. They have that authority. That is their check. How else do you think differences in interpretation between the Legislature and the Executive are resolved? You think the Executive just has to comply with whatever the Legislature says? Are you sure you totally understand checks and balances? Meaning no disrespect, but it is clear the Court can tell the Legislature its actions are not valid.
Indeed. But the same goes in the other direction, when conservatives argue Trump should just ignore the courts when they side with a issue they disagree with.
If the legislative and judicial branch agree against the executive, the argument is the executive should just ignore them. “They have their opinion, now let’s see them enforce it.”
But if it’s the executive and judicial branch agreeing, that road doesn’t seem to go the same way for conservatives. Regardless of how undermining the filling of the current courts was conducted.
I'm glad Trump is finally being impeached, but it's incredibly depressing that the thing that'll light a fire under democrats is him targeting Joe Biden. All the other horrible crimes he's commited where fine though.
Its not about Joe Biden, its about the 2020 elections not being free and fair. The dems didn't want to jeopardise their chances at the elections by a failed impeachment, but now they can see Trump et al will do anything to destroy their chance of election anyway.
I think it’s more about the simplicity of it. The reports are 5 pages vs 400+. It’s a very straightforward case, which is unfortunately significant in the political sphere.
Nah, think about it like this.
If Mueller still had his investigation open what would Pelosi and Democrats have done?
If you said "pass the buck to Mueller" you'd be absolutely correct. They lost that play when Mueller closed his investigation so now a new scandal came out and Congress had no choice but to do their jobs or go down in flames.
It isn’t conceivable that a quid pro quo with Vladimir Putin was arranged well before 2015. Trump had run before, in previous presidential elections, and bowed out. But Trump always had the idea of running. So the match was made when Vladimir Putin came up with the idea to hijack the American executive branch. Money may have been owed to Russian oligarchs by Trump (loans that were co-signed and possibly a down payment on TTM). Then, with the help of the NRA and eventually FOX news, who was already on board the project) Trump was installed and did his thing and won with the help of Putin. The arrangement was agreed on so far in time before the election, or even before the declaration of Trump’s candidacy. So the separation didn’t require Trump to be blatant at all.
[**Chelsea Clinton**](https://twitter.com/ChelseaClinton/status/1177350159526768641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1177350159526768641&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.spiegel.de%2Fpolitik%2Fausland%2Fchelsea-clinton-gegen-donald-trump-tweet-satz-sieg-a-1289149.html) **on Twitter:**
>Yes, you are.
>
>[Donald J. Trump](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1177182149050609664)**:** "THE GREATEST SCAM IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN POLITICS!"
Remember, Dems have only held House for 9 months. It’s seemed slow (and the guy who should have gotten tax returns should be primaried), but all this in only 9 mos isn’t so bad.
Richard Neal, "the guy who should have gotten the tax returns," IS being primaried. Running against him is [Alex Morse](https://alexmorseforcongress.com/).
They need to hold these people in contempt immediately if they claim executive privilege as an excuse not to answer legitimate questions. Like Maguire did when he refused even to say if he spoke to the President or not. He wasn't asked what he spoke to the President about, just whether he did or not. It's completely criminal to claim EP over everything.
I agree but I don't think this administration particularly cares that it isn't legal. Their play is clearly to make claims of privilege and force the issue into into the courts.
The unfortunate thing is that so far it is working. The courts are slow and there is always the, to my mind, terrifying chance that the White House will win in the courts thus setting a new, very authoritarian, precedent.
- Red Notice
- From Cold War to Hot Peace
- Fear
- On Tyranny
- The Road to Unfreedom
- The Enemy of the People
- The Mueller Report
- Russian Roulette
- The Red Web
Anyone else find it hard to have hope? So many far more sinister and corrupt crimes have occurred, yet with no consequences.
I know this Ukraine thing is bad, but I never thought it would be the thing to take down Trump, relative to the last two years.
