Ante Trump

[H2O Man]

Watching the Trump defense is peculiar. In general, I believe that defense lawyers should be afforded significant leeway. It's fine to highlight evidence the prosecution did not address. It's fair to try to raise reasonable doubt. However, I am not okay with outright lying. And thus far, I've heard way more lies than a “not guilty” client's defense requires.

As I listened to the defense lawyers lie, it was evident that their effort was to prevent the trial from being a search for truth by any means necessary. More, it is obvious that the vast majority of the republican Senators are serving as accomplices in the White House's effort to obstruct the trial from delivering justice. But the pressure on them to allow John Bolton to testify has increased dramatically. Thus, the White House will try to stop him from doing so.

The Democrats involved in the impeachment trial that are taking care of business. They are building momentum. This is a process where we keep winning what might be viewed as small victories. If we win a series of them, we will get the witnesses that are needed to improve the chances of Trump's conviction. Now, that is still a long shot, but only he who attempts the ridiculous can ever hope to achieve the impossible.

Two days ago, it was said that the republicans didn't have the votes to prevent witnesses from testifying. We cannot count on that. Whenever there is a flicker of decency from a republican, there will be an immediate party effort to derail it. There is extreme pressure being put on those republicans who might vote their conscience. More, there is a current effort to prevent Bolton's book from being published in its current form, due to “national security.”

What else are they protecting? This might sound like mere speculation now, but what an associate told me today is that Putin's shadow is on the holding up the military aid. When Zelensky won his election, Trump had conversations with both Putin and Erdogan about him. They told Trump that Zelensky was “weak” and a “clown.” The timing of his conversation with Putin holds the key.

This wasn't the initial Russian influence on the Donald & Rudy caper. We know that Rudy had already been spreading the “theory” that it was Ukraine, not Russia, that interfered in the 2016 election. Rudy started spreading the Russian disinformation-misinformation campaign in early 2019, to prepare to create confusion if the Mueller Report caused a serious problem for Trump. Had Barr not stepped in to misrepresent what the report said, the Trump defense team was confident the then-leadership in Ukraine would have announced an investigation of the mysterious server hiding in Ukraine and related nonsense.

Dates are important here. Barr got the report on March 22, send his 4-page letter to Congress two days later, and the DOJ made the report public on April 18. The Trump forces saw no reason to have Ukraine announce an investigation at that point – indeed, they had another idea for it. At that time, they considered that two Democrats might pose the greatest threat to Trump's re-election: Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden. If Hillary did announce, they were prepared to have the Ukraine “investigation” announced.

On April 25, Joe Biden did announce. The White House rats had thought they could have Ukraine announce an investigation that Rudy was pushing about Biden and his son. But, surprise, surprise, Zelensky had been elected president of Ukraine four days earlier, and they would have to deal with him. Thus, Trump called his two closest advisers – Putin and Erdogan – to seek their guidance.

For several weeks, Trump & Fiends were sure that they could pressure this “weak clown.” Rudy and the Three Amigos could simply hold out a White House visit for announcing investigations into both fake scandals. Trump, then Pence, opted out of Zelensky's inauguration in late May. But Zelensky wasn't willing to interfere is US domestic politics.

Trump was stewing. A growing number of Democrats in the House were calling for impeachment hearings, based on the obstructions of justice documented in Part Two of the Mueller Report. He was furious about the commercial that the Biden campaign released that spoke of a battle for the soul of America. And he was outraged by polls showing Biden or others would kick his ass in the next election.

Thus, Trump began to think of how he could up the ante. He thought back to the soothing advice from Putin. As a candidate, Trump had expressed his belief that Russia's taking of Crimea was fine – which led to the Ukraine ambassador penning an editorial opposing this, which was the full extent of “interference” in the campaign.

Where did Trump get the idea to withhold military aid to Ukraine? As of yet, no one has identified who put this idea into Trump's head. But we know that Trump is no more capable of having an original idea than is a can-opener. The limits of his awareness in such a situation are twofold: to repeat an idea someone else has brought to his attention, and to threaten anyone he views as posing opposition to him reaching a goal.

On July 24, Mr. Mueller testified before Congress. The next day, Trump asked Zelensky for “a favor, though” in his imperfect phone call. A very short time later, the aid was officially put on hold.

I asked my old friend if Jerry Nadler and Adam Schiff would be able to identify who had inserted the stupid idea of withholding military aid to Ukraine? “I doubt it,” he said, “because Trump insists on there being no record of his private conversations with Putin.”

Peace,
H2O Man

[malaise]

1. One of my favorite Lennon pieces

There will be no truth from this vile, unethical. tin pot ignoramus of a dictator.
On the other hand, truth will out.

Everyone in the USA should watch the clip with the Con calling out his Senators -the so called jurors in his trial. It was like vote-counting. No wonder he invited no Dems to that function.


Great read bro.

