January 22, 2020

"The White House on Wednesday passed up a chance to force a vote to dismiss the impeachment charges against President Trump before arguments get underway."

"Both the president’s defense lawyers and the House Democratic impeachment managers had until 9 a.m. on Wednesday to offer motions related to the trial, except for ones that would call for witnesses and new evidence, issues that will be dealt with next week. Neither side did so, aides in both parties said.... A dismissal vote this week would almost certainly have failed to attract a majority of senators, dividing Republicans and dealing Mr. Trump an early symbolic defeat. A motion to dismiss could still be offered later in the trial."

The NYT reports.

And Trump "lashed out":

152 comments:

traditionalguy said...

At last the Romney/Collins/Murlowski three HateTrumpaTeers have their day in the sun. The back stabbing creeps deserve to be exposed.

traditionalguy said...

The United States is always paying so our District of Criminals Class gets to call the shots on the kick back of billions of our aid dollars to the our Honorable Politicians.

Mike Sylwester said...

The House of Representatives -- in particular, its Democrat majority -- is on trial.

Lucid-Ideas said...

I'm all for giving more rope. Sure. Let the teams rack up huge billables to get the whole thing thrown out 1 or 2 weeks from now. The reaction from Dems nationwide will be delicious. Much tearing of hair and gnashing of teeth. But sadly no self-flagellation.

Char Char Binks, Esq. said...

The case should be dismissed, but it was wise not to try, knowing he would likely not garner enough votes. Anyway, now Trump will get the airing of grievances he wants.

walter said...

"he would likely not garner enough votes"
No need to take it in the shorts.

Nonapod said...

But sadly no self-flagellation.

Will there at least be self-flatulation?

Achilles said...

President Trump: "I didn’t think Bill Clinton should have been impeached. And I was pretty vocal about that. I didn’t know Ken but what I did know was that he was very smart. He was very tough. He was very talented. But in a certain way I was sticking up for Bill Clinton… With me there’s no lying, there’s nothing. They don’t even have a crime. They say this is the only one who’s ever been impeached and he didn’t even commit a crime. He didn’t commit a crime. Then you get into high crimes and misdemeanors, but I didn’t commit a crime…"

Reporter: "So will you show up to your trial anyday?"

President Trump: "I’d love to go. I’d love to sit right in the front row and stare at their corrupt faces. I’d love to do it. Don’t keep talking because you may convince me to do it… I looked at Adam Schiff, he’ll stare into the camera… These are sleazebags, very dishonest people."

Iman said...

The New York Times rots is what it does.

narciso said...

well Nadler could creating his own hazmat zone,

Francisco D said...

The more rope the Democrats are given, the more they hang themselves with lies, misrepresentations and utter bullshit.

Will the Media ever point out the lies and contradictions in their "case" ?

Will the majority of Americans be interested or is this too boring and predictable?

Left Bank of the Charles said...

Refusing to issue subpoenas for the witnesses and documents Trump is charged with withholding from Congress is effectively a dismissal of Article II of the impeachment. But if this really is the coup that Trump has claimed it is, Pelosi has secretly lined up 20 Republican votes to convict on Article I.

Achilles said...

Mike Sylwester said...
The House of Representatives -- in particular, its Democrat majority -- is on trial.

DC is on trial.

Before this is done we are going to find out how much foreign aid is being kicked back to corrupt pols like Pelosi, Biden, Romney etc.

Bay Area Guy said...

The case will end in acquittal. Whenever that happens, the Dems will hold press-conferences whining, shouting "unfair" and "cover-up". That's how they roll.

Ideally, it would be best to have a full trial with witnesses, and them acquit. But this carries risk, too. Who knows whether Bolton will bolt? Who knows what Hunter will say? Who knows if the Dems seize on some mistake by Mulvaney?

So, likely Cocaine Mitch will allow the House Managers to proceed with their opening statements, let the Defense team give their openings, and then vote to dismiss.

Todd said...

DAMN those Republicans & Trump! Always "lashing out"! If they are not lashing out, they are "pouncing"! How Dare They! Have they NO shame?

Nancy as over heard at the water cooler, "And I could have completed this impeachment if it weren't for those meddling kids!"

Iman said...

November 3, 2020 will be Festivus for the rest of us, and man, do I have grievances that need a good airing out.

StephenFearby said...

Whistleblower Was Overheard in '17 Discussing With Ally How to Remove Trump

By Paul Sperry, RealClearInvestigations
January 22, 2020

'Barely two weeks after Donald Trump took office, Eric Ciaramella – the CIA analyst whose name was recently linked in a tweet by the president and mentioned by lawmakers as the anonymous “whistleblower" who touched off Trump's impeachment – was overheard in the White House discussing with another staffer how to remove the newly elected president from office, according to former colleagues.


“Just days after he was sworn in they were already talking about trying to get rid of him,” said a White House colleague who overheard their conversation.

“They weren’t just bent on subverting his agenda,” the former official added. “They were plotting to actually have him removed from office.”

Misko left the White House last summer to join House impeachment manager Adam Schiff’s committee, where sources say he offered “guidance” to the whistleblower, who has been officially identified only as an intelligence officer in a complaint against Trump filed under whistleblower laws. Misko then helped run the impeachment inquiry based on that complaint as a top investigator for congressional Democrats.'

'...A military staffer detailed to the NSC, who was seated directly in front of Ciaramella and Misko during the meeting, confirmed hearing them talk about toppling Trump during their private conversation, which the source said lasted about one minute. The crowd was preparing to get up to leave the room at the time.