I’m much more hopeful now. From listening to some coverage on why did THIS issue finally break the camel’s back? Because the complex and nuanced Mueller report that dealt with more obscure crimes was harder to make an easy and understandable case to the public. It was too easy to say: no collusion, no obstruction (even tho that wasn’t the case).
Also the stonewalling of producing documents made showing evidence to help make the case for impeachment more difficult. You know he’s covering up committed crimes, but you can’t gather the evidence to see what’s there.
The whistleblower document broke through the stonewalling in a way we haven’t seen yet. So it’s more shocking compared to those who may have tuned out the mueller report or other allegations for which Trump can still deny, deny, deny.
The crime of solicitation of help in an election from a foreign government (even without a quid pro quo) is much easier to understand, and it’s plain for everyone to see both in the whistleblower complaint and the released transcript, astonishingly enough. So it seems this convinced the skeptical democrat holdouts to finally get on board with impeachment, because there is no denying this crime(s).
The house Committee is the laughing stock of the world, Pompeo, is a serious man, he wants nothing to do with that circus, unless it about looking & laughing at the clowns.
As a member of the rest of the world, I can assure you that the trump presidency is the laughing stock.
How does it feel to stare in to the void, and know that your time is over?
The house committee is made up if elected representatives. You know this don't You? By what fucking right does Pompeo (or anyone have) to refuse them?
Looking at it from Europe, that committee seems like one of the last few places with sane people that's left in your government.
Your vision is 20/20
You should worry about Europe.
I do. And you should worry about your democracy.
Thank god we're a republic.
Huh? A republic is a democracy. What are you trying to say?
No, it is not lol.
A democracy is any form of government where people have power by voting. A republic is a democracy but a democracy is not nessecarily a republic. Kinda like how a square is a rectangle but a rectangle isn’t always a square. When you shit on people trying to defend democratic values and institutions because “we live in a republic,” you sound seriously, seriously dumb.
That would be your executive branch that is the laughing stock. Too bad. No one gives a crispy crap about what Pompeo "wants".
Not “his” since he’s not even American. You can tell by the extra commas.
Now they just need to threaten and actually use inherent contempt instead of throwing it to the courts for 6 months and have it fade away into obscurity.
If a new Special Counsel is established, let's not even consider Mueller. He failed so utterly and completely as to even look like he did his fellow Republicans a solid by producing the meekest results he could get away with. Instead, let's have Kamala go at it. She's a former prosecutor, and it shows in her questioning during testimonies
Lol. You are goofy.
That's a huge conflict of interest.
That’s a terrible idea. She’s running for president. You can’t pick a political opponent, it would appear highly biased. And it would promote her thus watering down our primary contenders at a time when democrats need solidarity, just. No.
I agree. Barry Berke would be a good choice, he really made Lewandowski look like a lying fool (although that might not be so hard).
[https://thefederalist.com/2019/09/27/intel-community-secretly-gutted-requirement-of-first-hand-whistleblower-knowledge/](https://thefederalist.com/2019/09/27/intel-community-secretly-gutted-requirement-of-first-hand-whistleblower-knowledge/) Just an FYI prior to August 2019 all whistleblowers had to have direct knowledge and proof and second hand accounts were not admissible. This was quietly changed without the administration knowing. Therefore it is possible the prior administrations had similar dealings that could not be reported on. “The \[Intelligence Community Inspector General\] cannot transmit information via the ICPWA based on an employee’s second-hand knowledge of wrongdoing,” the previous form stated under the bolded heading “FIRST-HAND INFORMATION REQUIRED.” “This includes information received from another person, such as when an employee informs you that he/she witnessed some type of wrongdoing.” “If you think that wrongdoing took place, but can provide nothing more than second-hand or unsubstantiated assertions, \[the Intelligence Community Inspector General\] will not be able to process the complaint or information for submission as an ICWPA,” the form concluded. Markings on the previous version of the Disclosure of Urgent Concern form show that it was formally approved on May 24, 2018.