[H2O Man]

7. Thank you!

I had to cut this essay in half ..... I should be able to complete the second part this afternoon. It will focus on the mental state we need to achieve to execute our strategy going forward -- from the next 48 hours until November. And, as you have no doubt already guessed, this old man is going back to his days in the ring.

[dalton99a]

2. It was Putin.

It's fair to assume Ukraine was on the agenda in Helsinki

[H2O Man]

8. Exactly!

Putin knows how to instill a message by way of a series of conversations.

[BeckyDem]

3. It kills me to listen to Dershowitz who is stating for the record that corruption is good.

Its so good in fact, its what presidents do. Applause, applause go the Republicans.

I am sick of this administration and his cronies.

November 2020 can't come soon enough.

K&R

[H2O Man]

9. Right.

Alan is not right in the head. Just the fact that he describes himself as a "liberal" shows the level of confusion between his ears. In the summer of 2018, he was whimpering publicly about his neighbors avoiding him, and not welcoming him to their picnics and partys.

There has also been some confusion about his claim to be a constitutional scholar. Although I have no respect for the man, I recognize that he was a criminal defense lawyer who specialized in appeals in the federal courts. This is why, for example, he was included in the infamous "Dream Team" -- the defense team was sure OJ would be convicted, and Alan's role was to identify grounds for appeals expected to reach the federal appeals courts. Those appeals do not focus on guilty vs not guilty, but rather if there are constitutional rights that may have been violated.

No thinking person would consider Alan to be an expert on impeachment. It has become, in the age of Trump, an area of interest for him. A hobby, if you will.Thus, the Trump team put him on in order to appeal to the non-thinking public, who assume he is an expert.

[unblock]

4. republicans have turned it into a ridiculously partisan political game.

the outcome being certain, their only interests are purely political.

the goals are:
- keep donnie's image good enough to win in november
- keep the image of republican senators good enough to win in november

that's basically it.

the have zero interest in finding out or presenting the truth or ever actually considering removing donnie unless point #1 becomes impossible and removing him becomes the best way to achieve point #2.

they have zero interest in doing the right thing for the country. well, to clarify, they're convinced that the best thing for the country is for republicans to win the white house and the senate in november by any means necessary, so there is no goal here that's somehow not consistent with points #1 and #2. so it's the same as not having that as a goal at all.


their arguments and their deliberations over such matters as witnesses or donnie's best "defense" is entirely about image and what plays. they're throwing everything out and seeing what sticks and that's what they'll run with.



the reasons barely matter. republican interests and putin's interests are so closely aligned that they might as well be a wholly-owned subsidiary. we, and the media, certainly should treat them as such.

[H2O Man]

10. Really well said!

Thank you for that.

My friend said that what he finds frustrating is that, if our democracy survives, future history books will document that Putin was pulling the Trump-puppet strings in terms of withholding military aid to Ukraine. That it should be obvious to everyone now, even though the floor managers cannot come right out and say it. But Bolton's testimony would certainly head in that direction.

[kentuck]

5. "Where did Trump get the idea to withhold military aid to Ukraine?"

My guess is Putin?

[H2O Man]

11. Yes.

I wish that you were here yesterday for that phone conversation. I'd have put it on "speaker," and I know you would have had questions and comments that I couldn't think of at the time.

[coeur_de_lion]

6. We are in the middle of a battle

For our fragile republic.

4 years ago I could never have dreamed it would be this hard to get rid of an obviously corrupt president.

I think the repugs saw the writing on the wall and knew they were losing their grip on power. They hated Russia when it was communist. Now that it is an autocracy they’re fine with Russia and would like to adopt a similar type of government here.

We are going to come under the power of Russia if we lose this battle.

Time to worry yet? Shall we move to Ireland?

[H2O Man]

12. Keep in mind

that Bolton despises Putin and his Russian mob. And he is aware of how much Russian mob money has helped finance republican congressional campaigns. That creates a huge conflict of interest for them, as we've seen with Devin Nunes. They are compromised. And thus, they are putting extreme pressure on republican senators to avoid having Bolton testify. Mitch, for example, knows what Bolton's testimony would reveal ....and how it would influence the November elections.

[coeur_de_lion]

13. I wonder if the turtle

can pull it off.

Want to bet me?

[H2O Man]

14. No thank you.

I'd never bet that there is a depth so low, that Mitch would not, could not reach it. But I will gladly join you in the fight!

[coeur_de_lion]

17. He certainly has no shame

We are embarrassed by him but he doesn’t seem to mind a bit.

[coeur_de_lion]

19. sad I need to stop getting my hopes up

And find a way to be okay even if the mango mussolini takes over and finishes the destruction of our country.

[Mister Ed]

15. K&R for both the OP and the subsequent discussion. n/t

[H2O Man]

16. Thank you!

[crickets]

18. Same. Kicking it back up. nt