The Trump Impeachment Inquiry

It’s worth noting that this sort of thing is exactly where the word “privilege” comes from - it literally means “private law”.

Sorry, ‘THIS guy!’ is already being used by someone else.

CNBC: Giuliani associate Parnas wants to testify that Nunes aides hid Ukraine meetings on Biden dirt from Schiff

In sime sort of perverse way, it’s kind of fun watching all these Republicans dance to Trump’s music.

Because I was thinking of what would happen if Trump, businessman turned President, was more psychologically normative instead of a complete sociopath.

He’d go on TV, turn up the charm, and talk about how he’s been a businessman a long time, and sometimes in business you play a little dirty and he realizes that government works differently but he had a lapse in judgement. Then he’d apologize to the American people and apologize to Zelensky. Then the Republicans would point out his contrition, forgive him and the Dems would rant a bit but it would die out. Then they’d keep on doing the same shit but they try harder not to get caught. You know, the way politics has worked for years.

But the facts just keep getting worse and worse, and the only strategy Trump won’t push back against is unadulterated approval of everything. I bet the Republican Congress are all secretly missing the good old days.

Lev and Igor are the ones who kept insurance. Rudy is just an echo chamber for random thoughts that come out of his mouth with no filter, that may pertain to him or others, based on transient anxiety states he experiences.

But the reality is this: He is aware that he and dt saddled up with much lesser lights to commit crimes (after all it’s the POTUS and his lawyer, everyone is a lesser light) and that they are criminals. Obviously they have kept records of their own for self protection. It’s their goddam business.

Manu Raju, CNN:

Does anyone know is the McGahn decision due today (Monday) or next Monday (12/2)?

Today.

Rebecca Balhaus, WSJ:

Drain the swamp! Drain the swamp!

Seriously, think back to when Mike Flynn was fired over lying about Russia contacts as the National Security Adviser. That was what, within a month of Trump taking office?

And the ethics of this Administration have just gotten continually worse since then. I had no idea that was possible.

Kyle Griffin, MSNBC:

Don McGahn must testify about time as White House lawyer, judge rules

I love it! I’ll be pissed if they don’t call Bolton now. I know they think they have enough evidence, but if anyone can change Republican minds about this being a frame- job cooked up by the Dems, Bolton is that person.

Alana Abramson, Time:

Alex Mallin, ABC:

Unless Barr finds a way to intervene and prevent this from going forward in the way it would have in the pre-corrupt-DOJ days, it’s difficult to believe some of that won’t implicate Donald.

It’s wonderful news, but of course the WH will appeal.

I agree. But Bolton won’t be impressed by the McGahn decision. He won’t agree to testify until the Supreme Court says he must. He’ll remain in his high tower, combing, combing, combing his mustache.

Here is Judge Jackson’s 118-page decision (pdf).

I fear you are putting way too much faith in Bolton.

Bolton is no friend of the Democratic party, and he is not going to hand them a “win” in any impeachment proceeding, no matter how much damning information he has to share. He could testify that Trump burned the Constitution while ordering Barack Obama drawn and quartered on the Resolution Desk, and still opine that this does not rise to the level of impeachable behavior – knowing that his opinion will carry more weight than all of the expert civil servant testimony that has gone before. Moreover, it plays right into Trump’s hands for the situation to appear that without Bolton’s testimony, Dems will have failed to make their case – even though they’ve already brought more than enough actual evidence.

No matter how much Bolton may personally despise Trump, he knows where his bread is buttered. It is with the Trump Republican Woo Brigade. He will not help Dems, and I truly hope they resist the urge to call him.

If Bolton were truly a patriot, he’d have already come forward.

Matthew Miller, former DOJ/MSNBC:

Side question: how do judges manage to write such enormous decisions within such short timeframes, and keep them well-reasoned and well-cited? What kind of help do they have?

It’s a little reflective when you step back and think that Barr went from working as the Attorney General of such a benign president that a quarter of a century later when he was put forward again for the job people were largely thinking “who”. And now he will go down in infamy as the Attorney General of the most controversial president probably by the end of it.