“After Flynn briefed [the staff] about what ‘America first’ foreign policy means, Ciaramella turned to Misko and commented, ‘We need to take him out,’ ” the staffer recalled. “And Misko replied, ‘Yeah, we need to do everything we can to take out the president.’ “

Added the military detailee, who spoke on condition of anonymity: “By ‘taking him out,’ they meant removing him from office by any means necessary. They were triggered by Trump’s and Flynn’s vision for the world. This was the first ‘all hands’ [staff meeting] where they got to see Trump’s national security team, and they were huffing and puffing throughout the briefing any time Flynn said something they didn’t like about ‘America First.’ ”

He said he also overheard Ciaramella telling Misko, referring to Trump, ‘We can’t let him enact this foreign policy.’

Alarmed by their conversation, the military staffer immediately reported what he heard to his superiors....'

https://www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2020/01/22/whistleblower_was_overheard_in_17_discussing_with_ally_how_to_remove_trump_121701.html

narciso said...

one step up from 'pouncing' don't you know,

gspencer said...

Whether the trial is 3 days, 14 days, or x days, there will be 47 D votes to convict.

Achilles said...

Bay Area Guy said...


So, likely Cocaine Mitch will allow the House Managers to proceed with their opening statements, let the Defense team give their openings, and then vote to dismiss.


I find it hard to imagine Mitch did not get in on some of the foreign aid gravy. His wife is rich but politicians in DC seem unable to turn down money. The ability to get a friend or family member a cushy sinecure and mutual backscratching is like crack to these people.

There are at least 20 senators that do not want this money funnel brought to light.

rehajm said...

So, likely Cocaine Mitch will allow the House Managers to proceed with their opening statements, let the Defense team give their openings, and then vote to dismiss.

I hope this is correct. The longer this drags out, the more we indulge the McCain wing of the GOP, the more it appears the Democrats are in charge of the House and Senate, and the more it looks like the entire GOP is fetid and feckless...

...but we'll see.

Lucid-Ideas said...

Jerry's in the government
Mixing up the indictment
They're in a predicament
Pursuing the impeachment
Can't believe the gall
Banality of it all
Setting up for the fall
President's acquittal

Drago said...

Left Bank: "But if this really is the coup that Trump has claimed it is, Pelosi has secretly lined up 20 Republican votes to convict on Article I"

How can one supposedly sentient person be this consistently dumb?

Non sequitur piled on top of non sequitur.

Beasts of England said...

’Whether the trial is 3 days, 14 days, or x days, there will be 47 D votes to convict.’

If the defense does a solid job of undermining their case then there will be a few Dem defectors. Less than five, I’d guess, but even one would be sufficient to kill the ‘partisan coverup’ narrative.

Oso Negro said...

Impeach! Let the shooting begin! Or •the Bugaboo” as I learned to call it here

narciso said...

yes, there is nothing to this,



https://dailycaller.com/2020/01/22/judicial-watch-president-tom-fitton-reacts-impeachment-trial-video/

David53 said...

I’m reading James Halley’s biography of Sam Houston. Houston was tried by Congress for beating the crap out of William Stanbery. Congressman Stanbery had said mean things about Houston on the floor of the House. Houston got pissed and demanded an apology. Stanbery wouldn’t apologize so one day when they happened to meet on the street Houston began beating Stanbery with a cane. Stanbery pulled a pistol, put it to Houston’s chest and pulled the trigger. The gun misfired which further enraged Houston. It ended with Stanbery on the ground and Houston lifting Stanbery’s leg to better cane him in the scrotal area.

At the trial in the House, Francis Scott Key acted as Houston’s attorney. Key sucked, he may have been hung over, and so Houston gave his own final argument. He admitted the assault but was so brilliant in his own defense that the Speaker of the House only reprimanded him. Of course Houston was also President Andrew Jackson’s protégée.

Ah, the good old days.

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

What about this new evidence?

so-called whistle-blower is a hack who coordinated the effort

Kevin said...

Napoleon: “Never interfere with your enemy when he is making a mistake.”

narciso said...

in other news,


https://tinyurl.com/yx2ux99r

narciso said...

said ally, works at the atlantic council that funds burisma, and who recently brought now congressional candidate evelyn farkas on board,

I Callahan said...

But if this really is the coup that Trump has claimed it is, Pelosi has secretly lined up 20 Republican votes to convict on Article I.

Honestly, do you really believe this?

walter said...

Got him in the Stanberries. A thorough flogging, not mere pettifogging.

narciso said...


A busted fizbin


https://mobile.twitter.com/RaheemKassam/status/1220041716440367104

Leland said...

I agree with Bay Area Guy. The theatrical play has its three acts. Even if you know what will happen in the denouement, you don't leave the stage in the middle of Act II, it confuses the patrons, and this theater is definitely for the patrons paying to see it.

tim maguire said...

I'd like to hear from Hunter Biden.

If we're going to have a trial, let's have a trial. A basic piece of evidence that the Democrats never developed in the House is, did Trump have just cause to ask for the investigation? If yes, then we don't even have to get into the presidential prerogative/foreign policy fooforah.

And if we're calling witnesses, how about Eric Ciaramella? Just for shits and giggles.

Beasts of England said...

I read Left Bank’s comment as hypothetical, not declarative.

walter said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Yancey Ward said...

Left Bank is being tenditious. Everyone, whether they explicitly say it or not, understand this to be an attempted coup.

tim maguire said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Iman said...

