politicususa--2020-01-21--Pelosi Busts McConnell for His False Clinton Impeachment Comparison

After “ Midnight Mitch ” revealed his impeachment resolutions , which are everything you ’ d expect from the man who refused to even give a hearing to President Obama ’ s Supreme Court nominee for almost a year , Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted the Republican , saying , “ The public now knows why Leader McConnell has been hiding his resolution : the Clinton comparison was a lie.
” In a statement sent to PoliticusUSA , the Democratic House Speaker called out McConnell ’ s “ McConnell ’ s plan for a dark of night impeachment , ” noting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial comparable to Clinton ’ s impeachment trial , “ his proposal rejects the need for witnesses and documents during the trial itself .
In contrast , for the Clinton trial , witnesses were deposed and the President provided more than 90,000 documents.
” Yes , that ’ s right .
The Clinton trial over lying about a sex act required 90,000 documents but the Trump trial over subverting our elections , extorting yet another foreign country to help him cheat our elections , abusing his power and obstructing Congress require no evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial plan will make Democrats argue their case in the middle of the night , with no evidence .
Like you do when you ’ re totally confidence your guy is innocent .
Pelosi said McConnell ’ s plan for the trial “ confirms what the American people have seen since Day One : the Senate GOP Leader has chosen a cover-up for the President , rather than honor his oath to the Constitution.
” Pelosi was not impressed that McConnell won ’ t even allow evidence in the trial , a sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know Trump is guilty , “ Shamefully , this sham proposal does not even allow for admitting the House record into evidence at the trial… Leader McConnell ’ s process is deliberately designed to hide the truth from the Senate and from the American people because he knows that the President ’ s wrongdoing is indefensible and demands removal.
” After McConnell blocked reporters from even shooting video of the House impeachment managers .
Pelosi concluded by saying what every Republican knows , that Trump will undermine our national security in order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not stopped , “ President Trump undermined our national security , jeopardized the integrity of our elections and violated the Constitution all for his own personal , political gain .
He has repeatedly said that he would do so again .
Duty , honor and country are at stake .
Every Senator who supports this sham process must be held accountable to the American people.
” Mitch McConnell is planning in plain site to hide evidence in Trump ’ s impeachment trial , because he knows he won ’ t be held to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t do it and due to the way he cheats in his own elections ( McConnell is infamous for sending out the wrong day to vote to Democratic districts , not to mention the fact that he will benefit down ticket from any foreign interference in Trump ’ s election , as will all Senate Republicans up for re-election in 2020 ) , he doesn ’ t need to fear the voice of the people .
For years I warned everyone that Mitch McConnell would never hold a fair impeachment trial .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be pressured by the media and the people , but so far they remain unmoved by their oaths of office .
It ’ s up to the people to pressure Republicans to do their job and defend their country .

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After “Midnight Mitch” revealed his impeachment resolutions, which are everything you’d expect from the man who refused to even give a hearing to President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee for almost a year, Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted the Republican, saying, “The public now knows why Leader McConnell has been hiding his resolution: the Clinton comparison was a lie.”
In a statement sent to PoliticusUSA, the Democratic House Speaker called out McConnell’s “McConnell’s plan for a dark of night impeachment,” noting that despite his promises to hold a trial comparable to Clinton’s impeachment trial, “his proposal rejects the need for witnesses and documents during the trial itself. In contrast, for the Clinton trial, witnesses were deposed and the President provided more than 90,000 documents.”
Yes, that’s right. The Clinton trial over lying about a sex act required 90,000 documents but the Trump trial over subverting our elections, extorting yet another foreign country to help him cheat our elections, abusing his power and obstructing Congress require no evidence.
Mitch McConnell’s four-page impeachment trial plan will make Democrats argue their case in the middle of the night, with no evidence. Like you do when you’re totally confidence your guy is innocent.
Pelosi said McConnell’s plan for the trial “confirms what the American people have seen since Day One: the Senate GOP Leader has chosen a cover-up for the President, rather than honor his oath to the Constitution.”
Pelosi was not impressed that McConnell won’t even allow evidence in the trial, a sure sign that he and the Senate Republicans know Trump is guilty, “Shamefully, this sham proposal does not even allow for admitting the House record into evidence at the trial… Leader McConnell’s process is deliberately designed to hide the truth from the Senate and from the American people because he knows that the President’s wrongdoing is indefensible and demands removal.”
After McConnell blocked reporters from even shooting video of the House impeachment managers.
Pelosi concluded by saying what every Republican knows, that Trump will undermine our national security in order to cheat in another election if he is not stopped, “President Trump undermined our national security, jeopardized the integrity of our elections and violated the Constitution all for his own personal, political gain. He has repeatedly said that he would do so again. Duty, honor and country are at stake. Every Senator who supports this sham process must be held accountable to the American people.”
Mitch McConnell is planning in plain site to hide evidence in Trump’s impeachment trial, because he knows he won’t be held to account. Our media certainly won’t do it and due to the way he cheats in his own elections (McConnell is infamous for sending out the wrong day to vote to Democratic districts, not to mention the fact that he will benefit down ticket from any foreign interference in Trump’s election, as will all Senate Republicans up for re-election in 2020), he doesn’t need to fear the voice of the people.
For years I warned everyone that Mitch McConnell would never hold a fair impeachment trial. So many people thought he and Senate Republicans would be pressured by the media and the people, but so far they remain unmoved by their oaths of office. It’s up to the people to pressure Republicans to do their job and defend their country.


politicususa--2020-01-22--Democrats Crushed Trump On Day One Of The Impeachment Trial

The big takeaway from 13 hours of impeachment trial debate and voting is that Democrats have a clear plan to sway public opinion , and Trump has nothing .
The difference between the two sides was instantly visible when Democrats used their first hour not to debate the resolution , but to make their case against Trump .
Democrats hammered away all day long , every single moment at the concepts of holding a fair trial , and the impeachable offenses of Donald J. Trump .
Trump ’ s defense team was like Trump himself , an unorganized mess .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ off guard by the Democrats showing up ready to go , and by the evening were complaining about how long the process was taking .
Trump ’ s lawyers have no defense for him .
They repeated Trump ’ s denials , lies , and attacks on Adam Schiff , but they could not dispute the facts .
Speaker Nancy Pelosi ’ s decision to load up the roster of impeachment managers with attorneys was brilliant .
Lead Manager Rep. Adam Schiff spent the day knocking down lies from Trump ’ s defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An impeachment trial is a political exercise , and Democrats are dominating in terms of politics , optics , and public opinion .
The Republican Senators who are sticking with McConnell in this sham are setting themselves up to pay a heavy price in November .
A majority of Americans think Trump is guilty and want him to be convicted and removed .
Donald Trump thought the impeachment trial would clear him , but it is only adding to the stain that is consuming his presidency .
For more discussion about this story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

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The big takeaway from 13 hours of impeachment trial debate and voting is that Democrats have a clear plan to sway public opinion, and Trump has nothing.
The difference between the two sides was instantly visible when Democrats used their first hour not to debate the resolution, but to make their case against Trump. Democrats hammered away all day long, every single moment at the concepts of holding a fair trial, and the impeachable offenses of Donald J. Trump.
Trump’s defense team was like Trump himself, an unorganized mess. They seem to have been caught completely off guard by the Democrats showing up ready to go, and by the evening were complaining about how long the process was taking. Trump’s lawyers have no defense for him. They repeated Trump’s denials, lies, and attacks on Adam Schiff, but they could not dispute the facts.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s decision to load up the roster of impeachment managers with attorneys was brilliant. Lead Manager Rep. Adam Schiff spent the day knocking down lies from Trump’s defense team and owning the Senate chamber.
An impeachment trial is a political exercise, and Democrats are dominating in terms of politics, optics, and public opinion. The Republican Senators who are sticking with McConnell in this sham are setting themselves up to pay a heavy price in November.
A majority of Americans think Trump is guilty and want him to be convicted and removed.
Donald Trump thought the impeachment trial would clear him, but it is only adding to the stain that is consuming his presidency.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-01-22--Jerry Nadler Storms The Senate And Accuses Republicans Of Treacherous Cover-Up For Trump

