It's a trap

[intrepidity]

I don't for a minute believe there have been several simultaneous come-to-Jesus moments within the past few hours.

I desperately hope I'm wrong.

[Claritie Pixie]

1. What's a trap?

[intrepidity]

3. This whole whistleblower thing. Or at least, today's developments. nt

[Claritie Pixie]

5. What does a guilty person/political party do when caught?

Lies, lies, and more lies to confuse and create chaos. If they can muddy the waters enough some people won't believe the truth when it's shown to them.

We'll see won't we?

[exboyfil]

2. Admiral Akbar agrees

[TheRealNorth]

4. I am no Admiral Ackbar

But I think it's also possible that now that they know Schiff is talking to the whistleblowers lawyers that jig is up, and that the rats are are finally jumping ship.

[RGTIndy]

6. This is really about Trump giving our spies to Putin

That was the “promise” that was “urgent”. They all know it and there is finally blood in the water. Trump is leaking and pushing the Ukraine angle as a last ditch dodge.

[scheming daemons]

7. I believe Nancy and the Dems have internal polling... and that's why there's been movement

by Dems who were previously wavering.

[intrepidity]

13. I didn't mean on the Dem side

Mitch fast-tracking vote; Trump releasing "transcript"; whistleblower contacting Congress; ADNI relenting.

[athena]

8. No, it's just an attempt to prevent the whistleblower from being heard.

See: https://theweek.com/speedreads/867373/why-democrats-want-whistleblower-complaint--not-just-transcript-trumps-ukraine-call

There's a few reasons for that, but the simplest one is the fear that the Trump administration could, well, edit the transcript, even though Trump said it would be complete and unredacted.
(snip)
Beyond that, it's all about the whistleblower complaint, which spurred the whole scandal in the first place. The complaint filed by the anonymous whistleblower who was reportedly spooked by Trump's communications with Zelensky reportedly contains details that go beyond the phone call, during which Trump allegedly pressured Zelensky to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden's son. Therefore, many Democrats are afraid that the White House will use the transcript as a stand-in for the full complaint, while valuable information remains under wraps. So, they want to see the actual complaint instead, and the whistleblower could also reportedly testify before Congress.

[renate]

14. lol--"Trump said it would be complete and unredacted"

Fool me 12,000 times and I'm going to start doubting your veracity.

[mtngirl47]

27. LOL! (nice one!)

[stonecutter357]

9. Donald Trump is a racist pig !

[Unbelievable]

10. I think I agree

Its a tarp.

[ecstatic]

11. I'm always suspicious but I think in this case, strength begets strength

For once, democrats are taking control of the news cycle and showing strength. Biden just held a news conference. Pelosi will supposedly be announcing an impeachment inquiry.

Maybe rethugs realize shit is getting real?

[unitedwethrive]

12. Let's just say the whistleblower stuff is a trap...there is still lots of other impeachable actions

committed by this administration. By opening a formal inquiry, it will make it easier to uncover more of their crimes. Not to mention, bringing the crimes into the light of day might sway enough of the public to cause the pressure on in-denial elected officials to shift.

[intrepidity]

16. Unless somehow they allow their hands to be tied

Like restricting the area of inquiry, or something.

[brooklynite]

15. So Pelosi and Schumer are too stupid to see it coming?

[Stuart G]

20. No, I do not think so...(sarcasm) I think the game is almost over.

Trump has lost. (see post below) Which will it be? Resignation or Impeachment?

[Stuart G]

17. If it is a trap, the trap will snap back on Trump and company.

This is past the "trap phase." Too much is out there. The effort for impeachment has started, and there is no going back. Trump may think there is a way out, but there isn't. He has admitted to collusion. He can twist it any way he wants, but it is still collusion.
...In my opinion if this were a football game, the score would be 70 - 0 in favor of Pelosi, with 3 minutes to go.

So football fans, the game is really over. So when is the party?

[intrepidity]

19. You have no idea how much I hope that is true

I do not delight in this bottomless pit of despair that Trump has dug.

[defacto7]

18. I think there are too may giddy GOP trusting people around.

If the whistleblower thing is a scam it could undermine the credibility of the impeachment process bigtime. I hope it's all truth bubbling to the surface but until all the cards are on the table we know nothing. There's too much at stake.

[Stuart G]

21. Just for a moment let's take a look at the facts and questions about the facts.

Trump did indeed talk to Ukraine leaders about Biden.
Trump is in an almost impossible situation: Impeachment is on the way
Trump can do one of two things. A. Lie B. Cooperate
If Impeachment is "on the way" ?, then is lying a good strategy? (in history, it did not work for Nixon)
If there is any chance for Trump to survive, then what is the best strategy?
A. Cooperate to the fullest...or
B. Lie your ass off, or partly and hope that you can get away with it in spite of a full blown investigation?

....Is it A or B? or C? some lies and some truths..and hope the lies do not get found out?

............end of facts & questions, and YOU BE THE JUDGE!!

[defacto7]

28. But you assume from the beginning that the discussion

was verifiably illegal. We only have assumptions at this point that the whistleblowers information is useful. We don't know yet, there's just a lot of hopes and wishes among the leaks. I'm saying that there are other scenarios where the whole Ukraine fiasco could be a setup to discredit the Dems. I don't want that to be true but I also think trusting the GOP to "do the right thing" is foolish. Even if their only choice is to take a fall and fess up, they're fried on a stick. Their only actual choice is to deny and lie until the end and take a pardon if posible and in the mean time try to trip up the investigation.

Where my argument fails is in the understanding that our people in congress probably wouldn't walk into a trap. So in that I'm hopeful.

[NightWatcher]

22. Didn't a Democratic Senator meet with the Ukrainian President and verify those?

I'm spazzing on a name right now.

[Bonx]

23. Drumpf is going down this time. I'd bet the house on it.

[Stuart G]

24. Yes, this is it..end of show, no turning back. I agree totally.It's all over, Trump has lost.

Trump will resign in the next week or be impeached by the House of Representatives in the next 2 weeks. You heard it here.

[Bonx]

25. Very bold to be adding the tight timeline. But I can't disagree.