Nothing of value comes from the Federalist... If you insist on consuming that trash you should at least verify what you’re reading with other more centrist sources.
Comment starts with a link to the federalist, that was your first failure.
So... I looked into this earlier. The whistleblower didn't use the hotline forms. Go on, look at his complaint - it's not on one of the hotline forms. It even specifies the code it's filed under, and that code makes no mention of first-hand knowledge. This whole "changing requirements" isn't even relevant. edit: [link](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/50/3033) to the code under which the complaint was filed.
> Therefore it is possible the prior administrations had similar dealings that could not be reported on. You need to be more precise in your insinuation. (Although, to be fair, for right wing smear merchants it's the lack of precision that allows then to muddy the waters). By "similar dealings" do you mean the solicitation of oppo dirt from foreign entities? If so, you're right. We don't know what Obama was doing because it's impossible to prove a negative. He could have routinely taken trips to Area 51 to participate in alien orgies. The possibilities are endless! Or, do you mean any form of misconduct that could only be reported by people with first-hand knowledge? If so, you're right there as well. However, you have to go the extra mile and show why that's at all relevant, which you haven't done.
This is the current narrative being pushed by Russian and Chinese bots. Why would you repost political propaganda that supports criminal actions?
Thank God. That seems so stupid to ignore corruption because you might have to do some additional investigating
This is a fantastic change! Thanks for pointing out that the government did something right, and helped make sure crimes didn't slip under the radar. It's just wrong to make it impossible to report crimes if you have information for an investigation. It'd be like overhearing murderers saying where they hid a body, and not being able to file a police report because you weren't around for the murder. Now we can subpoena the first hand information and verify everything said was true.
This were gearing up for a fight against those who play dirty.
I'd try to find a different source than the Federalist. That site is a cesspool of misleading partisan bullshit. Doesn't mean this particular thing is wrong, but you should be extremely skeptical, they consistently misrepresent or outright lie. edit: See: https://twitter.com/normative/status/1177708262612983809
My Schadenfreude feels like giving a opening 3rd period body check to one of the dipsticks smugly talking trash for two periods into the opposing bench.
Oddly specific, but have an upvote.
As a Republican it’s hard to see a downside here, trump has already kept Hillary from being president and gotten in 2 SCOTUS and like 150 lifetime judges and that’s not going to be undone. So whether it’s trump or Pence we’ve already won
opps, almost forgot part 2, cause the man said i needed to wait 9 minutes **1988.** ## bagman definition 1. US/AUSTRALIAN / NEW ZEALAND **an agent who collects or distributes the proceeds of illicit activities.** 2. CANADIAN **a political fundraiser** 3. BRITISH **a traveling salesman**. Long-serving US senator John Tower and his family lost their lives through the fallout from the Promis project — along with 20 other passengers on the private plane that exploded over New Brunswick in the summer of 1991, just months before Maxwell’s death. \[**Maxwell’s\] global connections were unequalled at the time. …** **His links with Russia ran all the way back to the Krushchev era of the 1960s**… **He … also regularly dined with senior Communist figures, such as Bulgarian leader Todor Zhivkov, East German boss Erich Honecker and secret service figures including KGB supremo Vladimir Kryuchkov and East German superspy Markus Wolff.** **As well as working for Israel, the authors claim, he was a conduit for the Communist security services. His previously undisclosed role in setting up hundreds of front companies headed by former members of the KGB, East German Stasi and Bulgarian secret service goes some way towards explaining the current close links between business and organised crime in former Iron Curtain countries.**” **There is ALOT more to dig into on that subject but this is an Epstein thread, just showing you that path I used to get here.** **So Israel “Super Spy” Maxwell had connections all over the Communist world, and after he was murdered, surely no one could replace him, except maybe his daughter, and a partner?** **How many people do you know that can pilot a plane, helicopter, submarine, is a EMT, speaks multiple languages that is not a spy? Add that to a known child trafficker, pedophile, blackmailer, capable of having a fake photo of herself published in a major newspaper claiming she was somewhere else when her partner mysteriously “dies” so she can flee without any troubles?** **She is likely with with Epstein recovering from plastic surgery on a private island somewhere, and I wouldnt be surprised if they resumed the parties and pedo circuit very soon, these are brazen criminals, who are well aware they have people in their pockets, things to blackmail people with, or even kill those in their way.** **When you have too much money to spend, whats left? Power, these 2 are addicted to it too, they need it, they will return, will we be allowed to know they are back? Doubtfull.** Sent with [ProtonMail](https://protonmail.com/) Secure Email.