It's the boogaloo, Oslo Negro, get it right! 😃

tim maguire said...

Left Bank of the Charles said...if this really is the coup that Trump has claimed it is, Pelosi has secretly lined up 20 Republican votes to convict on Article I.

It wouldn't surprise me if a few Republicans are also lined up at the Ukraine trough and don't want the light turned on any more than the Democrats do. But the DNC doesn't have enough cash to get 20 Republicans on board.

TJM said...

Provides more time for the Dems to destroy what is left of any sanity

Iman said...

Lisa Murkowski looks like she's been habitually sucking on lemons for her entire life.

Yancey Ward said...

I wrote yesterday- the Democrats are bluffing on the witnesses- they can do this because they know the Senate Republicans also don't want witnesses called. It is all theater until the first actual vote on dismissal or acquittal (and it will still be a lot of theater, too. I blame televised proceedings- I don't think it any accident that you got the Bork Circus the same year that CSPAN-2 started broadcasting.

Big Mike said...

Trump is raising money by the bucketful, not to mention energizing his base and boosting turnout at his rallies (100,000 have requested tickets for the New Jersey rally). A successful motion to dismiss would cut all that off, and provide Democrats with a chance to claim that Republicans were the partisans.

Iman said...

... with occasional sips of either water or milk or, as Mitt Romney would say, a "full bar".

Oso Negro said...

Thanks Iman! Still working to grasp the newspeak

Yancey Ward said...

Without televised proceedings, Chuck Schumer is probably a car salesman today, or doing the weather for WABC.

narayanan said...

Blogger Char Char Binks said...
Anyway, now Trump will get the airing of grievances he wants.
___________++++++++++++++++========
what about feats of strength?

Iman said...

Left Bank loves dat dirty water...

Infinite Monkeys said...

Will there at least be self-flatulation?

Swalwell is a Representative, not a Senator.

narciso said...

she does have a gargoylish complexion, she's the fave of the Alaskan 'top men' regardless,

AllenS said...

A motion to dismiss would not diminish Trump's support at all. It would be a rallying call.

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

Does CNn cut away anytime a not-democrat is speaking?

Yancey Ward said...

If the Trump team moves for a dismissal vote, it will occur after the Democrats present their case, certainly not before.

Bay Area Guy said...

Remember the Kavanaugh hearings? These delusional fuckhead Dem Senators tried to sink him with bogus claims about gang rapes in high school. He barely squeaked thru 50-48.

The reason the Left fought so viciously? They feared BK was the 5th vote to overturn Roe.

Here, the impeachment is a farce. Schumer and his delusional fuckhead minions know it's going nowhere.

So, they are retreating to back-up plans:

Plan B -- hopefully they can get some footage or quotes or public opinion to ding up the "forever impeached" Trump to hurt his reelection chances in November.

Plan C is to put pressure on wobbly GOP Senators (about 3 or 4) and oust them in November to retake the Senate, and categorically oppose all judicial appointments.

BUMBLE BEE said...

Playin 'em like a Stradivarius.

Lucid-Ideas said...

"Will there at least be self-flatulation?"

That already happened during Kavanaugh. Flake felt - like a much intimidated skunk - threatened and, with an especially wet fart, sent his caucus to the four winds and thus escaped danger.

Francisco D said...

It would be fascinating if there was a compromise in which Bolton and Mulvaney were subpoenaed and Trump claimed executive privilege (as any POTUS would). Then it would go to the courts as it should have in the House.

Neither Mulvaney nor Bolton will implicate Trump because there is nothing to implicate him for. They will say that he was concerned about US money going to countries who turned around and gave it to the kids of US politicians.

That is opening Pandora's box for members of both parties.

It is not that Trump is some kind of political genius. It is that he has really awful enemies.

Michael K said...

The motion to dismiss will come after the questions are answered. About a week or so.

Hunter Biden will be answering questions from a judge next week, I suspect. No need to call him by the Senate,

Iman said...

Schiff talks about "political crimes" and, although they have not charged POTUS with a crime, he says Americans "can't depend on an election" to remedy this situation.

FullMoon said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
tim in vermont said...

"Characters appearing in this teleplay have no basis in reality, though most of them have no idea."

FullMoon said...

"Lucid-Ideas said... [hush]​[hide comment]

Jerry's in the government
Mixing up the indictment
They're in a predicament
Pursuing the impeachment
Can't believe the gall
Banality of it all
Setting up for the fall
President's acquittal"

God knows when,
but they''ll do it all
again

Michael K said...

There are at least 20 senators that do not want this money funnel brought to light.

Oh, I agree. That's why Hunter's Baby Momma will get the beans spilled. He really screwed up there.

Beasts of England said...

’...he says Americans "can't depend on an election" to remedy this situation.’

He must view it as an inherent flaw in self-governance.

Bruce Hayden said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
tim in vermont said...

I have a golf acquaintance who sometimes lobbies Republican Senators, though he is a liberal Democrat. He says they hate Trump. I am not even a little surprised, though I can’t be sure of his take, because he hates Trump so much.

tim in vermont said...

Even he though thinks that Hunter Biden is a bag man. It’s just that this is the way it’s always been done.

Bruce Hayden said...


“ How can one supposedly sentient person be this consistently dumb?”

It’s purely propaganda, untethered from reality. Collins might survive voting for removal. I doubt that any other Republican could. Not even Romney, who has no doubt given tens of millions to his church, which seems to make Mormons especially saintly among the other Saints. Republicans voting for removal would be seen as traitors, pure and simple. Almost assuredly primaried, likely successfully.

