Trump

[Digby]

By far the bigger issue is her observation the Trump doctrine will undermine US State Department officials going after corruption

[Digby]

Roger Stone has been found guilty on all charges, who knew!

[morepork]

That was a shrewd move there Donnie. Well done.

[gransoporro]

Brett Beier and Chris Wallace are NEWS anchors. They are marginal to the Fox News strategy.

When the Fox anchor that points out the errors (crimes?) of Trump will be Hannity or Carson, then it will be shocking.

[morepork]

That is true. Only some of the anchors with potato heads and complexions are actually news people.

[Digby]

Big Fat Don says the conviction of Stone is a massive double standard Vs a long list of people he thinks lied, always useful when the President is so strong on looking to undermine his own justice system, and I am a little surprised, I was half expecting Trump to say he barely knew Stone

[morepork]

The bone spurs may turn out to be an inaccurate diagnosis if the real discomfort turns out to be a Stone in the shoe. Let us all raise a glass to the checks and balances inherent in a constitution that the Fanta Problem Child utterly fails to understand.

[Puja]

Pelosi has chucked out some rancid bait that, if the Donster feels he's being unfairly maligned he can always come and testify in the impeachment hearing himself, which of course Trump has snapped up and tweeted about. Apparently he will "seriously consider it."

Unfortunately, his very competent team of lawyers, and also Rudy Giuliani, will slap that idea down as quickly as they possibly can, but I would *love* to see Trump take the stand. I'd give him about 10 minutes of sticking to the script that was written for him before his mind started to wander and he began bragging about how he was the best at securing the best deal by extorting foreign leaders.

Puja

[morepork]

He is definitely stupid enough for the possibility of him taking it to be considered. Bear in mind too that he is now completely surrounded by some pretty underwhelming professionals. He might as well take his counsel from Prince Andrew. His defence at present consists of live tweeting Fox News.

[gransoporro]

Same story as sitting down with Mueller.

It is not going to happen.

Best case, he gives written answers full of “I do not recall”.

[Puja]

Same story as sitting down with Mueller.

It is not going to happen.

Best case, he gives written answers full of “I do not recall”.

You are missing one very crucial difference which might lure him:

Live. Nationwide. Television.

Puja

[cashead]

Pelosi has chucked out some rancid bait that, if the Donster feels he's being unfairly maligned he can always come and testify in the impeachment hearing himself, which of course Trump has snapped up and tweeted about. Apparently he will "seriously consider it."

Unfortunately, his very competent team of lawyers, and also Rudy Giuliani, will slap that idea down as quickly as they possibly can, but I would *love* to see Trump take the stand. I'd give him about 10 minutes of sticking to the script that was written for him before his mind started to wander and he began bragging about how he was the best at securing the best deal by extorting foreign leaders.

Puja

Rudy would probably insist he go on TV. Have a look at his own appearances defending Trump so far. Does that strike you as a "competent" lawyer?

[Digby]

Interesting to see Mike Pence continue in a similar vein with his status as a non entity in his battle with Nikki Haley to be the next VP candidate, faced with a chance to step up and defend a member of his staff over unfair accusations from Trump, Jennifer Williams, Pence has opted to stay silent in the background and hope nobody notices he's there. Inspiring stuff from Pence.

[morepork]

It's got to be worth goading him a bit more. He took the bait with the government shut down in August and that was live TeeVee. Came across as you would expect he would, which is badly. Now they have a (very) public impeachment hearing and I would be quietly bricking it if I were the GOP. President Dumbfuck may be considering blundering in.

[gransoporro]

Interesting to see Mike Pence continue in a similar vein with his status as a non entity in his battle with Nikki Haley to be the next VP candidate, faced with a chance to step up and defend a member of his staff over unfair accusations from Trump, Jennifer Williams, Pence has opted to stay silent in the background and hope nobody notices he's there. Inspiring stuff from Pence.

I can imagine how strong Pence thinks his position is, based on this fact.

Actually Pence and his team separated themselves from the witness once she notified she would testify. So do not expect support now.

[gransoporro]

Same story as sitting down with Mueller.

