The Trump Impeachment Inquiry

[iiandyiiii]

1 poll is not nearly enough to feel “good” yet (in fact, I won’t feel good about politics until Trump is out of office in disgrace). But it’s on the right track. And considering that many Americans probably still haven’t heard about the latest turn of events makes me hopeful that support for impeachment has a lot of room to go – potentially, all but Trump’s core base, perhaps.

[SmellMyWort]

@HurricaneDitka

Perhaps because the “hold on Ukraine aid” wasn’t related to the imagined quid pro quo that you guys think you’re reading between the lines of the phone call.’

So what was it held for?

[Snowboarder_Bo]

@Dinsdale

Sorry if this isn’t the appropriate thread, but can someone point me to what they think is the most succinct analysis of what (purportedly) happened and the steps that are being taken? It really can be a challenge to fight through the partisan folk on both side to get an objective view. And so many of the “facts” seem to be of the weaselly, likely unethical, but criminal? sort.

Also, anyone know of a clear discussion of what different “rules” apply in an impeachment, compared to all of the various previous hearings? My main focus is on him NOT getting another term and - hopefully - Repubs losing the Senate majority. I’m trying to figure out what benefits the impeachment inquiry provides in those efforts.

<snip>

It is not readily obvious to me why THIS action - as opposed to so many others - is the one that merits impeachment.

I posted this back on page 2; I hope it is helpful:

@Snowboarder_Bo

Lawfare has an excellent timeline of events surrounding the Ukraine.

The Washington Post has one as well.

[iiandyiiii]

For the Trump supporters, I guess I’ll just ask this – if it were shown to your satisfaction that Trump really did expect the investigation into Biden in exchange for the aid to Ukraine, would you support impeachment?

[Procrustus]

@SmellMyWort

So what was it held for?

Maybe to give Putin more time to invade.

[Euphonious_Polemic]

A Sooper-Secret reason that only Trump, as The One True Leader, could possibly know. Certainly the Congress was wrong. As was the Pentagon, who had no problem releasing the aid. And everyone else. And of course, our European allies cannot be trusted, because Socialism.

You just need to trust that Trump is the smartest person in the country, and the only one who knows what is REALLY going on.

[bobot]

@SmellMyWort

So what was it held for?

Probably just innocently collecting interest so that Trump could present a more generous aid package. Trump cares like that.

[Thing_Fish]

@iiandyiiii

1 poll is not nearly enough to feel “good” yet (in fact, I won’t feel good about politics until Trump is out of office in disgrace). But it’s on the right track. And considering that many Americans probably still haven’t heard about the latest turn of events makes me hopeful that support for impeachment has a lot of room to go – potentially, all but Trump’s core base, perhaps.

Yes, IIRC that poll also found that two-thirds of Americans don’t yet feel they understand the details about the Ukraine scandal.

[BobLibDem]

@iiandyiiii

For the Trump supporters, I guess I’ll just ask this – if it were shown to your satisfaction that Trump really did expect the investigation into Biden in exchange for the aid to Ukraine, would you support impeachment?

I am guessing that none of them can imagine any circumstance under which they would support impeachment. Seriously, if what has come out in the past week would not be enough, if investigation reveals it to be accurate, then what would convince them?

So in addition to the question andy asked, I’ll ask this: is there anything that you can conceive of that would make you support impeachment? Is he fallible in any way, or is his every move perfect by definition?

[iiandyiiii]

Trump Attacks Whistle-Blower’s Sources and Alludes to Punishment for Spies...

Breaking:

WASHINGTON — President Trump on Thursday morning told a crowd of staff from the United States Mission to the United Nations that he wants to know who provided information to a whistle-blower about his phone call with the president of Ukraine, saying that whoever did so was “close to a spy” and that “in the old days,” spies were dealt with differently.

[Lance_Turbo]

“You know what we used to do in the old days when we were smart? Right? The spies and treason, we used to handle it a little differently than we do now.” - Donald J. Trump

Is he suggesting that we would have killed the whistleblower back in the day?

[iiandyiiii]

Vermont’s Republican governor supports the impeachment inquiry. First of many? We’ll see.

[Ravenman]

Just going to say this:

If Congress could get its hands on the Nixon tapes, Congress should get its hands on what’s on that classified server in the White House.

[iiandyiiii]

@Ravenman

Just going to say this:

If Congress could get its hands on the Nixon tapes, Congress should get its hands on what’s on that classified server in the White House.

Absolutely. Sub-poena that shit (i.e. anything placed into that classified server for political rather than national-security reasons) ASAP!

[you_with_the_face]

It’s like he’s physically incapable of not obstructing justice. This is a thing of wonder and horror combined.

[Lance_Turbo]

If anyone is wondering about WTF Devin Nunes was referring to with his jibber jabber about ‘naked pictures’ it probably has to do with Russian comedians prank calling Adam Schiff.

Notably, Schiff contacted the FBI when they reached out to schedule the call before he even spoke to them. He also says the following on the call, “I’ll be in touch with the FBI about this. And we’ll make arrangements with your staff. I think it probably would be best to provide these materials both to our committee and to the FBI.”

[steatopygia]

@iiandyiiii

Absolutely. Sub-poena that shit (i.e. anything placed into that classified server for political rather than national-security reasons) ASAP!

NO. Trump has been excluded from anything with real national security status since pretty early on. Anything Trump has touched should be on the table.

[iiandyiiii]

Keep an eye out for leaks. If things start happening fast, leaks will spring up like trying to paddle a strainer across a river. Not just in the White House, but in secret Republican meetings around DC, as everyone panics and scrambles to try and figure out how to stay afloat. Leaks will be used as feelers and testers to see how one political approach or the other might fly.

Maybe too soon to consider this kind of thing, but we’ll see. Things can snowball and happen very quickly (as well as hang out and disappear).

[Ukulele_Ike]

@iiandyiiii

For the Trump supporters, I guess I’ll just ask this – if it were shown to your satisfaction that Trump really did expect the investigation into Biden in exchange for the aid to Ukraine, would you support impeachment?

Do what I do. Go to the FoxNews and Breitbart websites, open the outhouse door, stick your head down the hole (metaphor: comments sections), and take a big whiff.

I do this a couple times a week as I believe it strengthens the lungs (metaphor: gives me insight into the wingnuts).

[Euphonious_Polemic]

@Lance_Turbo

“You know what we used to do in the old days when we were smart? Right? The spies and treason, we used to handle it a little differently than we do now.” - Donald J. Trump

Is he suggesting that we would have killed the whistleblower back in the day?

Yes.

And I thought yesterday - I would not be at all surprised if at some point, Trump issues orders to have one or more of his “enemies” assassinated. And I just hope that whoever gets these orders reports this to as many people as possible, as fast as possible.

I would not have thought this some months ago, but Trump is, I believe, currently that unhinged.