Every one of those Republicans knows full well that the shampeachment is purely political. There were no High Crimes or Misdemeanors even suggested by the Democrats. Article I seeks to impeach over Trumps valid and legal use of his plenary Article II power of conducting foreign policy. Article II seeks to impeach over Trump protecting the Presidency from illegitimate requests from Congress that would breach long established precedents on Executive Privilege and privacy. He simply ordered the people working for him to not respond to invalid subpoenas and demands to give testimony. That was his duty, nothing more. Especially when HSCI chair Schifty denied the repeated Executive Branch requests to have attorneys present at the hearings in order to assert Executive Privilege. It is unlikely that any recent President, even Obama, would have complied.

Trump maybe is not popular with all of the Republican Senators, but he is the only game in town, because his base doesn’t care about their personal likes and dislikes. What they care about is being disenfranchised by the Democrats of their vote for Trump in 2016. He has been fighting coup attempts against him since the day he was elected, better than two months before being inaugurated. This is just the latest such coup attempt. And Republican voters, by and large, have no sympathy for anyone who aids and abets these coup attempts, and that includes by Republican Senators.

Dave Begley said...

What is the NYT going to do when Trump wins the impeachment and is re-elected? Lash out?

Beasts of England said...

A secret vote to remove Trump would pass 90-10.

tim in vermont said...

Calling out Biden on Burisma breaks the code of honor among thieves.

narciso said...

'the first rule of senate fight club is'

Michael K said...

Why Hunter doesn't have to be subpoenaed.

Hunter Biden must appear Jan. 29 in a Batesville courtroom and explain why he shouldn't be held in contempt for violating court orders to provide financial information in his Arkansas paternity case.

Independence County Circuit Judge Holly Meyer signed an "Order to Appear and Show Cause" on Monday, a day when Arkansas courts were closed to honor the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The judge's order was filed into the court record Tuesday.

The one-sentence order was prepared by Clinton and Jennifer Lancaster, attorneys for Lunden Alexis Roberts, the mother of Biden's 16-month-old child.

Biden, son of former Vice President Joe Biden, is being ordered to appear in the Arkansas courtroom days after President Donald Trump's impeachment trial began in the Senate. Hunter Biden has been mentioned as a possible witness in the impeachment proceedings.

Questions about Hunter Biden's finances, employment history and previous substance abuse have been raised by Republicans during the impeachment inquiry. Biden has defended his past business dealings, portraying criticism as politically motivated. His father, Joe Biden, is a contender for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Iman said...

"Not even Romney, who has no doubt given tens of millions to his church, which seems to make Mormons especially saintly among the other Saints."

Christians call this tithe. The church does a lot of great relief work, e.g., relief after Katrina.

tim in vermont said...

They don’t want Biden to appear because Biden fils was on the legal team, along with high powered Democrats associated with the Clintons, that met with Shokin’s replacement before Shokin was “fired” by Biden père, and son of a bitch, six months later all of Burisma’s legal problems were gone. It’s right in the New York Times though.

Bay Area Guy said...

For those poor lost souls devoted to process and procedures, here they are (via Last Refuge guys):

There will be 24 hours of presentation by House Impeachment Managers (over 3 days); 24 hours of presentation by Defense team (over 3 days); 16 hours of Senate questioning; 4 hours of closing arguments, equally divided; and then a Senate debate/vote on further motions to include witnesses. If there are going to be witnesses, they will first be deposed prior to testimony. No witness testimony will be permitted without first being deposed.

Depose Hunter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tim in vermont said...

Ciaramella was at the meeting in the White House with Shokin’s deputies when they were informed that Shokin had to go.

Achilles said...

Beasts of England said...
A secret vote to remove Trump would pass 90-10.

Because they were all on the. This leads to...

Yancey Ward said...
I wrote yesterday- the Democrats are bluffing on the witnesses- they can do this because they know the Senate Republicans also don't want witnesses called. It is all theater until the first actual vote on dismissal or acquittal (and it will still be a lot of theater, too.

And this all started with...

BleachBit-and-Hammers said...
What about this new evidence?

so-called whistle-blower is a hack who coordinated the effort.

Everyone in DC wants Trump out.

They are all corrupt hacks. Everyone in DC should get the Manafort treatment.

You all need to stop defending the Republicans. There are maybe 20 or 30 that are not trying to keep a lid on all of this.

Browndog said...

Aunty Trump said...

Ciaramella was at the meeting in the White House with Shokin’s deputies when they were informed that Shokin had to go.


Ciaramella is a central figure with direct knowledge and direct interaction with all the players in this Ukraine fiasco.

Republicans should be demanding his testimony, not Hunter's.

He cannot be exempt because he's the whistle blower because nobody knows who the whistle blower is.

Rory said...

Tulsi sued Hillary for defamation today. The complaint is pretty funny, Hillary's reply can only be hilarious.

narciso said...

largely so, but his lips are moving so what is the likelihood he'll tell the truth,

Gusty Winds said...

I think it is to Trump's, and the people who support him to drag this out. The Witness fight is a game of chicken. We all know it was a big money laundering scheme. Let Bolton sing. So what? But get the Biden's up there, and EVERYONE is screwed.

Plus, you have Bernie and Warren locked up. This freezes Biden too. And Mayor Butt-Judge-Judge isn't going anywhere.

tim in vermont said...