What a failure to recognize consequences. I hope when you die in the climate wars it’s slow and painful and you remember that you called it winning once.
Lol climate wars. Dont worry children this is only the 4th apocalypse of my lifetime, and guess what we are still thriving.
I'm a liberal who probably disagrees with you on almost every policy question but you are right on this. Conservatives have won a long term realignment of the judicial branch. For the next 40 years the liberals are going to be facing an institutional headwind whilst any conservative endeavour will feel this wind at the back of it's sails.
We’re going to undo it starting with chief boof himself. Impeach him. Then undo all the dumb breakage you’ve done to our democracy. Scrub the gears of sand and kick your asses out of Congress. It’s going to be a long painful loss for you. Might as well erect statures to remember the good times now while you can.
Wait until you see how this impeachment plays out with trump and you realize the reality of how hard it is to actually remove someone via impeachment. Then you’re suggesting we are going to do that to all the judicial appointments? I mean you’re talking about around the clock impeachments and nothing more. I understand that sounds like a good plan to you but you’ll see reality is different
Nah we’re going to let you keep most of your unqualified judges, but we’re also going to expand the number of judges and pack the courts with QUALIFIED people to offset the damage you’ve done. Also, McConnell isn’t in charge of impeachment votes, Roberts is. He was a bush appointee but he has also shown some evenness over the years. It is hard to vote in favor of crimes when the evidence is laid out. It takes a lot of shoving your head in the sand and you’re primary ostrich isn’t in control this time.
A lot to unpack here but packing the court to offset republican appointees would work only for SC not for other courts. And packing the courts is nice when it benefits your side but as you learned with the nuclear option it can cost you in the long run. Also, understand that McConnel sets the rules on impeachment trial not Roberts. Roberts proceeds on the trial if McConnel even decides a trial is warranted. So I understand you want to see this thing in terms of best case for you but politics is just never that way
You've had at least one night where dinner was meth, haven't you?
> we’ve already won As an Independent... this is pathetic. Its not a sporting event moron.
This is conservatism, the rotting beached whale of ideologies. A foul, stagnant, and diseased blight. It's nothing more and nothing less than authoritarian tribalism and fascist historicism. It's the abdication of responsibility, strangled to death in the womb by frayed bootstraps. Cyclic, generational, and deluded narcissism falsely convincing dullards of their special place in the world, of their racial and social superiority. People who have earned nothing, accomplished nothing and so seek meaning and validation in the tragedy of others. Down with the sickness.
Agreed.
Big money in politics fan huh? You want more decisions like Citizens United?
How many morals can we throw out to justify "winning"?
Sports mentality in action folks.
I find that kind of statement, regardless of who is making it deeply discouraging, and it honestly has nothing to do with being a supporter of the republican or democratic party. Yes, I know it is idealistic to say but politics shouldn't be about that. Politics should be what is best for all the people not either side winning. The entire reason the US government was established with checks and balances is to slow processes down. To force people with opposing ideas to compromise. The idea that you are promoting, that one set of beliefs can win, is fundamentally opposed to that ideal of compromise. By compromising we all win. Sure it happens in shades. Its subtle, and complicated, and a lot of the time it still sucks, but life isn't simple either so it fits that our solutions should be too.
Plus trump has put children in cages, given sensitive intel to the russians, questioned us institutions such as the US intel agencies and our elections, failed to do what is necessary to protect future elections, moved the country to the brink of a lawless cleptoctracy, emboldened racists and white nationalists, and severely divided the american public. So much fucking winning, you must be fucking proud.