House impeachment manager Rep. Jerry Nadler ( D-NY ) took the Senate by storm after midnight ET and accused Republicans of a treacherous cover-up for Trump .
Will you vote to allow all of the relevant evidence to be presented here , or will you betray your pledge to be an impartial juror ?
Will you bring Ambassador Bolton here ?
Will you permit us to present you with the entire record of the president ’ s misconduct , or will you instead choose to be complicit in the president ’ s so far I ’ m sad to say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a cover-up , voting to deny witnesses , an absolutely indefensible vote , obviously a treacherous vote , a vote against an honest consideration of the evidence against the president , a vote against an honest trial , a vote against the United States .
A real trial , we know , has witnesses .
We urge you to do your duty , permit a fair trial .
All trials have witnesses that ’ s elementary in American justice .
Either you want the truth , and you must permit the witnesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
History will judge , and so will the electorate .
As the trial moved toward its 12th consecutive hour , because Mitch McConnell won ’ t postpone the votes until tomorrow , Jerry Nadler ’ s remarks were a jolt of caffeine wrapped in the American flag .
Nadler summed it up perfectly .
Cynical Republican Senators think that they can speed through this trial , let Trump off of the hook , and voters will forget , but the voters are going to remember .
Just like they remembered , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election .
Republicans never learn .
The bill for this Trump cover-up will come due on Election Day in November .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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House impeachment manager Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) took the Senate by storm after midnight ET and accused Republicans of a treacherous cover-up for Trump.
Nadler said:
Will you vote to allow all of the relevant evidence to be presented here, or will you betray your pledge to be an impartial juror? Will you bring Ambassador Bolton here? Will you permit us to present you with the entire record of the president’s misconduct, or will you instead choose to be complicit in the president’s so far I’m sad to say I see a lot of senators voting for a cover-up, voting to deny witnesses, an absolutely indefensible vote, obviously a treacherous vote, a vote against an honest consideration of the evidence against the president, a vote against an honest trial, a vote against the United States.
A real trial, we know, has witnesses. We urge you to do your duty, permit a fair trial. All trials have witnesses that’s elementary in American justice. Either you want the truth, and you must permit the witnesses, or you want a shameful cover-up. History will judge, and so will the electorate.
Video:
Jerry Nader accuses Republican Senators of treachery, as they vote for #GOPCoverup pic.twitter.com/om3GjDrig7 — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 22, 2020
As the trial moved toward its 12th consecutive hour, because Mitch McConnell won’t postpone the votes until tomorrow, Jerry Nadler’s remarks were a jolt of caffeine wrapped in the American flag.
Nadler summed it up perfectly. Cynical Republican Senators think that they can speed through this trial, let Trump off of the hook, and voters will forget, but the voters are going to remember. Just like they remembered, the effort to kill Obamacare before the 2018 election.
Republicans never learn. The bill for this Trump cover-up will come due on Election Day in November.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-22--Schumer Refuses To Allow McConnell To Speed Up Impeachment Trial

Mitch McConnell asked Chuck Schumer to stack all of his amendments for a single vote , Schumer said no and refused to allow McConnell to speed up the impeachment trial .
Transcript of the exchange between Schumer and McConnell : McConnell : I would ask consent to ask the Democratic Leader , since there is a certain similarity to all these amendments , whether he might be willing to enter into a consent agreement to stack these votes .
Schumer : The bottom line is very simple .
As has been clear to every senator and the country , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and a compelling case has been made for them .
We will have votes on all of those .
We will also — the leader , without consulting us , made changes , a number of significant changes that significantly deviated from the 1999 Clinton resolution .
We want to change those .
So there will be a good number of votes .
We are willing to do some of those votes tomorrow .
There ’ s no reason we have to do them all tonight and inconvenience the senate and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back off on getting votes on all of these amendments which we regard as extremely significant and important to the country .
Schumer has found the flaw in Mitch McConnell ’ s sham impeachment trial , and he is refusing to allow the Majority Leader to railroad the Senate through a show trial .
Democrats have outsmarted McConnell , who has had to make concessions to members of his own party and has seen himself outwitted by Democrats at the trial .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and @ @ @

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Mitch McConnell asked Chuck Schumer to stack all of his amendments for a single vote, Schumer said no and refused to allow McConnell to speed up the impeachment trial.
Transcript of the exchange between Schumer and McConnell:
McConnell: I would ask consent to ask the Democratic Leader, since there is a certain similarity to all these amendments, whether he might be willing to enter into a consent agreement to stack these votes.
Schumer: The bottom line is very simple. As has been clear to every senator and the country, we believe witnesses and documents are extremely important, and a compelling case has been made for them. We will have votes on all of those.
We will also — the leader, without consulting us, made changes, a number of significant changes that significantly deviated from the 1999 Clinton resolution. We want to change those. So there will be a good number of votes. We are willing to do some of those votes tomorrow. There’s no reason we have to do them all tonight and inconvenience the senate and the chief justice, but we will not back off on getting votes on all of these amendments which we regard as extremely significant and important to the country.
Video:
In case you missed it, McConnell tried to get Schumer to speed up his amendments by combining them into one stacked vote. Schumer said no, we will be debating and voting on them all. #ImpeachmentTrial #SemateImpeachmentTrial pic.twitter.com/p9ZQF53sak — PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) January 22, 2020
Schumer has found the flaw in Mitch McConnell’s sham impeachment trial, and he is refusing to allow the Majority Leader to railroad the Senate through a show trial. Democrats have outsmarted McConnell, who has had to make concessions to members of his own party and has seen himself outwitted by Democrats at the trial.
Mitch McConnell’s sham trial is turning into a slog.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-22--Democrats Outsmart McConnell As His Sham Trial Backfires

Democratic House impeachment managers and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer have used McConnell ’ s sham trial against him to make their impeachment case .
Mitch McConnell is trying to rush through the impeachment trial , but Schumer and the House Democrats came up with a smart strategy .
Sen. Schumer ( D-NY ) has introduced a variety of amendments relating to subpoenas for documents and witness testimony .
Each amendment comes with two equally divided hours of debate .
While Trump ’ s lawyers whine and complain about how late it is getting , the House impeachment managers are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make the case against Donald Trump .
The Trump impeachment trial is just as much about educating the American people about Trump ’ s behavior as it about the decision on whether to convict and remove the president .
At one point , the Senate went into a quorum as McConnell ’ s plan had come unglued and his fantasy of a fast trial was going up in smoke .
Mitch McConnell spent years slowing down the Senate and obstructing Barack Obama , so it is fitting that when he is in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the perfect plan to both make their case and slow him down .
Democrats have already gotten two extra days added to the impeachment trial , and there may be more to come , as McConnell ’ s high-speed sham trial is being ground to a halt .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Democratic House impeachment managers and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer have used McConnell’s sham trial against him to make their impeachment case.
Mitch McConnell is trying to rush through the impeachment trial, but Schumer and the House Democrats came up with a smart strategy.
Sen. Schumer (D-NY) has introduced a variety of amendments relating to subpoenas for documents and witness testimony. Each amendment comes with two equally divided hours of debate. While Trump’s lawyers whine and complain about how late it is getting, the House impeachment managers are using every single second of the time to make the case against Donald Trump.
The Trump impeachment trial is just as much about educating the American people about Trump’s behavior as it about the decision on whether to convict and remove the president.
At one point, the Senate went into a quorum as McConnell’s plan had come unglued and his fantasy of a fast trial was going up in smoke.
Mitch McConnell spent years slowing down the Senate and obstructing Barack Obama, so it is fitting that when he is in a rush, Democrats have come up with the perfect plan to both make their case and slow him down.
Democrats have already gotten two extra days added to the impeachment trial, and there may be more to come, as McConnell’s high-speed sham trial is being ground to a halt.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-01-22--Adam Schiff Is Now Fact Checking Trump’s Lying Lawyers

Trump ’ s lawyers are lying with such frequency that Adam Schiff fact-checked them on the Senate floor during Trump ’ s impeachment trial .
I just want to provide a couple quick fact checks on my colleagues at the other table .
First , Mr. Purpura said security assistance funds were not mentioned at all in the July 25th call between President Trump and President Zelensky .
Well , let ’ s think back to what was discussed in that call .
You might remember from that call that President Zelensky thanks President Trump for the Javelin antitank weapons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more .
And what is President Trump ’ s immediate response ?
I have a favor to ask , though .
What was it about the president of Ukraine bringing up military assistance that triggered the president to go immediately to the favor that he wanted ?
I think that ’ s telling that it takes place in that part of the conversation .
So , yes , security assistance , military assistance did come up in that call .
It came up immediately preceding the ask .
What kind of message do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They ’ re not stupid .
The people watching this aren ’ t stupid .
Mr. Purpura says they never found out about it , they didn ’ t find out about the freeze in the aid until a month later .
Mr. Purpura needs to be a little more careful with his facts .
Let me tell you about some of the testimony you ’ re going to hear and you ’ ll only hear it because it took place in the House .
If these were other witnesses , you wouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But you had Kathryn Croft , a witness from the State Department , a career official at the State Department who talked about how quickly , actually , after the freeze went into place the Ukrainians found out about it and she started getting contacts from the Ukrainian embassy here in Washington .
She said she was really impressed with their diplomatic tradecraft .
What does that mean ?
It means she was really impressed with how quickly the Ukrainians found out about something that the administration was trying to hide from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about it .
In fact , Laura Cooper , a career official at the defense department , said that her office started getting inquiries from Ukraine about the issues with the aid on July 25th , the very day of the call .
So much for Ukraine not finding out about this for a month later .
Trump ’ s defense strategy has been for his lawyers to repeat his Ukraine lies with no passion , energy , or conviction .
To say that Trump ’ s defense has been lousy would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t dispute the facts , so they are lying .
Adam Schiff isn ’ t allowing their lies to go unchallenged , because the American people deserve to hear the truth and the facts .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Trump’s lawyers are lying with such frequency that Adam Schiff fact-checked them on the Senate floor during Trump’s impeachment trial.
Schiff said:
I just want to provide a couple quick fact checks on my colleagues at the other table. First, Mr. Purpura said security assistance funds were not mentioned at all in the July 25th call between President Trump and President Zelensky. Well, let’s think back to what was discussed in that call. You might remember from that call that President Zelensky thanks President Trump for the Javelin antitank weapons and says they are ready to order more. And what is President Trump’s immediate response? I have a favor to ask, though.
What was it about the president of Ukraine bringing up military assistance that triggered the president to go immediately to the favor that he wanted? I think that’s telling that it takes place in that part of the conversation. So, yes, security assistance, military assistance did come up in that call. It came up immediately preceding the ask.
What kind of message do you think that sends to Ukraine? They’re not stupid. The people watching this aren’t stupid. Mr. Purpura says they never found out about it, they didn’t find out about the freeze in the aid until a month later. Mr. Purpura needs to be a little more careful with his facts.
Let me tell you about some of the testimony you’re going to hear and you’ll only hear it because it took place in the House. If these were other witnesses, you wouldn’t be able to hear it. But you had Kathryn Croft, a witness from the State Department, a career official at the State Department who talked about how quickly, actually, after the freeze went into place the Ukrainians found out about it and she started getting contacts from the Ukrainian embassy here in Washington.
She said she was really impressed with their diplomatic tradecraft. What does that mean? It means she was really impressed with how quickly the Ukrainians found out about something that the administration was trying to hide from the American people.
Ukraine found out about it. In fact, Laura Cooper, a career official at the defense department, said that her office started getting inquiries from Ukraine about the issues with the aid on July 25th, the very day of the call. So much for Ukraine not finding out about this for a month later.
Video:
Trump’s defense strategy has been for his lawyers to repeat his Ukraine lies with no passion, energy, or conviction. To say that Trump’s defense has been lousy would be n understatement, but his lawyers can’t dispute the facts, so they are lying.
Adam Schiff isn’t allowing their lies to go unchallenged, because the American people deserve to hear the truth and the facts.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-01-22--Democrats Are Trying To Sucker Trump With Biden For Bolton Witness Swap