"He cannot be exempt because he's the whistle blower “

There is nothing in the whistleblower statute that covers POTUS. It is restricted to “departments” He has no protection, also, the protection of his identity disappears if legal procedures result and his testimony is required. So that’s two reasons he is not covered.

tim maguire said...

Browndog said...
Republicans should be demanding his testimony, not Hunter's.

He cannot be exempt because he's the whistle blower because nobody knows who the whistle blower is.


I'm not that interested in Ciamerella's testimony (except for entertainment value) because all his facts have been admitted to. Only his interpretations are questioned and I don't much care about his opinions.

Hunter needs to be put on the stand because the best defense and the best offense is to show his dealings in the Ukraine were dirty. The Democrats can't very well complain that Trump requested an investigation if there was something to investigate. Or in any case, let them just try.

tim in vermont said...

“You all need to stop defending the Republicans. “

I am starting to see the wisdom of Jesus on this one, “Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s.” These guys are gonna be corrupt, there are things we can’t change. We have to pay attention to the things we can change.

walter said...

Impeachment, Democrats, and those 90,000 documents
<
So a question: Where did the figure of 90,000 pages, or documents, come from? Did Clinton helpfully cooperate with the House Republicans who were trying to remove him from office 20 years ago?

It turns out Schiff, Pelosi, and their colleagues were not telling the whole story. They got the 90,000 figure, apparently, from Clinton's rebuttal to the Starr report — the report independent counsel Kenneth Starr turned over to Congress on Sept. 9, 1998, after seven months of investigating the Monica Lewinsky affair. In that rebuttal, given to Congress on Sept. 11, Clinton's lawyers wrote: "During the past four and a half years, the President has ... produced more than 90,000 pages of documents and other items" to investigators.

But not to Congress. The Clinton situation was entirely different from the one Schiff and his fellow Democrats face today. Starr was an independent counsel with full law enforcement powers, and his office issued many grand jury subpoenas pushing Clinton, who often resisted fiercely, to turn over the 90,000 documents over the course of four and a half years, covering the Whitewater, Travelgate, Filegate, and Lewinsky investigations.

"If memory serves me correctly, I don't think he voluntarily gave us anything," said Sol Weisenberg, a former Starr prosecutor, in a conversation Tuesday.

With Trump, the House has been involved in a different process. Speaker Nancy Pelosi chose not to seek the appointment of a special counsel to investigate the Trump-Ukraine matter. (The old independent counsel law under which Starr was appointed expired years ago; a Trump-Ukraine special counsel investigation might have operated along the lines of the Robert Mueller Trump-Russia investigation.) Instead, House Democrats conducted a hurried investigation that did not involve a grand jury or engage in the type of fighting for documents that Starr did.

The House did issue a subpoena for documents directed at White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney on Oct. 4, 2019. The subpoena seemed almost certain to stir conflict, calling "for documents and communications that are highly delicate and would typically be subject in almost any White House to claims of executive privilege," according to the New York Times.

The White House declined to provide the documents, arguing that the House impeachment process did not formally exist because the House had not at that point taken a formal vote beginning the process.

And when the White House did not turn over documents, the House did ... nothing.

"Did the House take any steps to remedy that?" asked Trump lawyer Patrick Philbin on the Senate floor Tuesday. "Did they try to dispute that? Did they go to court? Did they try to resolve that problem? No. Because as we know, all they wanted to do was issue a subpoena and move on."
<

tim in vermont said...

"because all his facts have been admitted to.”

Not nearly.

Skeptical Voter said...

Truth is a defense when The Donald calls Jerry Nadler a "sleazebag".

walter said...

Maybe he's less whistleblower, more Pied Piper.
Imagine the dramatic entrance.
Althouse could draw it.

stevew said...

Can someone point me to the lashing out and venting parts of Trump's speech?

Milwaukie guy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Milwaukie guy said...

I watched a bunch of Schitt's opening monologue. The cry for Ukraine, frontline against Russia is just too much.

In the Obama days, when the U.S. only sent non-lethal aid, the front was fluid, thousands died and the D's did nothing. In the Trump days, with lethal aid, the frontline is a stalemate.

Of the 5,000 Ukrainian national army and militia KIA since the war began, in 2019 [through September] were 79 KIA and about 17 during the 55-day pause in getting more Javelins, etc. Chicago's armed militias [gangs] were five times more deadly than the war in Ukraine last year.

With Schitt, it's like the whole of Europe was in mortal danger for 55 days.

I hope all U.S. free money comes with quid pro quos: Fight corruption, don't persecute your religious or ethnic minorities, stop being dicks in general or the money stops, etc. Biden's video admission of a quid pro quo that benefitted his son is on the record.

Bruce Hayden said...

“The House did issue a subpoena for documents directed at White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney on Oct. 4, 2019. The subpoena seemed almost certain to stir conflict, calling "for documents and communications that are highly delicate and would typically be subject in almost any White House to claims of executive privilege," according to the New York Times.”

“The White House declined to provide the documents, arguing that the House impeachment process did not formally exist because the House had not at that point taken a formal vote beginning the process.”