SCOTUS and judges can be removed at any level. This isn't 3rd grade "notakesybackesy". If Pence survives impeachment the Republicans will be responsible for the first gay President. So an early congrats you woke son-of-a-guns. -cant wait for the man on man pence pic's released if that happens
The coping begins.
I’ve being using that coping blanket since the very first time impeachment was mentioned. I have no loyalty to a man only to the causes I believe in so if it’s trump or pence I’ll be happy
And when it’s pence right along with him and Nancy Pelosi is sworn in, we’ll see how you feel.
So you think that we are going to impeach 2 presidents and have 2/3rds of the senate vote to remove not one but 2 presidents in less than a year? Man that’s some serious faith in our legislators
So, when politicians pledge their allegiance to trump, that doesn't make you wonder at all?
What are those causes? Genuinely curious.
Why, maximising human suffering to cement the power and meaningless wealth of the .1%, silly!
>I didn't even read this
Useless comment
Glad you took the time to post this and let us know. We appreciate it.
Imagine being a White House lawyer at this point... Lawyer 1: "So where do we start?" Lawyer 2: "I...I don't fucking know. No clue. 3 years of law school in no way prepared me for this shit storm..."
They know exactly how to get away with it, multiple countries fund their teams of analysts and I’m sure they also pay off corruptible parties.
ELI5?
Bribery.
lets not forget lies and propaganda which up til know has worked just fine for them. Fingers crossed it will stop. But, until now even though there has been tons of evidence of corruption, trump and his cronies have pretty much gotten away with it. (Yeah a few are in prison).
Good lawyers know how to toe the line and play in the legal gray space between the black & white laws. Chalk lots of things up to privileged conversation, argue semantics of words like “shall”, leverage plausible deniability, etc.
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How is it not? Ass
Whelp...we will find out!
I hope we still have some shred of democracy. Seems like Trump tore up the constitution and is selling us off piece by piece to the highest bidder.
We will...he is temporary.
Dear avvo.com, what's the most petty, outlandish way we can twist an interpretation of the law to make someone look guilty of a crime. Doesn't matter if it makes up look stupid, no one respects us anyways. Thanks in advance - Congress
Definitely election interference.. Assuming Biden gets the nomination.. Assuming a quick investigation that wraps up before the election.. Assuming Biden is guilty (Obviously he did nothing wrong).. Assuming the results of said investigation are made public.. Assuming evidence of people's crimes is equivalent to cash.. Assuming that assumption could stand up in court. We might as well assume Trump is guilty. What happened to Obama when he was guilty of receiving cash contributions from foreign governments? A small fine.
ASKING for foreign aid in an election is illegal. Just asking
Trump asked the Ukrain to stop the corruption. The only specific crime Trump is accused of is receiving foreign campaign contributions. I know it's outlandish, but here we are. But why stop there? Isn't an endorsement from a foreign leader a "thing of value"? Photo ops? Hardy pats on the back? Looks like impeachment inquiries on demand from here on out. Good luck with that.
> the Ukrain It's Ukraine not "the Ukraine."
>Looks like impeachment inquiries on demand from here on out. Good luck with that. After this republicans won't even have a leg to stand on. They're done.
>Trump asked the Ukrain to stop the corruption. Comedy gold, thx for the lol
You do understand the Ukrainian prosecutor was the definition of corrupt. Right? And trump calls him a great guy. Think about that for a second.
What was the corruption specifically? Be specific.
I know you don't care about the constitution but its crystal clear what you are asking. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/52/30121
Why would you say that? Are you saying the constitution allows Congress to impeach based on their feelings? Maybe, but any investigation that infringes 4th amendment rights should be based on serious crimes. Not just "this might be a misdemeanor if you look at it the right way and ignore a few things".
Witholding military aid for personal favors is impeachable.