Senate Democrats are considering calling the Republican bluff on witnesses by offering to swap Joe or Hunter Biden ’ s testimony for John Bolton ’ s .
Several Senate Democrats are privately discussing the possibility of calling Republicans ’ bluff on witnesses , weighing an unusual trade in President Trump ’ s impeachment trial : the testimony of Hunter Biden for the testimony of a key administration official .
Behind closed doors , a small group of Democratic senators and aides have begun to question that logic , sounding out their colleagues on whether they should back a witness deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national security adviser John Bolton or other administration officials with possible firsthand knowledge of the Ukraine controversy , according to multiple Democratic officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the private discussions .
These Democrats said they believe having Hunter — or possibly Joe Biden — testify could backfire on Trump and the GOP , giving Biden and the party a platform to strike back and paint Republicans and the White House as obsessed with trying to damage one of Trump ’ s 2020 presidential rivals .
The Biden that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden , who would eat them alive if he was allowed to return to his old Senate stomping grounds .
Trump would go ballistic if he thought that there was a possibility of getting Joe or Hunter Biden to testify .
The pressure on Senate Republicans to agree to such a deal would be immense .
The deal would be loaded with landmines for Republicans .
John Bolton isn ’ t a Trumper and he is not going to commit felony perjury for Donald Trump .
Secondly , giving Joe Biden a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost certainly hurt Republicans in the general election .
It is a gutsy move that reveals Democrats as playing for keeps at this trial .
There are enough Senators willing to vote for witnesses to make the swap a potential reality .
Democrats are setting Trump up , and if he falls into their trap , it could make him a one-term president .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Senate Democrats are considering calling the Republican bluff on witnesses by offering to swap Joe or Hunter Biden’s testimony for John Bolton’s.
The Washington Post reported:
Several Senate Democrats are privately discussing the possibility of calling Republicans’ bluff on witnesses, weighing an unusual trade in President Trump’s impeachment trial: the testimony of Hunter Biden for the testimony of a key administration official.
….
Behind closed doors, a small group of Democratic senators and aides have begun to question that logic, sounding out their colleagues on whether they should back a witness deal that could lead to testimony from former national security adviser John Bolton or other administration officials with possible firsthand knowledge of the Ukraine controversy, according to multiple Democratic officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the private discussions.
These Democrats said they believe having Hunter — or possibly Joe Biden — testify could backfire on Trump and the GOP, giving Biden and the party a platform to strike back and paint Republicans and the White House as obsessed with trying to damage one of Trump’s 2020 presidential rivals.
The Biden that Republicans are likely to get would be Joe Biden, who would eat them alive if he was allowed to return to his old Senate stomping grounds. Trump would go ballistic if he thought that there was a possibility of getting Joe or Hunter Biden to testify. The pressure on Senate Republicans to agree to such a deal would be immense.
The deal would be loaded with landmines for Republicans. John Bolton isn’t a Trumper and he is not going to commit felony perjury for Donald Trump. Secondly, giving Joe Biden a national platform by having him testify would almost certainly hurt Republicans in the general election.
It is a gutsy move that reveals Democrats as playing for keeps at this trial. There are enough Senators willing to vote for witnesses to make the swap a potential reality. Democrats are setting Trump up, and if he falls into their trap, it could make him a one-term president.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-01-22--Chuck Schumer Introduces Amendment To Subpoena Mick Mulvaney

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) has introduced an amendment to force Trump Chief Of Staff Mick Mulvaney to testify .
The Mulvaney Amendment is the fourth to be introduced by Schumer , the previous three amendments to get documents that Trump has refused to turn over have all gone down on party-line votes of 53-47 .
Sen. Chris Coons ( D-DE ) explained why Democrats want Mulvaney to testify , “ Mick Mulvaney would be the most relevant witness to the question what was president trump thinking , why did he put a hold on vitally needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief of staff and the former OMB Director Mulvaney was in the room for the conversations , was on the e-mail chains .
I ’ ll remind you , he famously came out and in a press conference blurted out there ’ s going to be political influence in foreign policy , get over it.
” Mulvaney would be able to answer a lot of important questions , but even if this amendment passed , Trump would try to assert executive privilege and block Mulvaney ’ s testimony , but Democrats are trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump/McConnell Ukraine cover-up .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has introduced an amendment to force Trump Chief Of Staff Mick Mulvaney to testify.
The Mulvaney Amendment is the fourth to be introduced by Schumer, the previous three amendments to get documents that Trump has refused to turn over have all gone down on party-line votes of 53-47.
Read the Mulvaney Amendment below:
Schumer Amendment 4
Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) explained why Democrats want Mulvaney to testify, “Mick Mulvaney would be the most relevant witness to the question what was president trump thinking, why did he put a hold on vitally needed military assistance to Ukraine as the acting chief of staff and the former OMB Director Mulvaney was in the room for the conversations, was on the e-mail chains. I’ll remind you, he famously came out and in a press conference blurted out there’s going to be political influence in foreign policy, get over it.”
Video:
Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) said Democrats are trying to force Mick Mulvaney to testify because he can explain what Trump was thinking. #ImpeachmentTrial #SenateImpeachmentTrial pic.twitter.com/GLbnZ9sIiP — PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) January 22, 2020
Mulvaney would be able to answer a lot of important questions, but even if this amendment passed, Trump would try to assert executive privilege and block Mulvaney’s testimony, but Democrats are trying to get to the truth and break the Trump/McConnell Ukraine cover-up.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-22--Trump’s Impeachment Defense Is Now Blaming Obama

Trump ’ s impeachment lawyers can ’ t debate the facts so they are falsely claiming that Obama did the same thing that Trump did .
Jay Sekulow said , “ It ’ s interesting to note that the Obama administration withheld $ 585 million of promised aid to Egypt in 2013 but the administration ’ s public message was that the money was not officially on hold as technically it was not due until September 30th .
The end of the fiscal year .
So day didn ’ t have to disclose the halt to anyone .
Sound like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of administrations.
” Sekulow left out the part of the story where Trump broke the law , and then tried to blackmail a foreign government into launching a bogus investigation of his political rival .
Besides the fact that Obama never broke the law , tried to rig an election , and extort a country by withholding military aid , the situations are exactly the same .
The Trump defense is that it is perfectly normal for a president to ask a foreign government to interfere in a US election on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has never happened before , and it is the reason why Donald Trump was impeached .
Trump can ’ t dispute the facts , so he is blaming Obama .
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Trump’s impeachment lawyers can’t debate the facts so they are falsely claiming that Obama did the same thing that Trump did.
Jay Sekulow said, “It’s interesting to note that the Obama administration withheld $585 million of promised aid to Egypt in 2013 but the administration’s public message was that the money was not officially on hold as technically it was not due until September 30th. The end of the fiscal year. So day didn’t have to disclose the halt to anyone. Sound like this may be a practice of a number of administrations.”
Video:
Trump's lawyer tries to claim that Obama did the same thing as Trump, but leaves out the part where Trump broke the law and tried to extort Ukraine into investigating Biden. #SenateImpeachmentTrial #ImpeachmentTrial pic.twitter.com/AVRMRleUDa — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 22, 2020
Sekulow left out the part of the story where Trump broke the law, and then tried to blackmail a foreign government into launching a bogus investigation of his political rival. Besides the fact that Obama never broke the law, tried to rig an election, and extort a country by withholding military aid, the situations are exactly the same.
The Trump defense is that it is perfectly normal for a president to ask a foreign government to interfere in a US election on his behalf. It is not. It has never happened before, and it is the reason why Donald Trump was impeached.
Trump can’t dispute the facts, so he is blaming Obama.
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politicususa--2020-01-23--Prince Charles Snubs Mike Pence Handshake At World Holocaust Forum