What must be remembered is that the House did not vote to open an impeachment inquiry until October 31. That means that the “subpoenas” in question had no legal force. None. They weren’t “subpoenas” because there was no judicial enforcement possible under them. There was no valid penalty (“poena”) asserted under (“sub”) them. They were mere requests. Nothing more. And indeed, all of the ones I read mentioned the House’s Overdight and Impeachment powers (despite the House committees not having had any Impeachment powers, since opening an impeachment investigation had not yet been approved by the full House), but then instead of threatening to enforce the request in court, the threat was to hold the President in contempt of Congress if not complied with. And that was what was done - Impeachment Article II was for the Administration refusing to turn over illegally requested documents to House committees, and refusing to allow Administration officials testify in Schifty’s basement Star Chamber without WH attorneys present in order to assert Executive Privilege.

Milwaukie guy said...

I hope Lucid's 12:04 can be part of the next Althouse Dylan retrospective.

Michael K said...

What must be remembered is that the House did not vote to open an impeachment inquiry until October 31.

Yes, this is why Nancy called her vote an "inquiry" but did not include the subpoena power. Probably because some of the members of her caucus from Trump states objected.

bagoh20 said...

In a properly civilized country Ciaramella, Misko, and Schiff would be in front of a firing squad. How is what they did not treason of the highest sort?

Breezy said...

I can't stand watching 5 minutes of this guy - why didn't anyone suggest 8 hours max per side? 3 days of this is torture and we're all supposed to be against that unless we're looking for the kidnapping victim or a terror suspect....

No one should get to entrap the US Senate for such garbage for 3 days. They should all sue Pelosi for this, or find a way to force her to sit in one place for 3 straight days listening to the President.

narciso said...

its against the Geneva and Vienna conventions,

https://johnsolomonreports.com/joe-bidens-conspiracy-theory-memo-to-u-s-media-doesnt-match-the-facts/

n.n said...

Democrats will have to swallow the burden of their unPlanned Peaches, which are out season, green, and corrupt.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
walter said...

Should at least incorporate puppets.

walter said...


Chad Pergram
‏Verified account @ChadPergram
20h20 hours ago

Cruz: God help us if we have to listen to Adam Schiff prattle on for 24 hours, non-stop

Char Char Binks, Esq. said...

"what about feats of strength?"

Trump claims he can hit a golf ball over 300 yards. I'd like to see him prove it.

narciso said...

its as convoluted as the plot of haywire, with no gina carano,

Achilles said...

bagoh20 said...
In a properly civilized country Ciaramella, Misko, and Schiff would be in front of a firing squad. How is what they did not treason of the highest sort?

This pretty obviously holds true for at minimum 50% of the population in Washington DC and surrounding counties.

These people pushing this garbage should all be thankful if they are forgotten and allowed to slink off into the bushes.

stevew said...

"what about feats of strength?"

Better yet, Trial by Combat, Trump vs Schiff.

Iman said...

Broken lines, broken words
Broken process, broken herds,
Broken idols, broken sex,
Pencil-neck geek needs a broken neck,
Ain't no use jivin’
Ain't no use jokin’
Adam Schiff’s broken

tim in vermont said...

He withheld the information both in interviews with the inspector general, Michael Atkinson, and in writing, according to impeachment committee investigators. The whistleblower form he filled out required him to disclose whether he had “contacted other entities” -- including “members of Congress.” But he left that section blank on the disclosure form he signed.

The investigators say that details about how the whistleblower consulted with Schiff’s staff and perhaps misled Atkinson about those interactions are contained in the transcript of a closed-door briefing Atkinson gave to the House Intelligence Committee last October. However, Schiff has sealed the transcript from public view. It is the only impeachment witness transcript out of 18 that he has not released.

Schiff has classified the document “Secret,” preventing Republicans who attended the Atkinson briefing from quoting from it.
. - RealClearInvestigations.com

You gotta admire the balls on Schiff and Pelosi. I think they panicked about Ukraine and went off half cocked and once it’s been started, they can’t stop it so they plan to brazen it out.

It would be funny if Trump could simply declassify it.

Bay Area Guy said...

It's a farce, a charade, a travesty, a sham, a scam, a mockery, a farrago, a con, a flim-flam, a Potemkin village, and a Kabuki theatre -- all wrapped into one.

gilbar said...

meanwhile...
This was the woman that NeverTrump swore was a sensible, moderate and totally-not-corrupt-like-Trump leader we should all vote for.

Iman said...

Won’t say it once
When a million words are spoken
Let’s face facts
Adam Schiff’s broken

Todd said...

Aunty Trump said...

It would be funny if Trump could simply declassify it.

1/22/20, 3:41 PM


I believe he can. Trump as President can declassify anything. He has ultimate authority here.

tim in vermont said...

I think that this is a skirmish that turned into a full scale war. Like George Washington at Ft Duquesne. Democrats can’t have gone into this with eyes open on all of the angles. Maybe it was intended as a “spoiling attack” on Trump to protect Biden made out of desperation. Or maybe it was to protect the one man that Democrats will fall on their swords for, the golden child himself, the light bender who was involved in soliciting election interference abroad in Ukraine. Maybe they are even willing to throw Biden under the bus to protect him.

We aren’t hearing about Ukraine election interference anymore, but I think that it needs to be brought to the fore once again. And Democrats have invited it when they said that national interest motivations were “completely absent.” All you need there is a counterexample.

exhelodrvr1 said...

"the balls on Schiff and Pelosi. I think they panicked about Ukraine and went off half cocked"

Big balls but only half-cocked.

tim in vermont said...

Careful of gilbar’s link, there is an ugly, and I mean ugly picture going to sear your eyes there.

tim in vermont said...