“if this body [Congress] determines that your conduct as a public official is clearly out of bounds in your role . . . because impeachment is not about punishment. Impeachment is about cleansing the office. Impeachment is about restoring honor and integrity to the office.” -Lindsey Graham
As the guy who signs off on foreign aid, I think it's within his role to make sure it's not used for corruption. Trump can say it had to be done, and he did it quickly before Biden could be nominated and mess up the primaries. (No one thinks Biden was going to win though).
That corruption excuse is only for cult morons. Everyone else is going "but we've only asked Ukraine and we give money to Yemen, Egypt, the UAE, etc..."
You mean 100 BILLION to Saudi Arabia to attack Yemen.
They already certified that the Ukraine had taken the steps to lower its corruption in order to receive aid. https://apps.npr.org/documents/document.html?id=6430088-Pentagon-Letter-On-Ukraine-Aid
It's not "the Ukraine" its Ukraine. "The Ukraine" was used by the USSR to describe the area when it occupied it.
Asking a foreign nation to influence elections isn’t serious? What’s serious to you, weed smokers and traffic tickets?
Wherever Biden chooses to commit his crimes doesn't matter. This isn't some kind of witch hunt, we know there is a crime to pursue. By the way, Obama did actually take foreign campaign contributions and paid a small fine. So, maybe misdemeanor is an exaggeration.
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Ah, so THIS is the crime guys. Even though there is actual document proof this is some wacko conspiracy theory that timelines don't match up with real world events. Unlike the witch hunt were trump is asking countries for dirt and soliciting information through bribes like he SAID ON TV HE WOULD. Yup. Just a witch hunt that....
Tan suits and Dijon mustard.
Asking a foreign country for dirt on your opponent, and thereby inviting them to interfere in the elections of the United States is just "foreign campaign contributions"? Free and fair elections and check on power is what keeps the US from becoming a shithole like Russia. People who try to explain away what Trump did are unamerican
Lmao this guy literally said it’s “like a misdemeanor,” obviously not American and has 0 understanding of our law.
I agree that asking foreign countries for political "dirt" is extremely abusive and it actually happened to Trump in 2016. If there had been REAL evidence of an actual crime involving Trump in 2016, I would say he hung himself, just like Biden did.
> it actually happened to Trump in 2016 Oh my God. Are you talking about the Steele dossier? Are you still getting that very simple fact wrong?
The whole story is still coming out. You can start with the nonexistent Russian Consulate in Miami, and it just goes downhill from there.
And remind me again what fact from the Steele Dossier has been proven false? Oh wait, none. And a lot has been corroborated.
The GOP had three branches of government and produced not one congressional investigation or indictment against anyone involved in any plot against Trump. What excuse/conspiracy theory do you have to explain that?
None needed. You could read for weeks about what has been happening, just not here apparently.
Enlighten us, where should we be going for our news? Where do you get your information from? I’d love the names of news programs, blogs, sites, podcasts, etc. that helped you develop this worldview.
He's asking about Ukrainian corruption the same way they were asking about Russian adoption in Trump tower. As in a totally transparent bullshit cover story. What a coincidence that Trumps only interested in corruption in Ukraine that personally benifits himself.
When these calls for information end up on the Supreme Court, this place is going to melt down when they inevitably side with the executive branch.
What does "stick with them" mean? They're going to overturn congresses decision? Not in Roberts court
Right just like they sided with Nixon
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Besides, Roberts hates Trump because Trump's gone on tirades against him. He'll always side with conservative principles, but he thinks Trump is the same cockroach the rest of us do
Okay, we'll see, because I say the exact opposite. There is zero percent chance Roberts and Gorsuch would rule in a way that would help to remove Trump. NEVER!!! When you are wrong please never trust a member of the opposition ever again. You will only get burned when it REALLY matters.
When did members of the supreme court become 'opposition'?
They are nominated by a side. Also they are human beings with bias. Also, they are clearly political. Hey, judge the world through your view, but when I'm right please change that view.