Prince Charles was greeting leaders at the World Holocaust Forum when he blew past Mike Pence without acknowledging him or shaking his hand .
Pence shook hands with Prince Charles after his speech , but here ’ s what happened when Charles was done speaking : The video shows Pence turning to anticipate the handshake , and the Vice President appears to be suppressing a look of surprise as Prince Charles walks past him .
Here is the scene at the event via the White House Pool Report as provided to PoliticusUSA : Vice President Pence and the Second Lady @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the pre-program before they entered the hall , per Katie Waldman .
In a bit of an unusual scene , after the President finished speaking an announcement was made President Putin was entering the hall .
No other world leader had their arrival announced .
He took a seat in between PM Netanyahu and President Macron , but after some shuffling ended up between the President of Israel and Netanyahu , two seats over from VP Pence .
After President Putin concluded his speech , he shook hands with the President of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He started to sit down , then got up to shake hands with VP Pence .
Pence ended up speaking fifth , per Elyse ( not forth as previously suggested ) .
Speaker Pelosi clapped throughout Pence ’ s speech .
Pence shook hands with Macron , Prince Charles , President Putin , and PM Netanyahu after he concluded his remarks .
Interestingly the Prince and the Vice President spoke before the event .
It is hard to imagine the two having a dispute at the World Holocaust Forum , but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what the world thinks of Trump and Pence .
Pence is surrounded by world leaders and it is as if he doesn ’ t exist .
Instead of America being respected around the world , Trump and Pence have made the country so irrelevant that Prince Charles walked by Mike Pence without noticing him .
The moment captured on video is a microcosm of Trump ’ s weakening of America .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Prince Charles was greeting leaders at the World Holocaust Forum when he blew past Mike Pence without acknowledging him or shaking his hand.
Pence shook hands with Prince Charles after his speech, but here’s what happened when Charles was done speaking:
I’m sure Prince Charles just snubbed Mike Pence. Titter pic.twitter.com/M9Hur6jXEs — Darren Lethem (@DarrenLethem) January 23, 2020
The video shows Pence turning to anticipate the handshake, and the Vice President appears to be suppressing a look of surprise as Prince Charles walks past him.
Here is the scene at the event via the White House Pool Report as provided to PoliticusUSA:
Vice President Pence and the Second Lady spoke with Prince Charles for five minutes in the pre-program before they entered the hall, per Katie Waldman.
In a bit of an unusual scene, after the President finished speaking an announcement was made President Putin was entering the hall. No other world leader had their arrival announced. He took a seat in between PM Netanyahu and President Macron, but after some shuffling ended up between the President of Israel and Netanyahu, two seats over from VP Pence.
After President Putin concluded his speech, he shook hands with the President of Israel, Israeli PM and Prince Charles. He started to sit down, then got up to shake hands with VP Pence.
Pence ended up speaking fifth, per Elyse (not forth as previously suggested). Speaker Pelosi clapped throughout Pence’s speech. Pence shook hands with Macron, Prince Charles, President Putin, and PM Netanyahu after he concluded his remarks.
Interestingly the Prince and the Vice President spoke before the event. It is hard to imagine the two having a dispute at the World Holocaust Forum, but the snub is a subtle non-verbal sign of what the world thinks of Trump and Pence.
Pence is surrounded by world leaders and it is as if he doesn’t exist.
Instead of America being respected around the world, Trump and Pence have made the country so irrelevant that Prince Charles walked by Mike Pence without noticing him.
The moment captured on video is a microcosm of Trump’s weakening of America.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-23--Chuck Schumer Says Public Pressure Is Getting To McConnell

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said that the public pressure being put on GOP Senators is forcing Mitch McConnell to make changes .
Mitch Mcconnell and Donald Trump will do everything to prevent four people from joining us in our quest for witnesses and documents .
But with powerful speeches like Schiff , with Republicans hearing the whole narrative and the whole story for the first time who knows what happens ?
And then just one more , there ’ s a second point .
How did we get the few changes ?
Pressure , public pressure matters .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liberals but moderates and even Republicans have been moved by it .
And that puts pressure on some of these Republicans .
When Mcconnell did his resolution , the public pressure to have a fair trial and a fair resolution was so strong , that he had to make a few changes .
He had to give us three days , the managers three days instead of two .
He had to submit the house record of evidence .
That didn ’ t happen because McConnell wanted to .
He was pressured by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
McConnell didn ’ t change his sham rules because he now values justice and fairness .
He changed them because the public pressure got to his Republican Senators who are facing difficult reelection campaigns .
Schumer is right .
The Democratic strategy is working .
The American people need to hear all of the facts , and the pressure is growing by the hour on Republicans to break with McConnell and hold a fair trial .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said that the public pressure being put on GOP Senators is forcing Mitch McConnell to make changes.
Schumer said on MSNBC:
Mitch Mcconnell and Donald Trump will do everything to prevent four people from joining us in our quest for witnesses and documents. But with powerful speeches like Schiff, with Republicans hearing the whole narrative and the whole story for the first time who knows what happens?
And then just one more, there’s a second point. How did we get the few changes? Pressure, public pressure matters. And Americans who saw this presentation not just liberals but moderates and even Republicans have been moved by it. And that puts pressure on some of these Republicans. When Mcconnell did his resolution, the public pressure to have a fair trial and a fair resolution was so strong, that he had to make a few changes. He had to give us three days, the managers three days instead of two. He had to submit the house record of evidence. That didn’t happen because McConnell wanted to. He was pressured by his senators.
Video:
Schumer says public pressure on the impeachment trial is causing Senators to break from McConnell and force changes. pic.twitter.com/0WIuTp06vW — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 23, 2020
Public pressure is working. McConnell didn’t change his sham rules because he now values justice and fairness. He changed them because the public pressure got to his Republican Senators who are facing difficult reelection campaigns.
Schumer is right. The Democratic strategy is working. The American people need to hear all of the facts, and the pressure is growing by the hour on Republicans to break with McConnell and hold a fair trial.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-23--Correction: Hawley Segment With Fox Recorded Over Dinner Break

In a previous version of this article , it was reported that Sen. Hawley went on Fox News to do @ @ @ @ @ trial .
Mike Berg of Sen. Hawley ’ s office told PoliticusUSA , “ You @ @ @ @ @ claiming Senator Hawley broke Senate rules to go on Fox News .
Senator Hawley prerecorded @ @ @ @ @ break , which is why the tweet you cite in your article has been taken @ @ @ @ @ previous article to reflect this new information , and thank Sen. Hawley ’ s office @ @ @ @

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In a previous version of this article, it was reported that Sen. Hawley went on Fox News to do an interview during the impeachment trial.
Mike Berg of Sen. Hawley’s office told PoliticusUSA, “You just published an article inaccurately claiming Senator Hawley broke Senate rules to go on Fox News. Senator Hawley prerecorded the hit during the dinner break, which is why the tweet you cite in your article has been taken down.”
We correct our previous article to reflect this new information, and thank Sen. Hawley’s office for reaching out.


politicususa--2020-01-23--Adam Schiff Just Made Republican Senators Trump’s Accomplices

Rep. Adam Schiff got the heart of Trump ’ s obstruction of Congress as he powerfully demanded that the State Department turn over key notes .
The State Department has ambassador Taylor ’ s extensive notes and , of course , we would like to show them to you to corroborate his testimony , but pursuant to the president ’ s instructions , the State Department will not turn them over .
You might recall from the tape yesterday ambassador Taylor said they ’ ll be shortly coming I ’ m told .
Well somebody countermanded those instructions .
Who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should see them .
If you have any question about what Sondland told ambassador Taylor , if the president ’ s counsel tries to create confusion about what Sondland told Taylor about his conversation with the president — look , Sondland had one recollection in his deposition and another recollection in the first hearing and another recollection in a declaration .
You want to know exactly what happened in that conversation when it was fresh in Sondland ’ s mind and he told Taylor about it and Taylor wrote it in his notes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taylor ’ s notes .
In any courtroom in America holding a fair trial , you would want to see contemporaneous notes .
This senate should be no different .
Demand those notes .
Demand to see the truth .
We ’ re not afraid of those notes .
We haven ’ t seen them .
We haven ’ t seen them .
Maybe those notes say something completely different .
Maybe those notes say no quid pro quo .
Maybe those notes say it ’ s a perfect call .
I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m willing to trust Ambassador Taylor ’ s testimony and his recollection .
I ’ d like to see them .
I ’ d like to show them to you .
They ’ re yours for the asking .
Schiff was sending a clear message to Republican Senators who have been leaving the chamber and not wanting to hear the evidence against the president .
Trump is not the only person who is on trial .
The Republican Senate majority is also on trial .
If they go along with Trump and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be accomplices to Trump ’ s crimes .
Republicans have the power to demand the evidence and hold a real trial .
If they choose not to do so , they will be committing a crime against America .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Rep. Adam Schiff got the heart of Trump’s obstruction of Congress as he powerfully demanded that the State Department turn over key notes.
The State Department has ambassador Taylor’s extensive notes and, of course, we would like to show them to you to corroborate his testimony, but pursuant to the president’s instructions, the State Department will not turn them over. You might recall from the tape yesterday ambassador Taylor said they’ll be shortly coming I’m told. Well somebody countermanded those instructions. Who do we think that was?
You should see them. If you have any question about what Sondland told ambassador Taylor, if the president’s counsel tries to create confusion about what Sondland told Taylor about his conversation with the president — look, Sondland had one recollection in his deposition and another recollection in the first hearing and another recollection in a declaration. You want to know exactly what happened in that conversation when it was fresh in Sondland’s mind and he told Taylor about it and Taylor wrote it in his notes, you’re going to want Taylor’s notes.
In any courtroom in America holding a fair trial, you would want to see contemporaneous notes. This senate should be no different. Demand those notes. Demand to see the truth. We’re not afraid of those notes. We haven’t seen them. We haven’t seen them. Maybe those notes say something completely different.
Maybe those notes say no quid pro quo. Maybe those notes say it’s a perfect call. I’d like to see them. I’m willing to trust Ambassador Taylor’s testimony and his recollection. I’d like to see them. I’d like to show them to you. They’re yours for the asking.
Video:
Adam Schiff powerfully tells the Senate, "In any courtroom in America holding a fair trial, you would want to see contemporaneous notes. This senate should be no different. Demand those notes. Demand to see the truth." #ImpeachmentTrial pic.twitter.com/mqAZ0KFe8u — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 23, 2020
Schiff was sending a clear message to Republican Senators who have been leaving the chamber and not wanting to hear the evidence against the president.
Trump is not the only person who is on trial. The Republican Senate majority is also on trial. If they go along with Trump and McConnell’s cover-up, they will be accomplices to Trump’s crimes.
Republicans have the power to demand the evidence and hold a real trial. If they choose not to do so, they will be committing a crime against America.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-23--Senator Confirms Republicans Are Leaving And Not Listening To Evidence Against Trump