Without all of these attacks on Trump, he would be cruising to a 49 state landslide based on his actual performance, so that has to be taken into account as well, if you want to take the charitable view of the intelligence of the Democrats. Without the Mueller hit job, run by one of Hillary’s lawyers we later learn, Dems wouldn’t even have the House, so that motivation also comes into play. Plus they know they own the media, late nite TV, etc.

Amadeus 48 said...

Let's see how this turns out. I suspect the Dems are going to rue the day they let this one out of its cage, but maybe not. Things are usually not quite as they appear in the media with Trump.

I am purposely ignorant of the blow-by-blow, but the goal here is to (1) mess up the Dems, (2) keep a Senate majority, and (3) rile up the GOP voters.

It is working with me, and I refuse to watch this travesty of a mockery of a sham of a mockery of a travesty of two mockeries of a sham.

Beasts of England said...

Where is the usual contingent of lefties this afternoon? Shouldn’t they be heralding the end of Trump? It’s almost as if they’re completely demoralized...

Churchy LaFemme: said...

There will be 24 hours of presentation by House Impeachment Managers (over 3 days); 24 hours of presentation by Defense team (over 3 days); 16 hours of Senate questioning; 4 hours of closing arguments

15 minutes of pleasin'
15 minutes of squeezin'
And 15 minutes of blowin my top!

Drago said...

CBS left impeachment and returned to soap opera programming.

Ratings for this moronic hoax impeachment are collapsing and gallup has Trump at his highest levels of support.

Andrew Weissman, Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden, CNN and Banned Commenter LLR-lefty Chuck (WHO WILL FIGHT YOU!) hardest hit.

MadisonMan said...

Stumbled across today.

JPS said...

Francisco D, 12:51:

"Neither Mulvaney nor Bolton will implicate Trump because there is nothing to implicate him for. They will say that he was concerned about US money going to countries who turned around and gave it to the kids of US politicians."

Agreed. My liberal friends are convinced that Bolton would really seal the case against Trump. I happen to think Bolton would testify that Trump is pretty much a jerk, and misguided on foreign policy, and fired him for insisting he was. I think he'd also say Trump was within his authority as president to make foreign policy and to fire him for not being on board with it.

(I had an amusing argument with a liberal friend who says the only reason Bolton won't torpedo Trump is that then he'd be cut off from Conservative Inc. and all those TV gigs. He was deaf to my response that Bolton would be beloved of the left if he really delivered for them; that John Dean turned on Nixon and has been dining out on it for 45 years.)

Michael K said...

It is working with me, and I refuse to watch this travesty of a mockery of a sham of a mockery of a travesty of two mockeries of a sham.<

My wife, who usually has Fox on in two rooms, has been watching Animal Planet or some such the past week.

POS Blogger has screwed up 5 times so far,. 6 and site is really slow today. 7 8 9

Clyde said...

Madison Man, NBC totally ripped off the 1970s "Big Beer-Drinking Brotherhood of Hamm's" commercials!

1971 Hamm's Commercial

Clyde said...

(Yeah, I know the song came from the musical "How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying"!)

Clyde said...

Michael K, I've gotten to the point I always highlight and copy my text before posting it. If it screws up, I just repaste it! No more lost comments!

Bay Area Guy said...

Hakeem Jeffries -- supposedly a rising Dem star -- is stumbling through a long-winded speech. The Dems are just reading Ukraine talking points prepared by Lawfare. They are boring America to death.

Clyde said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Clyde said...

I totally skipped today's impeachment farce. Probably won't watch any of it the next two days, either. I already know what those lying weasels are going to say, since they said it for 12 hours yesterday.

And yes, I know that that the Weasel Anti-Defamation League will probably be protesting me for comparing Democrats to weasels. Mea culpa, my little rodent friends.

Unknown said...

Hello viewers around the Globe, I was despondent because i had a very small penis, about 2.5 inches soft and 4 inches hard not nice enough to satisfy a woman, i have been in so many relationship, but cut off because of my situation, i have used so many product which doctors for me, but none could offer me the help i searched for. i saw some few comments on the INTERNET about this specialist called Dr,OLU and decided to contact him on his email: Drolusolutinthome@gmail.com) so I decided to give his herbal product a try. i emailed him and he got back to me, he gave me some comforting words with his herbal pills for Penis Enlargement, Within 3 week of it, i began to feel the enlargement was surprised when she said that she is satisfied with my sex and i have got a large penis. Am so happy, thanks to Dr OLU I also learn that Dr OLU also help with Breast Enlargement Hips and Bums Enlargement etc.. If you are in any situation with a little Penis, weak ejaculation, small breast_hips_bums do get to Dr OLU now for help on his email (Drolusolutionhome@gmail.com) or add him on whatsapp line +2348140654426 































Hello viewers around the Globe, I was despondent because i had a very small penis, about 2.5 inches soft and 4 inches hard not nice enough to satisfy a woman, i have been in so many relationship, but cut off because of my situation, i have used so many product which doctors for me, but none could offer me the help i searched for. i saw some few comments on the INTERNET about this specialist called Dr,OLU and decided to contact him on his email: Drolusolutinthome@gmail.com) so I decided to give his herbal product a try. i emailed him and he got back to me, he gave me some comforting words with his herbal pills for Penis Enlargement, Within 3 week of it, i began to feel the enlargement was surprised when she said that she is satisfied with my sex and i have got a large penis. Am so happy, thanks to Dr OLU I also learn that Dr OLU also help with Breast Enlargement Hips and Bums Enlargement etc.. If you are in any situation with a little Penis, weak ejaculation, small breast_hips_bums do get to Dr OLU now for help on his email (Drolusolutionhome@gmail.com) or add him on whatsapp line +2348140654426 

tcrosse said...

