BlueRidge
AYS's snark-sponge
- Messages
- 53,935
She is scheduled to make the formal announcement at 5 p.m. Eastern time. But the news is confirmed by the Washington Post and NY Times.
I would answer that concern with this editorial from the Washington Post:It will be interesting to see where this goes, especially since the whistleblower has asked to speak directly with Congress. On the one hand, the IC IG is reputed to be an extremely sober, by the book guy, so the fact that he saw an urgent concern suggests that the issue is quite serious. On the other hand, I can help but conjure up a Spy vs. Spy scenario in which this was all a ploy by Trump to prove for once and for all that the media is nothing but FAKE NEWS and that the Dems are just on the GREATEST WITCH HUNT EVER. So I will hold my breath as this unfolds.
IN THE matter of President Trump pressuring the leader of Ukraine to manufacture dirt on a domestic political opponent of Mr. Trump, Congress is right to press for more information. But this time, in its quest for documents and testimony, it should not minimize what is already known.
...
Congress therefore is right to demand, as an urgent matter, that the whistleblower complaint be shared with its intelligence committees. It is right to demand more information, including transcripts of the leaders’ phone calls; Mr. Trump’s contemporaneous and current explanations for blocking the aid and denying a meeting; and testimony from Trump lawyer Rudolph W. Giuliani and from administration officials about their communications with Ukrainian officials.
But Congress also should not forget what it already knows. Mr. Trump and his cringing Cabinet enablers are scrabbling furiously to obscure that truth by throwing out lies about the Bidens, pretending that the Trump phone call was normal and ethical and, maybe most contemptibly, impugning the patriotism of the whistleblower. Republicans in Congress might ask themselves how they would have responded if President Barack Obama had been caught importuning a foreign leader to concoct dirt on one of them and using the levers of American power to enforce the request. They and their Democratic colleagues should keep in the front of their minds what they already know.
I look forward to the day I disagree again with everything Jennifer Rubin says.The appropriate forum for investigation of the discrete issues, namely Trump’s attempt to gain help from a foreign power and his refusal to allow Congress to investigate, already exists in the House Intelligence Committee.
Acting director of national intelligence Joseph Maguire will appear before the Intelligence Committee on Thursday. In all likelihood, Maguire will refuse to turn over the whistleblower complaint. As soon as he does that, Schiff should have subpoenas at the ready for the whistleblower complaint and for appearance of witnesses such as acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.
If Schiff does not receive such information within two weeks, the committee should assemble all information in the public record, including Trump’s and Rudolph W. Giuliani’s latest admissions (e.g., Trump did ask to delay the delivery of aid), confirm the administration has refused as required by law to turn over needed information and refer the matter to the House Judiciary Committee to vote on two articles of impeachment. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who spoke directly with the Ukrainians, can provide a sworn statement substantiating the Ukrainians’ concern that Trump was pressuring them to dig up dirt on former vice president Joe Biden and his son.
this strikes me as significant but I don't know what to conclude re: Republicans voting for thisThe Senate just passed a (non-biding) resolution calling on the WH to release the complaint to Congress. https://twitter.com/jamiedupree/status/1176593284602482690
Murphy said it passed unanimously.
They are scared. Especially those like Gardner who are vulnerable in 2020this strikes me as significant but I don't know what to conclude re: Republicans voting for this
I hope you are right.They are scared. Especially those like Gardner who are vulnerable in 2020
Yeah, I'm kind of like: it looks significant but is it or do I just want to believe it is?this strikes me as significant but I don't know what to conclude re: Republicans voting for this
It can't mean they really are dividing themselves from Trump, though that's what it looks like. Somethings going on here.Yeah, I'm kind of like: it looks significant but is it or do I just want to believe it is?
This Republican might agree with you: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/09/24/im-republican-its-time-put-gop-senators-spot-with-impeachment/It can't mean they really are dividing themselves from Trump, though that's what it looks like. Somethings going on here.
Impeachment may be the first thing Donald Trump has ever earned
The article says the investigation would focus on corruption within Ukraine. But I wonder if it might also look at Trump's efforts to coerce Government conduct for his own personal benefit.Ukraine might reopen the investigation in question. They say if they do, it's due to a law Zelensky signed right before leaving for NY. https://www.thedailybeast.com/ukraine-likely-to-reopen-probe-of-hunter-biden-firm-sources
I hope so but six committees? I guess, we'll see how good they are at coordinating.Quick and to the point. And that's how everything needs to be now.
With regard to the Ukraine affair, it is the Intelligence Committee and Adam Schiff that is in the lead.I hope so but six committees? I guess, we'll see how good they are at coordinating.
Which is why I always refer to him as Moscow Mitch.I read Mitch was angry that the funds they approved for Ukraine were held up by Trump.
Plus, he hates the name Moscow Mitch.
I'm not sure it is significant, but it IS something.