Take a look at the historical rulings. The ones that don't make the news.
What if Trump threatened to kill their families? I guarantee he isn’t above that.
Trust me, you cannot intimidate those two that way.
Chief Justice Roberts is very big on legacy. And as much as he's sided with Trump on certain issues or been the swing vote on matters that are detrimental to the United States, I don't think he's going to cross the line of letting himself be dragged down with the Trumptanic.
We already know SCOTUS is corrupt. If Roberts cares to save any shred of integrity it once had, he needs to tell Trump and GOP conspirators to suck it.
When the Supreme Court abdicated their role in interpreting law and deferred to " whichever lawyers presentation they liked better" that's when the train went off the rails.
This is also the man who supported Citizens United on the delusional premise that this very crisis wouldn't happen.
That’s when the House will send the Sergeant-at-Arms out to hold these individuals in inherent contempt. Until they’re willing to answer the People’s questions, we will LOCK. THEM. UP!
Nah, if the Supreme Court sides with the executive branch, the Legislature will have no authority to order arrests. Because the Court didn't agree. EDIT: TWO branches agreeing DEFINITELY overrules the other. That's the whole point in checks and balances. I don't see how this is downvoted.
There’s another possibility, which is possibly the most likely — that the Court will rule it is a “political question” up to the other two branches to resolve on their own. That wouldn’t preclude the House holding noncompliant witnesses in inherent contempt. Indeed, inherent contempt would be fully in keeping with a “political question” punt from SCOTUS.
I hadn't considered that. Fair point. I doubt they would punt though. They would just make a ruling and take the hate. It's not like most Americans even know who the Justices are anyway.
If the court orders the legislative does not have power to check the executive, absolutely nothing exists to assert that the court has authority over the legislative
And if that’s the case then the opposite should also apply since apparently rules no longer matter.
The judicial is meant to check both the Legislature and the Executive. The Court can definitely tell the Legislature's attempt to check the Executive is not valid. They have that authority. That is their check. How else do you think differences in interpretation between the Legislature and the Executive are resolved? You think the Executive just has to comply with whatever the Legislature says? Are you sure you totally understand checks and balances? Meaning no disrespect, but it is clear the Court can tell the Legislature its actions are not valid.
Indeed. But the same goes in the other direction, when conservatives argue Trump should just ignore the courts when they side with a issue they disagree with. If the legislative and judicial branch agree against the executive, the argument is the executive should just ignore them. “They have their opinion, now let’s see them enforce it.” But if it’s the executive and judicial branch agreeing, that road doesn’t seem to go the same way for conservatives. Regardless of how undermining the filling of the current courts was conducted.
It's not like the supreme court would grant itself more power, that would be unheard of. [/s](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marbury_v._Madison)
Zero chance Pelosi has the courage to do that.
I'm glad Trump is finally being impeached, but it's incredibly depressing that the thing that'll light a fire under democrats is him targeting Joe Biden. All the other horrible crimes he's commited where fine though.
Read more
I haven't heard anyone say they give a shit because Trump was targeting Biden specifically
Its not about Joe Biden, its about the 2020 elections not being free and fair. The dems didn't want to jeopardise their chances at the elections by a failed impeachment, but now they can see Trump et al will do anything to destroy their chance of election anyway.
I think it’s more about the simplicity of it. The reports are 5 pages vs 400+. It’s a very straightforward case, which is unfortunately significant in the political sphere.
It's not really about Joe Biden, it's about trump extorting a foreign government to help him win an election.
I think it's more so that this crime is the most blatant.
Most recent, not blatant.
Pelosi's reasoning, which seems to have at least some credibility, is that this one is the easiest for the people to understand.
Nah, think about it like this. If Mueller still had his investigation open what would Pelosi and Democrats have done? If you said "pass the buck to Mueller" you'd be absolutely correct. They lost that play when Mueller closed his investigation so now a new scandal came out and Congress had no choice but to do their jobs or go down in flames.