Sen. Bob Menendez confirmed that Republicans are getting up and leaving the Senate chamber for extended periods of time instead of listening to impeachment evidence .
Menendez told CNN when he was asked about Senators getting up and leaving , “ We do have a series of our colleagues , particularly on the other side of the aisle who seem to get up quite a bit and often leave the chamber for extended periods of time .
Listen , it ’ s not a great comfort to sit there for endless hours , but at the end of the day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testimony , and I can ’ t do that if I ’ m not in the chamber….There are a fair number of people on the other side who seem to get up and I guess they ’ ve had enough , and they just don ’ t want to listen to the rest of the testimony.
” The last part of what Sen. Menendez said is very important .
A Senator can ’ t hear all of the evidence if they aren ’ t in the chamber .
Republicans don ’ t want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If they hear evidence , it becomes more difficult to push their lies and conspiracy theories .
The comments of Sen. Menendez match up perfectly with reporting from journalists who are in the chamber .
Mitch McConnell has banned C-SPAN from showing any of the other activity in the chamber , so the cameras can ’ t capture it , but eyewitnesses are confirming that Republicans are breaking the Senate rules and refusing to hear the evidence against Donald Trump .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC @ @

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Sen. Bob Menendez confirmed that Republicans are getting up and leaving the Senate chamber for extended periods of time instead of listening to impeachment evidence.
Menendez told CNN when he was asked about Senators getting up and leaving, “We do have a series of our colleagues, particularly on the other side of the aisle who seem to get up quite a bit and often leave the chamber for extended periods of time. Listen, it’s not a great comfort to sit there for endless hours, but at the end of the day I want to hear all of the testimony, and I can’t do that if I’m not in the chamber….There are a fair number of people on the other side who seem to get up and I guess they’ve had enough, and they just don’t want to listen to the rest of the testimony.”
Video:
“I think that the House managers have made a powerful, constructive, methodical case,” says Sen. Bob Menendez, discussing the Senate impeachment trial https://t.co/CVvn7mcIpN pic.twitter.com/Po9PSvfIql — CNN (@CNN) January 23, 2020
The last part of what Sen. Menendez said is very important. A Senator can’t hear all of the evidence if they aren’t in the chamber. Republicans don’t want to hear the evidence against Trump. If they hear evidence, it becomes more difficult to push their lies and conspiracy theories.
The comments of Sen. Menendez match up perfectly with reporting from journalists who are in the chamber. Mitch McConnell has banned C-SPAN from showing any of the other activity in the chamber, so the cameras can’t capture it, but eyewitnesses are confirming that Republicans are breaking the Senate rules and refusing to hear the evidence against Donald Trump.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-23--Trump Sends Mike Pompeo To Ukraine To Keep Them Quiet During Impeachment Trial

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is going to Ukraine next week in a move seen by some as done to keep the Ukrainians quiet during the impeachment trial .
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to Ukraine next week , just as the Senate ’ s impeachment trial of Donald Trump on charges he sought to pressure Ukraine ’ s government into investigating Joe Biden heats up .
Ivan Yakovina , a foreign policy columnist for Ukraine ’ s Novoye Vremya newsmagazine , said one reason for Pompeo ’ s trip could be to make sure that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the Trump Senate trial.
” “ I mean no word-to-word transcripts of the relevant phone calls or other documents will leak , ” he said .
“ If I were him I would assure the Ukrainians that they will be rewarded if nothing unexpected happens during the trial .
And punished if comrade Trump ’ s enemies will get some sort of help or comfort from Kyiv.
” It is odd that an administration that only pays attention to Ukraine when they are trying to extort them into investigating Joe Biden sends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same week that Trump ’ s impeachment trial is going on .
Trump sent Pompeo to Ukraine to keep them quiet during the impeachment trial .
Pompeo is a player in the Ukraine plot .
He is not a public servant going overseas to perform the work of the American people .
Pompeo has a personal interest in making sure that nothing comes out of Ukraine while the trial is going on .
Trump and Pompeo want to keep Ukraine silent until after Mitch McConnell ’ s sham impeachment trial has reached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is going to Ukraine next week in a move seen by some as done to keep the Ukrainians quiet during the impeachment trial.
Buzzfeed News reported:
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to Ukraine next week, just as the Senate’s impeachment trial of Donald Trump on charges he sought to pressure Ukraine’s government into investigating Joe Biden heats up.
….
Ivan Yakovina, a foreign policy columnist for Ukraine’s Novoye Vremya newsmagazine, said one reason for Pompeo’s trip could be to make sure that “no bad surprises would come from Kyiv during the Trump Senate trial.”
“I mean no word-to-word transcripts of the relevant phone calls or other documents will leak,” he said. “If I were him I would assure the Ukrainians that they will be rewarded if nothing unexpected happens during the trial. And punished if comrade Trump’s enemies will get some sort of help or comfort from Kyiv.”
It is odd that an administration that only pays attention to Ukraine when they are trying to extort them into investigating Joe Biden sends the Secretary of State to visit on the same week that Trump’s impeachment trial is going on.
Trump sent Pompeo to Ukraine to keep them quiet during the impeachment trial. Pompeo is a player in the Ukraine plot. He is not a public servant going overseas to perform the work of the American people. Pompeo has a personal interest in making sure that nothing comes out of Ukraine while the trial is going on.
Trump and Pompeo want to keep Ukraine silent until after Mitch McConnell’s sham impeachment trial has reached its predetermined conclusion.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-22--Trump Promises To Cut Medicare And Social Security If He Wins A Second Term

Trump was asked at Davos if cutting entitlements will ever be on his plate , and he said they would be if he wins a second term .
In an interview with CNBC , Trump said , “ At some point , they will be .
We have tremendous growth , we ’ re going to have tremendous growth .
Next year , it will be towards the end of the year , the growth is going to be incredible , and at the right time , we will take a look at that .
You know , that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , because it ’ s such a big percentage.
” Trump was lying about the projected growth .
Economic growth is projected to slow in 2020 to 1.9 % according to projections by the Chicago Federal Reserve .
Trump is saying that if he wins a second term , he is going to cut Social Security and Medicare .
The president wants to cut Social Security and Medicare to pay for another round of tax cuts for the wealthy .
Frank Clemente , executive director of Americans for Tax Fairness said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and the GOP can ’ t seem to help themselves : their core goal is to cut taxes for the rich and corporations , then turn around and try to pay for those cuts by slashing vital public services working families depend on and have spent years paying into .
But this time the American people are wise to the trick and won ’ t put up with it.
” Trump wants to take America back to the time when older people and individuals with disabilities spent their lives and golden years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At a time when people on Social Security and Medicare need more assistance , Trump is plotting to take away what they have .
A vote for Donald Trump is a vote to take away Social Security and Medicare .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Trump was asked at Davos if cutting entitlements will ever be on his plate, and he said they would be if he wins a second term.
In an interview with CNBC, Trump said, “At some point, they will be. We have tremendous growth, we’re going to have tremendous growth. Next year, it will be towards the end of the year, the growth is going to be incredible, and at the right time, we will take a look at that. You know, that’s actually the easiest of all things, because it’s such a big percentage.”
Trump was lying about the projected growth. Economic growth is projected to slow in 2020 to 1.9% according to projections by the Chicago Federal Reserve.
Trump is saying that if he wins a second term, he is going to cut Social Security and Medicare.
Video:
The president wants to cut Social Security and Medicare to pay for another round of tax cuts for the wealthy.
Frank Clemente, executive director of Americans for Tax Fairness said in a statement provided to PoliticusUSA, “President Trump and the GOP can’t seem to help themselves: their core goal is to cut taxes for the rich and corporations, then turn around and try to pay for those cuts by slashing vital public services working families depend on and have spent years paying into. But this time the American people are wise to the trick and won’t put up with it.”
Trump wants to take America back to the time when older people and individuals with disabilities spent their lives and golden years in an all-consuming state of poverty. At a time when people on Social Security and Medicare need more assistance, Trump is plotting to take away what they have.
A vote for Donald Trump is a vote to take away Social Security and Medicare.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-22--12 GOP Senators Break The Rules And Walk Out As Schiff Hammers Trump Evidence