Slightly OT, but I see Hillary and her myrmidons as the éminences grises behind a lot of this. Hillary is sort of like Germany after World War I. They believed that they wuz robbed, stabbed in the back. This allowed them to get up to all sorts of mischief, which required the rest of the world to crush them for good. We need to give Hillary a stern rebuke, which even she will acknowledge.

Bay Area Guy said...

The Senate just called a 30-min break for dinner. I will spend the 30 mins trying to undue the soporific misery these clowns have thrusted upon us.

Do these jokers know how idiotic they sound pushing this impeachment farce over a phone call?

Browndog said...

I'm enjoying the fact I don't have to watch one second of the impeachment for 3 days.

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

what if (hypothetically!) pictures of Schitt surface, taken
during his weird sex/drug romps with his best friend Ed Buck?
You know-- the time the black ale prostitute was found dead at
his place? And his other friend, Dr.Bruce Hensen, who was arrested
for soliciting sex from a 9 yr. old==
hypothetically, would that curb Schiff-head's enthusiasm at the trial??

****

from @weareoversight

The files released tonight include emails sent by OMB Acting Director Russell Vought and Assoc Director for National Security Michael Duffey — two key players in the withholding of Ukraine aid — in on the morning of President Trump’s July 25 call with President Zelensky.

https://twitter.com/weareoversight/status/1219855331435720704

@DawsonSField 's take:

Hahaha!
While the Dems try to demand the Ukraine docs for the Senate, the White House OMB releases redacted versions of them in the middle of the night as FOIA.
Chumming the waters to lure the sharks into a trap.

https://twitter.com/dawsonsfield/status/1219940995418206208?s=21

Whistleblower Was Overheard in '17 Discussing With Ally How to Remove Trump

https://www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2020/01/22/whistleblower_was_overheard_in_17_discussing_with_ally_how_to_remove_trump_121701.html


narciso said...

except American oversight, is one of those lawfare centers,

Iman said...

Looks like the post from Unknown at 5:36pm is attempting to solicit bidness from Daily Beast and Puffington Host readers.

Funny stuff!

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

I call it Schitt's bromide and empty cliche impeachment.

Bay Area Guy said...

To spice up this dreary-ass, tedious impeachment farce, we really need to get Hunter Biden under oath.

Hunter Biden renting $12,000-per-month Hollywood home while defying child support suit


Biden's new home suggests he has bounced back from prior financial woes. During his 2017 divorce, Biden’s ex-wife claimed he drove the couple into massive debt by spending their money on “drugs, alcohol, prostitutes, strip clubs, and gifts for women with whom he had sexual relations,” according to court filings from the time.

I wanna party with that dude.

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

In a properly civilized country Ciaramella, Misko, and Schiff would be in front of a firing squad. How is what they did not treason of the highest sort?

Indeed.

DavidD said...

“Hillary is sort of like Germany after World War I. They believed that they wuz robbed, stabbed in the back.”

That is perfect.

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

@narciso
yes- but didnt you find Dawson's take on their post worth while?

ken in tx said...

"DAMN those Republicans & Trump! Always "lashing out"! If they are not lashing out, they are "pouncing"! How Dare They! Have they NO shame?"
I learned in a work place dispute, back in the 80s,if you disagree with a lying jackass, it's called 'Lashing Out'.

Beasts of England said...

I had planned to watch a few hours of the Schiff Shampeachment Show this evening but then remembered that it’s ‘Beige Week’ on the Paint Drying Network.

narciso said...

the usual suspects,


https://twitter.com/julie_kelly2/status/1220045763981475840?s=20

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

Adam Schiff Is Already Claiming The Illegitimacy Of A Trump Reelection


"... if president Trump is allowed to run for president this year, “we cannot be assured that the vote will be fairly won.”

https://bigleaguepolitics.com/virginia-democrats-push-legislation-to-make-criticism-of-government-officials-a-criminal-offense/

Iman said...

Broken brain, broken soul
Broken spirit, broken asshole
Broken tongue, broken nose
Plain to see, emperor got no clothes
Ain't no use jivin’
Ain't no use jokin’
Adam Schiff is broken

wildswan said...

The Senators were going to have to sit and listen for two days, 12 hours a day till 1 a.m. No phones, no video games. But the Dems said "we need more." Meaning witnesses. So Senator Susan Collins reached across the aisle to cooperate and got Mitch to double the amount of time they have to sit and listen till 1 am. But no new witnesses. And if they object again, another Republican will reach across the aisle and again double the time they have to sit there till 1 a.m. listening to each other. But maybe we could brighten up their lives by sending the Dems pictures of what we are doing while they sit there and listen to each other. Sledding, watching sunsets, parties, walking through a snow storm. What a wonderful world. And we can point out that Mad Maxine wants to bring another impeachment and another and another. So that they'll repeatedly be sitting there, listening to each other till 1 a.m. And Warren and Sanders will repeatedly be out of the race. And Donald Trump will be holding rallies and telling off billionaires at Davos and playing golf at Mar-A-Lago. Take in some football. Chat with his family. And the Senators will be listening to each other till 1 a.m. "Hell is other Senators." Wasn't that a play? Isn't this?

TJM said...

Is Inga hitting the bottle? No words of wisdom from Inga?

tim in vermont said...

Why don’t you start a blog, TJM, and invite her there to comment. You know, get a room.