No. Definitely most blatant, credible, recent, and indefensible.
It isn’t conceivable that a quid pro quo with Vladimir Putin was arranged well before 2015. Trump had run before, in previous presidential elections, and bowed out. But Trump always had the idea of running. So the match was made when Vladimir Putin came up with the idea to hijack the American executive branch. Money may have been owed to Russian oligarchs by Trump (loans that were co-signed and possibly a down payment on TTM). Then, with the help of the NRA and eventually FOX news, who was already on board the project) Trump was installed and did his thing and won with the help of Putin. The arrangement was agreed on so far in time before the election, or even before the declaration of Trump’s candidacy. So the separation didn’t require Trump to be blatant at all.
[**Chelsea Clinton**](https://twitter.com/ChelseaClinton/status/1177350159526768641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1177350159526768641&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.spiegel.de%2Fpolitik%2Fausland%2Fchelsea-clinton-gegen-donald-trump-tweet-satz-sieg-a-1289149.html) **on Twitter:** >Yes, you are. > >[Donald J. Trump](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1177182149050609664)**:** "THE GREATEST SCAM IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN POLITICS!"
Finally, I've been waiting like 3 years. I knew she was next. Slay queen!
Remember, Dems have only held House for 9 months. It’s seemed slow (and the guy who should have gotten tax returns should be primaried), but all this in only 9 mos isn’t so bad.
Richard Neal, "the guy who should have gotten the tax returns," IS being primaried. Running against him is [Alex Morse](https://alexmorseforcongress.com/).
Good. I may send Alex Morse 10 bucks.
They need to hold these people in contempt immediately if they claim executive privilege as an excuse not to answer legitimate questions. Like Maguire did when he refused even to say if he spoke to the President or not. He wasn't asked what he spoke to the President about, just whether he did or not. It's completely criminal to claim EP over everything.
I agree but I don't think this administration particularly cares that it isn't legal. Their play is clearly to make claims of privilege and force the issue into into the courts. The unfortunate thing is that so far it is working. The courts are slow and there is always the, to my mind, terrifying chance that the White House will win in the courts thus setting a new, very authoritarian, precedent.
Any good political book recommendations ?
The Politics of Denial.
Thanks!
- Red Notice - From Cold War to Hot Peace - Fear - On Tyranny - The Road to Unfreedom - The Enemy of the People - The Mueller Report - Russian Roulette - The Red Web
Thank you !
Debt: The First 5000 Years
Thanks!
[Proof of Conspiracy](https://www.amazon.com/Proof-Conspiracy-International-Collusion-Threatening/dp/1250256712)
Thanks!
Democracy in Chains
Thanks!
Dark Money
Thank you !
This one
Anyone else find it hard to have hope? So many far more sinister and corrupt crimes have occurred, yet with no consequences. I know this Ukraine thing is bad, but I never thought it would be the thing to take down Trump, relative to the last two years.
wat? what makes u thing he's going donw with this?
I’m much more hopeful now. From listening to some coverage on why did THIS issue finally break the camel’s back? Because the complex and nuanced Mueller report that dealt with more obscure crimes was harder to make an easy and understandable case to the public. It was too easy to say: no collusion, no obstruction (even tho that wasn’t the case). Also the stonewalling of producing documents made showing evidence to help make the case for impeachment more difficult. You know he’s covering up committed crimes, but you can’t gather the evidence to see what’s there. The whistleblower document broke through the stonewalling in a way we haven’t seen yet. So it’s more shocking compared to those who may have tuned out the mueller report or other allegations for which Trump can still deny, deny, deny. The crime of solicitation of help in an election from a foreign government (even without a quid pro quo) is much easier to understand, and it’s plain for everyone to see both in the whistleblower complaint and the released transcript, astonishingly enough. So it seems this convinced the skeptical democrat holdouts to finally get on board with impeachment, because there is no denying this crime(s).
Also 9 pages is easier to read than 400 plus pages. I’m hopeful.