A dozen Republican Senators broke the rules and walked out on Adam Schiff as he was delivering the evidence against @ @ @ @ @ the rules , Senators are not allowed to leave the floor for any reason while @ @ @ @ @ session .
One suspects that Republicans fled the chamber because they didn ’ t want @ @ @ @ @ the evidence against Trump .
Republican Senators have played dumb about Trump ’ s statements @ @ @ @ @ and they can ’ t handle hearing the truth about their law-breaking president .
Mitch @ @ @ @ @ recording on the Senate floor during the trial , so there is no video of @ @ @ @ @ Senators saw it happening , so there is no reason to doubt Ward ’ s @ @ @ @ @ committed to their cover-up for Trump that they won ’ t even pretend to listen @ @ @ @ @ more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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A dozen Republican Senators broke the rules and walked out on Adam Schiff as he was delivering the evidence against Donald Trump.
Jon Ward of Yahoo News tweeted:
As Schiff hits 2-hour mark, more than a dozen GOP senators have left Senate chamber & are in cloakroom. All Dems, I believe, remain in the chamber. Sen. Bennet gestures w his hand as if to say, what's with that? Rules require senators to be at their desks for entirety of trial. — Jon Ward (@jonward11) January 22, 2020
Gillibrand was the one Dem I saw standing in the back, as a number of Republicans were doing. But then Republicans started leaving. I'm not in chamber now so I don't know how long they were out. — Jon Ward (@jonward11) January 22, 2020
According to the rules, Senators are not allowed to leave the floor for any reason while the impeachment trial is in session.
One suspects that Republicans fled the chamber because they didn’t want to hear Rep. Schiff presenting the evidence against Trump. Republican Senators have played dumb about Trump’s statements and behavior for years, and they can’t handle hearing the truth about their law-breaking president.
Mitch McConnell won’t allow recording on the Senate floor during the trial, so there is no video of the Senators, but other Senators saw it happening, so there is no reason to doubt Ward’s tweets.
Republicans are so committed to their cover-up for Trump that they won’t even pretend to listen to the evidence.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-22--Adam Schiff Makes GOP Senators Squirm With Video Of Trump Asking China And Ukraine For Election Help

Adam Schiff played the video for Republican Senators of Trump asking China and Russia to interfere in the election and investigate Biden .
Schiff said , “ President Trump said to President Zelensky , the other thing , there ’ s a lot of talk about Biden ’ s son , that Biden stopped the prosecution .
And a lot of people want to find out about that , so whatever you can do with the attorney general would be great .
Biden went around bragging that he stopped the prosecution , so if you could look into it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is no question that president trump intended impressing Ukraine leader to look into his political rival , even after the impeachment inquiry began he confirmed his desire on the South Lawn of the White House , declaring that not only should Ukraine investigate Biden but that China should do the same .
Let ’ s see what he said.
” Rep. Schiff then played video of Trump saying , “ Well , I would think that if they were honest about it , they ’ d start a major investigation into the Bidens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answer .
They should investigate the Bidens , because how does a company that ’ s formed and all these companies — by the way , likewise , China should start an investigation into the Bidens .
Because what happened in China is just about as bad as what happened with Ukraine.
” For years , Republican Senators have played dumb on Trump ’ s comments and pretended like they didn ’ t see , but Adam Schiff is playing the video when they are forced to watch .
The evidence is on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get Ukraine and China to investigate Joe Biden .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .
Republicans can ’ t hide from it , and if they want to participate in a sham cover-up , Adam Schiff is making sure that it makes them squirm .

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Adam Schiff played the video for Republican Senators of Trump asking China and Russia to interfere in the election and investigate Biden.
Schiff said, “President Trump said to President Zelensky, the other thing, there’s a lot of talk about Biden’s son, that Biden stopped the prosecution. And a lot of people want to find out about that, so whatever you can do with the attorney general would be great. Biden went around bragging that he stopped the prosecution, so if you could look into it, it sounds horrible to me. There is no question that president trump intended impressing Ukraine leader to look into his political rival, even after the impeachment inquiry began he confirmed his desire on the South Lawn of the White House, declaring that not only should Ukraine investigate Biden but that China should do the same. Let’s see what he said.”
Rep. Schiff then played video of Trump saying, “Well, I would think that if they were honest about it, they’d start a major investigation into the Bidens. It’s a very simple answer. They should investigate the Bidens, because how does a company that’s formed and all these companies — by the way, likewise, China should start an investigation into the Bidens. Because what happened in China is just about as bad as what happened with Ukraine.”
For years, Republican Senators have played dumb on Trump’s comments and pretended like they didn’t see, but Adam Schiff is playing the video when they are forced to watch. The evidence is on tape. Donald Trump was trying to get Ukraine and China to investigate Joe Biden.
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Republicans can’t hide from it, and if they want to participate in a sham cover-up, Adam Schiff is making sure that it makes them squirm.


politicususa--2020-01-22--Adam Schiff Tells The World Trump Is Cheating And Trying To Steal The Election

Adam Schiff explained that the Senate can ’ t allow the election to judge Trump ’ s misconduct because Trump is trying to cheat to win the election .
The House did not take this extraordinary step lightly .
As we will discuss , impeachment exists for cases in which the conduct of the President rises far beyond mere policy disputes to be decided , otherwise and without urgency , at the ballot box .
Instead , we are here today to consider a much more grave matter , and that is an attempt to use the powers of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For precisely this reason , the President ’ s misconduct can not be decided at the ballot box—for we can not be assured that the vote will be fairly won .
In corruptly using his office to gain a political advantage , in abusing the powers of that office in such a way as to jeopardize our national security and the integrity of our elections , in obstructing the investigation into his own wrongdoing , the President has shown that he believes that he is above the law and scornful of constraint .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the voters decide argument that is coming from Republicans ignores the fact that Donald Trump is trying to make sure that voters will not be allowed to make a fair decision .
The voters must have all of the facts in order to make a decision about Trump , and the impeachment trial is about giving the American people facts that they will need to make an informed decision in November .
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Adam Schiff explained that the Senate can’t allow the election to judge Trump’s misconduct because Trump is trying to cheat to win the election.
Schiff said:
The House did not take this extraordinary step lightly. As we will discuss, impeachment exists for cases in which the conduct of the President rises far beyond mere policy disputes to be decided, otherwise and without urgency, at the ballot box.
Instead, we are here today to consider a much more grave matter, and that is an attempt to use the powers of the presidency to cheat in an election. For precisely this reason, the President’s misconduct cannot be decided at the ballot box—for we cannot be assured that the vote will be fairly won. In corruptly using his office to gain a political advantage, in abusing the powers of that office in such a way as to jeopardize our national security and the integrity of our elections, in obstructing the investigation into his own wrongdoing, the President has shown that he believes that he is above the law and scornful of constraint.
Video:
Schiff warns that we can't let an election judge Trump's misconduct because Trump is trying to cheat to win the election. #ImpeachmentTrial #SenateImpeachmentTrial pic.twitter.com/ELjFskOQtq — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 22, 2020
Schiff is right. The whole let the voters decide argument that is coming from Republicans ignores the fact that Donald Trump is trying to make sure that voters will not be allowed to make a fair decision.
The voters must have all of the facts in order to make a decision about Trump, and the impeachment trial is about giving the American people facts that they will need to make an informed decision in November.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-22--Trump Is Bragging About Hiding The Evidence Of His Crimes

In Switzerland , Trump was barely able to speak but among a ramble of lies about impeachment , the president that he has the evidence and Democrats don ’ t .
I watched , they don ’ t talk about my conversation , they don ’ t talk about my transcripts .
Remember this , when Schiff made up the phony story and he repeats it to congress and the world and it was a totally phony story , then I released the transcript .
There was supposed to be a second whistle-blower .
What happened to him ?
Wait @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do your show .
Wait .
There was supposed to be an informer .
What happened to the informer ?
All of these people disappeared and when they saw this transcript they said we ’ ve got problems .
But they went ahead because they were already there because they had a phony concocted story made up .
So here is the story , I did nothing wrong , it was a perfect conversation , it was totally appropriate .
The best lawyers in the world have looked at it .
The Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given it a signoff .
There was nothing wrong .
They never thought I was going to release the conversation .
They probably didn ’ t think we had transcribers or we had it transcribed or taped , but they never thought we were going to release it .
When we released that conversation all hell broke out with the Democrats because they say , wait a minute , this is much different than shifty Schiff told us .
So we ’ re doing very well , I got to watch enough , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good job , but honestly , we have all the material .
They don ’ t have the material .
Trump is bragging about hiding , with the help of Senate Republicans , the evidence of trying to extort a foreign country into helping him cheat in an election .
The president knows that the documents would be fatal to his presidency and his political future if they were ever placed in the hands of Congress and made available for the American people to see .
Trump ’ s comments in Switzerland were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to survive impeachment , but he is daring voters to kick him out of office in November .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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In Switzerland, Trump was barely able to speak but among a ramble of lies about impeachment, the president that he has the evidence and Democrats don’t.
Trump said at Davos:
I watched, they don’t talk about my conversation, they don’t talk about my transcripts. Remember this, when Schiff made up the phony story and he repeats it to congress and the world and it was a totally phony story, then I released the transcript. There was supposed to be a second whistle-blower. What happened to him? Wait. Otherwise, I won’t do your show. Wait. There was supposed to be an informer. What happened to the informer? All of these people disappeared and when they saw this transcript they said we’ve got problems.
But they went ahead because they were already there because they had a phony concocted story made up. So here is the story, I did nothing wrong, it was a perfect conversation, it was totally appropriate. The best lawyers in the world have looked at it. The Department of Justice has looked at it, given it a signoff. There was nothing wrong. They never thought I was going to release the conversation.
They probably didn’t think we had transcribers or we had it transcribed or taped, but they never thought we were going to release it. When we released that conversation all hell broke out with the Democrats because they say, wait a minute, this is much different than shifty Schiff told us. So we’re doing very well, I got to watch enough, I thought our team did a very good job, but honestly, we have all the material. They don’t have the material.
Video:
Here is Donald Trump in Switzerland bragging about hiding the evidence of his crimes. #GOPCoverup #ImpeachmentTrial #SenateImpeachment Trial pic.twitter.com/m5k5Tvlyc7 — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 22, 2020
Trump is bragging about hiding, with the help of Senate Republicans, the evidence of trying to extort a foreign country into helping him cheat in an election. The president knows that the documents would be fatal to his presidency and his political future if they were ever placed in the hands of Congress and made available for the American people to see.
Trump’s comments in Switzerland were an admission of guilt. He is going to survive impeachment, but he is daring voters to kick him out of office in November.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-01-24--Impeachment Breaks Trump As He Gives Himself The Lead In Texas House Primary