It is not going to happen.

Best case, he gives written answers full of “I do not recall”.

You are missing one very crucial difference which might lure him:

Live. Nationwide. Television.

Puja

Too many people, including his family, will tell him it is a BAD idea. He will come up with some “kangaroo court” excuse to tell his base he could have sat on that chair, was it not for the fact that the inquiry is illegal/unfair/an attempt to overturn elections.

[cashead]

Same story as sitting down with Mueller.

It is not going to happen.

Best case, he gives written answers full of “I do not recall”.

Key problem for Trump's defence. Homeboy has admitted on camera to doing exactly what he's been accused of.

[Digby]

Interesting to see Mike Pence continue in a similar vein with his status as a non entity in his battle with Nikki Haley to be the next VP candidate, faced with a chance to step up and defend a member of his staff over unfair accusations from Trump, Jennifer Williams, Pence has opted to stay silent in the background and hope nobody notices he's there. Inspiring stuff from Pence.

I can imagine how strong Pence thinks his position is, based on this fact.

Actually Pence and his team separated themselves from the witness once she notified she would testify. So do not expect support now.

Pence has been bollock free since 2016, which I suppose means he can at least now sit down to eat lunch with a female friend even if his wife isn't there

[Digby]

Nunes is just outstanding at asking questions, in particular how he basically doesn't ask questions, mostly he just rants and takes up his own time. It's even more a problem when he has nothing to say

[Digby]

I'll say this for Nunes, until these hearings and actually hearing more from him I was under the impression he was a simpleton. Now I think he's much brighter than I'd been under the impression of, which makes him far more odious an individual given his behaviour is something he has more control over than I'd been operating under the assumption of

[Puja]

Sondland's testimony was certainly something. Pretty much every Republican defence torn to shreds in one session. Could be massive, although I still don't think it's enough to get the GOP to abandon him.

Puja

[gransoporro]

Sondland's testimony was certainly something. Pretty much every Republican defence torn to shreds in one session. Could be massive, although I still don't think it's enough to get the GOP to abandon him.

Puja

Not yet. In line at the bus stop to be thrown under are:
Pompeo
Giuliani

Perry and Mulvaney to a lesser extent.

Pence denies everything and he is the only one. Either they have the goods or he will not go under the bus. Or he is trying to protect his year as POTUS, and he is gambling.


The standard of proof for Trump to be dropped is really, really high. They have to have multiple recordings and witnesses that he said or ordered “no investigation no aid”. But he knows and ordered Giuliani to say that bit.

Until then it is all hearsay and opinions for the GOP. Doesn’T matter if the “guilty beyond reasonable doubt” standard was met.

[Digby]

How the Republicans are going about this, attacking Republican appointed public servants, attacking ambassadors, trying to out the whistleblower, even attacking decorated serving military officers simply isn't going to help them, not even close. I get they've got a problem with Trump insisting the call was perfect, it would be much easier to say mistakes were made but it's not impeachable, but what they're doing is so at odds with reality and respectful treatment of others how do they possibly envisage not taking a worse hit for it in the polls?

[morepork]

"I don’t know him very well. I have not spoken to him much," Trump told reporters. "This is not a man I know well. He seems like a nice guy though."


Brilliant tactic. Never been tried before, Should throw them. What a fucking gumby.

[gransoporro]

How the Republicans are going about this, attacking Republican appointed public servants, attacking ambassadors, trying to out the whistleblower, even attacking decorated serving military officers simply isn't going to help them, not even close. I get they've got a problem with Trump insisting the call was perfect, it would be much easier to say mistakes were made but it's not impeachable, but what they're doing is so at odds with reality and respectful treatment of others how do they possibly envisage not taking a worse hit for it in the polls?

Have you met the Trump base, about 30% of the population or 2/3 of GOP?

I guess you never understood the ongoing support for Berlusconi either. Nothing to be ashamed about it, mind you!

Point is, the president election is all about character. Trump had the right character for these voters. They will not lose that 30%. They may end up with being only that 30%, but there are other affinities of interest with other groups, so it is unlikely.