In another sign that Trump is not playing with a full deck , the president invented a poll that gave @ @ @ @ @ Texas GOP House primary .
The first side of the graph looks normal .
Notice @ @ @ @ @ who once gave Trump a fake physical is running for the House .
The really @ @ @ @ @ put Donald Trump at 95 % in the corner of the poll .
This is @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump isn ’ t running for House seat in Texas , B ) .
@ @ @ @ @ in the polling matchup between the candidates , and C ) .
The math adds @ @ @ @ @ of more than one hundred percent .
The tweet makes no sense and is a @ @ @ @ @ has broken Trump ’ s brain .
Trump is looking for wins anywhere he can @ @ @ @ @ elections that he is not running in .
For more discussion about this story join @ @ @ @ @ group .

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In another sign that Trump is not playing with a full deck, the president invented a poll that gave him the lead in a Texas GOP House primary.
Trump tweeted:
The first side of the graph looks normal. Notice that drunken Dr. Ronny Jackson who once gave Trump a fake physical is running for the House. The really bizarre part is that someone put Donald Trump at 95% in the corner of the poll.
This is odd because of A). Trump isn’t running for House seat in Texas, B). Trump wasn’t included in the polling matchup between the candidates, and C). The math adds up to a vote total of more than one hundred percent.
The tweet makes no sense and is a sign that the impeachment trial has broken Trump’s brain. Trump is looking for wins anywhere he can get them, including in elections that he is not running in.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-23--Adam Schiff Masterfully Forces Republicans To Listen To Trump’s Corruption

In a powerhouse presentation , Adam Schiff is forcing Republican Senators to hear the evidence of Trump ’ s corruption .
This is a president who truly feels that , under article two , he can do whatever he wants .
And that includes coercing an ally to help him cheat .
In an election .
And if he ’ s successful , it ’ s not a remedy for that .
A remedy in which the president can cheat is no remedy at all .
Which is why we ’ re here .
This was not about corruption , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The ten reasons you know President Trump put himself first .
Ironically the president has argued his corrupt conduct in soliciting sham investigations was driven by his concerns about corruption in Ukraine .
This attempt to legitimize his efforts is not credible , not the least bit believable given the mountain of evidence in the president ’ s corrupt intent .
There is no evidence that president trump care said one wit about anticorruption efforts at all .
That ’ s the tenant reason you know this was political .
Schiff ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vulnerable Republican incumbent Senators who are running for reelection are going to have to go home and explain to their constituents how they were able to ignore the evidence that put right in front of their faces and vote not to convict Donald Trump .
Rep. Schiff is forcing Republicans to hear the truth about their president .
The American people are watching and the Senators who are denying reality are going to have to face the voters and explain their denial of reality .
For more discussion about this story join our @ @ @ @ @ @

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In a powerhouse presentation, Adam Schiff is forcing Republican Senators to hear the evidence of Trump’s corruption.
Schiff said:
This is a president who truly feels that, under article two, he can do whatever he wants. And that includes coercing an ally to help him cheat. In an election. And if he’s successful, it’s not a remedy for that. A remedy in which the president can cheat is no remedy at all. Which is why we’re here. This was not about corruption, which brings me to number ten.
The ten reasons you know President Trump put himself first. Ironically the president has argued his corrupt conduct in soliciting sham investigations was driven by his concerns about corruption in Ukraine. This attempt to legitimize his efforts is not credible, not the least bit believable given the mountain of evidence in the president’s corrupt intent. There is no evidence that president trump care said one wit about anticorruption efforts at all. That’s the tenant reason you know this was political.
Video:
Adam Schiff is forcing the Republican Senators to listen to the evidence of Trump's corruption. #ImpeachmentTrial pic.twitter.com/vjCtDrROAN — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 23, 2020
Schiff’s presentation will have 2020 consequences because the vulnerable Republican incumbent Senators who are running for reelection are going to have to go home and explain to their constituents how they were able to ignore the evidence that put right in front of their faces and vote not to convict Donald Trump.
Rep. Schiff is forcing Republicans to hear the truth about their president. The American people are watching and the Senators who are denying reality are going to have to face the voters and explain their denial of reality.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-23--Republicans Are Whining That They Want The Weekend Off From The Impeachment Trial

Senators continue to show that they don ’ t care about the impeachment trial by trying to get the schedule changed , so they have the weekend off .
The suspicion is that Republican Senators are the ones who are asking for the weekend off because they are the ones , who for the most part have been walking out and absent for long stretches of the impeachment trial .
Senators are being asked to do the jobs that they are being paid to do , and right now that job involves sitting down , being quiet , and fulfilling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Trump ’ s impeachment trial .
If this job is too hard , or if any of these complaints happen to be coming from the Senators who are running for the Democratic presidential nomination , which is doubtful because none of them have expressed regret over being at the trial , there is a simple solution .
Any Senator who doesn ’ t want to uphold the oath they took at the beginning of the trial can quit the Senate , and do whatever they choose with their time .
The constant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jurors is an insult to people who break their backs , sometimes working multiple jobs each week to make ends meet .
The Senate voted for these rules , and they should stick to them , so sorry spoiled millionaires , you can ’ t have the weekend off .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Senators continue to show that they don’t care about the impeachment trial by trying to get the schedule changed, so they have the weekend off.
CNN’s Manu Raju tweeted:
There’s discussion underway in Senate that Saturday’s schedule could be adjusted, and it could start earlier and be a shorter day, per senators. This would allow senators to go home and return by Monday aftenoon. But it would require unanimous consent for that change to be made — Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 23, 2020
The suspicion is that Republican Senators are the ones who are asking for the weekend off because they are the ones, who for the most part have been walking out and absent for long stretches of the impeachment trial.
Senators are being asked to do the jobs that they are being paid to do, and right now that job involves sitting down, being quiet, and fulfilling their constitutional duty to act as jurors in Trump’s impeachment trial.
If this job is too hard, or if any of these complaints happen to be coming from the Senators who are running for the Democratic presidential nomination, which is doubtful because none of them have expressed regret over being at the trial, there is a simple solution.
Any Senator who doesn’t want to uphold the oath they took at the beginning of the trial can quit the Senate, and do whatever they choose with their time.
The constant complaining from Senators who are acting as jurors is an insult to people who break their backs, sometimes working multiple jobs each week to make ends meet.
The Senate voted for these rules, and they should stick to them, so sorry spoiled millionaires, you can’t have the weekend off.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-01-23--Jerry Nadler Just Humiliated Lindsey Graham At The Impeachment Trial

House impeachment manager Jerry Nadler ( D-NY ) played a video of Lindsey Graham arguing that a president doesn ’ t have to commit a crime to be impeached .
Nadler said , “ And I might say the same thing of then-house manager Lindsey Graham who in president Clinton ’ s trial flatly reflected the notion that the that are limited to violations of established law.
” He then played the 1999 Clinton impeachment trial video of Graham saying , “ What ’ s a high crime ?
How about if an important person hurt somebody of low means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But I think it ’ s the truth .
I think that ’ s what they meant by high crimes .
Doesn ’ t have to be a crime .
It ’ s just when you start using your office and you ’ re acting in a way that hurts people , you ’ ve committed a high crime.
” Not only did Rep. Nadler offer a good piece of evidence that an impeachable offense doesn ’ t have to be a crime , but he also reminded Graham of his past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offenses .
Democrats are more than making a case against Donald Trump .
They are also pointing out that some of Trump ’ s biggest defenders are hypocrites on impeachment .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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House impeachment manager Jerry Nadler (D-NY) played a video of Lindsey Graham arguing that a president doesn’t have to commit a crime to be impeached.
Nadler said, “And I might say the same thing of then-house manager Lindsey Graham who in president Clinton’s trial flatly reflected the notion that the that are limited to violations of established law.”
He then played the 1999 Clinton impeachment trial video of Graham saying, “What’s a high crime? How about if an important person hurt somebody of low means? It’s not very scholarly. But I think it’s the truth. I think that’s what they meant by high crimes. Doesn’t have to be a crime. It’s just when you start using your office and you’re acting in a way that hurts people, you’ve committed a high crime.”
Video:
Jerry Nadler just played a video of Lindsey Graham arguing that a crime doesn't need to be present for an impeachable offense. #ImpeachmentTrial #Nadler pic.twitter.com/NAtxvoT6JP — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 23, 2020
Not only did Rep. Nadler offer a good piece of evidence that an impeachable offense doesn’t have to be a crime, but he also reminded Graham of his past hypocrisy on the standard for presidential impeachable offenses.
Democrats are more than making a case against Donald Trump. They are also pointing out that some of Trump’s biggest defenders are hypocrites on impeachment.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-01-23--Opinion: Adam Schiff Tried To Return The Senate To Its Former Self As A “Deliberative Body”

If Donald Trump cared about any American citizen being corrupt , he would have gone to our law enforcement agencies and the State Department to have them look into it .
He would not have gone to the newly-elected president of Ukraine , a young , inexperienced former reality show star who campaigned on solving the corruption problems that came with being a satellite of the Soviet Union .
As we know , Trump ’ s plan failed .
The Republican effort to have Hunter Biden testify before the Senate is Trump ’ s plan B .
A day of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wouldn ’ t have the same effect as a “ bona fide ” announcement that Biden was being investigated in Ukraine , but it would be enough to “ breitbart ” an ad for the campaign .
If Mitch McConnell cared about holding a fair impeachment trial , he would have allowed the two ingredients that make a case in an American trial : witnesses and documentary evidence .
He and 52 Republican sheep did what Trump wanted – allow him to brag about how he had all the evidence and House managers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sort of taunt one expects of a schoolyard bully – not of an American president .
No House Manager in the history of this country had the challenges that today ’ s House Managers have .
And they all rose to the challenge .
Lead manager Adam Schiff rose to the challenge of advocating for America , beginning with an introduction to why the impeachment power makes us an extraordinary experiment in democracy and how that distinguishes us from the tyrannies that seek to drag us down in the mud with them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ portion of the case , we saw what a commitment to justice can produce .
We saw women and men present the facts they knew based on the information they could pry loose solely because career civil servants were more committed to America than to Donald Trump .
I ’ m not saying that America is perfect .
We have problems – many of them more pronounced because of Donald Trump and the Republican Party .
We ’ ve always been about striving to be better and do better .
Trump wants us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the criminal states his heroes rule .
This is not who any of us are , regardless of our political leanings .
The ideas of serving the people and being accountable to them are what Adam Schiff and the House Managers are fighting for .
That , and our national security .
Adam Schiff explained it all in part one of the House Manager ’ s opening statement .
He said why impeachment is the lynchpin to democracy and why it applied in Donald Trump ’ s case .
He gave it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Manager who followed .
Trump is just Vladimir Putin ’ s instrument seeking to destroy the things that made America a great country – even to those of us who strove to make it even better for more people by noting and commenting on the things that need improvement .
Trump , McConnell and Trump ’ s lawyers did all they could to hide the information that is usually available in a trial but it ’ s not only about covering up what Trump did .
It ’ s also about covering up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schiff did an excellent job of explaining why we should care about Ukraine .
Truthfully , it ’ s because decent people don ’ t turn on their friends .
There are also some reasons that have as much to do with our national security as with whether we are as good an ally as we want of our allies to be to us .
Ukraine isn ’ t just some blip on the European continent .
It ’ s a country that gave up nukes following the Soviet Union ’ s collapse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d protect their territorial integrity and that benefitted us because it was part of a Russia containment strategy .
It matters because we are less likely to see war fought on our soil .
It also matters because our allies are watching and if we can turn on one , it begs the question : who ’ s next ?
If anyone had doubts about how serious this is , one need only look at what took place on Tuesday .
Trump ’ s lawyers lied , over and over again .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House ’ s impeachment process , about the president ’ s rights in that process , and about the rights that the Republican minority had .
Republican Senators dutifully voted in support of those lies , and to top it all off , the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court admonished both sides for inappropriate language for such a deliberative body .
With respect to the Chief Justice , McConnell ’ s Senate was anything but the reputed deliberative body it once was .
This solemn process was turned into a mockery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to oppose witnesses and documents because they didn ’ t want Donald Trump to get mad and find a Roy Moore to primary challenge them .
I say this with the utmost respect for the position of Chief Justice .
John Roberts let America down because he let Trump ’ s lawyers lie to the Senate and get away with it .
The House Managers will continue to present their case , facts and using video of previous testimony to tell the Senate about Trump ’ s effort to cheat his way back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a virtually identical playbook to the one that he and Putin used in 2016 .
Since Trump approved of the frat boy performance provided by Pat Cipollone and friends ; they ’ ll probably avoid the facts and the law , since neither are on Trump ’ s side .
It ’ s likely Alan Dershowitz will be there , intending to drive a dagger through the Constitution ’ s heart while trying to claim he ’ s the Constitution ’ s advocate .
We may see some alternative facts and alternative law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senators abandon their roles as jurors for longer periods because sitting quietly and listening to someone who isn ’ t a Fox commentator is really , really hard .
Of course , in a real court room , this would be unacceptable .
If a juror just got up and walked out in the middle of any part of a trial , they ’ d be dismissed .
We all know that the odds are stacked against the Senate voting to remove Trump .
It looks like the people will have to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

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If Donald Trump cared about any American citizen being corrupt, he would have gone to our law enforcement agencies and the State Department to have them look into it. He would not have gone to the newly-elected president of Ukraine, a young, inexperienced former reality show star who campaigned on solving the corruption problems that came with being a satellite of the Soviet Union.
As a Republican witness, EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland testified, Trump wanted the announcement.
“He had to announce the investigations,” Sondland said during the House impeachment inquiry, referring to Zelensky. “He didn’t actually have to do them, as I understood it.”
As we know, Trump’s plan failed. The Republican effort to have Hunter Biden testify before the Senate is Trump’s plan B. A day of Trump’s lawyers sucker-punching Hunter Biden wouldn’t have the same effect as a “bona fide” announcement that Biden was being investigated in Ukraine, but it would be enough to “breitbart” an ad for the campaign.
If Mitch McConnell cared about holding a fair impeachment trial, he would have allowed the two ingredients that make a case in an American trial: witnesses and documentary evidence. He and 52 Republican sheep did what Trump wanted – allow him to brag about how he had all the evidence and House managers had “nothing”. It was the sort of taunt one expects of a schoolyard bully – not of an American president.
No House Manager in the history of this country had the challenges that today’s House Managers have. And they all rose to the challenge. Lead manager Adam Schiff rose to the challenge of advocating for America, beginning with an introduction to why the impeachment power makes us an extraordinary experiment in democracy and how that distinguishes us from the tyrannies that seek to drag us down in the mud with them.
As each House Manager presented their portion of the case, we saw what a commitment to justice can produce. We saw women and men present the facts they knew based on the information they could pry loose solely because career civil servants were more committed to America than to Donald Trump.
I’m not saying that America is perfect. We have problems – many of them more pronounced because of Donald Trump and the Republican Party. We’ve always been about striving to be better and do better. Trump wants us to settle for being “just like” the criminal states his heroes rule. This is not who any of us are, regardless of our political leanings.
The ideas of serving the people and being accountable to them are what Adam Schiff and the House Managers are fighting for. That, and our national security.
Adam Schiff explained it all in part one of the House Manager’s opening statement. He said why impeachment is the lynchpin to democracy and why it applied in Donald Trump’s case. He gave it his all, as did each House Manager who followed.
Trump is just Vladimir Putin’s instrument seeking to destroy the things that made America a great country – even to those of us who strove to make it even better for more people by noting and commenting on the things that need improvement.
Trump, McConnell and Trump’s lawyers did all they could to hide the information that is usually available in a trial but it’s not only about covering up what Trump did. It’s also about covering up the consequences to our national security.
Schiff did an excellent job of explaining why we should care about Ukraine. Truthfully, it’s because decent people don’t turn on their friends. There are also some reasons that have as much to do with our national security as with whether we are as good an ally as we want of our allies to be to us.
Ukraine isn’t just some blip on the European continent. It’s a country that gave up nukes following the Soviet Union’s collapse because we told them that we’d protect their territorial integrity and that benefitted us because it was part of a Russia containment strategy.
It matters because we are less likely to see war fought on our soil. It also matters because our allies are watching and if we can turn on one, it begs the question: who’s next?
If anyone had doubts about how serious this is, one need only look at what took place on Tuesday. Trump’s lawyers lied, over and over again. They lied about the House Managers, about the House’s impeachment process, about the president’s rights in that process, and about the rights that the Republican minority had. Republican Senators dutifully voted in support of those lies, and to top it all off, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court admonished both sides for inappropriate language for such a deliberative body.
With respect to the Chief Justice, McConnell’s Senate was anything but the reputed deliberative body it once was. This solemn process was turned into a mockery of American justice as every Republican voted to oppose witnesses and documents because they didn’t want Donald Trump to get mad and find a Roy Moore to primary challenge them.
I say this with the utmost respect for the position of Chief Justice. John Roberts let America down because he let Trump’s lawyers lie to the Senate and get away with it.
The House Managers will continue to present their case, facts and using video of previous testimony to tell the Senate about Trump’s effort to cheat his way back into the White House in 2020 using a virtually identical playbook to the one that he and Putin used in 2016.
Since Trump approved of the frat boy performance provided by Pat Cipollone and friends; they’ll probably avoid the facts and the law, since neither are on Trump’s side. It’s likely Alan Dershowitz will be there, intending to drive a dagger through the Constitution’s heart while trying to claim he’s the Constitution’s advocate. We may see some alternative facts and alternative law.
We’ll probably see Republican Senators abandon their roles as jurors for longer periods because sitting quietly and listening to someone who isn’t a Fox commentator is really, really hard.
Of course, in a real court room, this would be unacceptable. If a juror just got up and walked out in the middle of any part of a trial, they’d be dismissed.
We all know that the odds are stacked against the Senate voting to remove Trump. It looks like the people will have to do the Senate’s work for it.