Mega-Thread: Impeachment Proceedings & Inquiry of Trump

[For_The_Horde]

Ex-Simpsons writer accuses Republicans of 'Sideshow Bob defense' in WaPo op-ed

Oakley invoked a line from the episode "Sideshow Bob Roberts," which he co-wrote with Josh Weinstein, in which the title character complains that he should not be in prison for attempted murder, rhetorically asking, "Do they give a Nobel Prize for attempted chemistry?"

Oakley, citing liberal columnist Jonathan Chait's coinage of the "Sideshow Bob defense," notes examples of Republicans who've defended Trump by arguing that even if he did seek a quid pro quo with Ukraine, there was no wrongdoing because it was unsuccessful.

"It's hard to believe that the Sideshow Bob defense of Trump will be long-lived, as it fails to stand up to even the slightest scrutiny. It is literally a joke," Oakley writes, noting that Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) drew a similar parallel in Wednesday's impeachment hearing when he asked Ambassador William Taylor whether attempted murder was a crime.

[minteK917]

In any other sane country, that would have been over already. The fact a persident can be proven a traitor and not even face dissmissal is hillarious. Its true America is on the downfall, cant wait to see the end of the century when world power changes, at this point its innvevitable America has become a banana republic for the entire world to see.

[PACOX]

In any other sane country, that would have been over already. The fact a persident can be proven a traitor and not even face dissmissal is hillarious. Its true America is on the downfall, cant wait to see the end of the century when world power changes, at this point its innvevitable America has become a banana republic for the entire world to see.

He ass would have been gone with the loyalty pledges

[Wikko]

In any other sane country, that would have been over already. The fact a persident can be proven a traitor and not even face dissmissal is hillarious. Its true America is on the downfall, cant wait to see the end of the century when world power changes, at this point its innvevitable America has become a banana republic for the entire world to see.

This is gonna get infracted as nation bashing but it's absolutely true. Trump is legitimately making your country look like a fucking joke.

[Benggaul]

This is gonna get infracted as nation bashing but it's absolutely true. Trump is legitimately making your country look like a fucking joke.

Trust me, everyone is aware. Well, those outside of the MAGA circle-jerk, anyway.

[Breccia]

So remember when a Trump associate got drunk and told people he was helping Trump work directly with the Russians to rig the 2016 election and it eventually started the Mueller investigation and now we know he was telling the truth? Ah...good times...good times...

Anyhow, Parnas told friends of his he and Fruman met directly with Trump and Giuliani in December, and were tasked to get Ukraine to intervene in the 2020 election.

Among the many guests who had their pictures taken with President Donald Trump at the White House's annual Hanukkah party last year were two Soviet-born businessmen from Florida, Lev  Parnas and Igor  Fruman. 

In the picture, which Parnas posted on social media, he and Fruman are seen smiling alongside Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Rudy Giuliani, the President's personal lawyer.

At one point during the party that night, Parnas and Fruman slipped out of a large reception room packed with hundreds of Trump donors to have a private meeting with the President and Giuliani, according to two acquaintances in whom Parnas confided right after the meeting.

"Who farted?"

Word of the encounter in the White House last December, which has not been previously reported, is further indication that Trump knew Parnas and Fruman, despite Trump publicly stating that he did not on the day after the two men were arrested at Dulles International Airport last month.

Eventually, according to what Parnas told his confidants, the topic turned to Ukraine that night. According to those two confidants, Parnas said that "the big guy," as he sometimes referred to the President in conversation, talked about tasking him and Fruman with what Parnas described as "a secret mission" to pressure the Ukrainian government to investigate Joe Biden and his son Hunter.

In the days immediately following the meeting, Parnas insinuated to the two people he confided in that he clearly believed he'd been given a special assignment by the President; like some sort of "James Bond mission," according to one of the people.

To Parnas, the chain of command was clear: Giuliani would issue the President's directives while Parnas, who speaks fluent Russian, would be an on-the-ground investigator alongside Fruman, who has numerous business contacts in Ukraine.

"Parnas viewed the assignment as a great crusade," says one of the people in whom Parnas confided. "He believed he was doing the right thing for Trump."

Obviously Trump and Giuliani deny this, but at this point, neither of them could win a credibility contest against a Fallout 76 trailer and a J G Wentworth ad.

[Bodakane]

So remember when a Trump associate got drunk and told people he was helping Trump work directly with the Russians to rig the 2016 election and it eventually started the Mueller investigation and now we know he was telling the truth? Ah...good times...good times...

Anyhow, Parnas told friends of his he and Fruman met directly with Trump and Giuliani in December, and were tasked to get Ukraine to intervene in the 2020 election.




"Who farted?"



Obviously Trump and Giuliani deny this, but at this point, neither of them could win a credibility contest against a Fallout 76 trailer and a J G Wentworth ad.

"Its my election, and I want it NOWWWWWWWWWWWW."

[Dhrizzle]

“The president and perhaps some at the White House have to know that the words of the president weigh a ton. They are very significant. And he should not frivolously throw out insults, but that's what he does,” Pelosi said in an interview for CBS’s “Face the Nation” that is set to air in its entirety on Sunday.

“I think part of it is his own insecurity as an imposter. I think he knows full well that he's in that office way over his head. And so he has to diminish everyone else.”

Nice one, Nancy.

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4...as-an-imposter

[bladeXcrasher]

Nice one, Nancy.

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4...as-an-imposter

He's going to lose it over that comment. Pelosi's shade has been on point these last few days.

[Xyonai]

Nice one, Nancy.

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4...as-an-imposter

Considering how much shit the Republicans flung at Obama for nonsense, I'm kind of surprised it took this long for the Democratic leadership to start getting sassy with Trump's tomfoolery. I guess it speaks for their confidence in the hearings moving forward.

[Zaydin]

This is gonna get infracted as nation bashing but it's absolutely true. Trump is legitimately making your country look like a fucking joke.

Honestly, I wouldn't call it nation bashing at this point and more the truth. The only people who think Trump is making the US look good are the MAGAt cultists who honestly believe that Trump is the greatest president ever.

And if you point them towards polling that shows that respect for the US nose dived as soon as Trump was in office they declare it 'Fake news' and bury their heads in the sand.

[Dontrike]

My favorite part was when they asked to treat tweets as evidence...

That would be because they are.

[Kaleredar]

In any other sane country, that would have been over already. The fact a persident can be proven a traitor and not even face dissmissal is hillarious. Its true America is on the downfall, cant wait to see the end of the century when world power changes, at this point its innvevitable America has become a banana republic for the entire world to see.

Half of America’s political system has dug themselves too deep to give up, essentially.

As I said, the Republican Party is a sinking ship full of rats all trying to push up on the ceiling, hoping it will keep them afloat long enough to sputter into the harbor.

They are, quite literally, pinning the entire future of the Republican Party on the 2020 election, and whether they get off scott-free with their bullshit (which they’ll tout as a victory; in essence, they see themselves as the cool kid on the playground that breaks the rules and constantly confounds the “tattletale” Democrats trying to harsh their cool)... or whether they’re handed a defeat and their party is shattered into a million pieces and they’re forced to pick themselves up and reconsider the nonsense they’ve been quadrupling down on for the past 5-10 years.

It must, for the good of the world, be the latter result.

[Skroe]

Nice one, Nancy.

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4...as-an-imposter

Honestly if Nancy were a poster here, she'd be getting infractions every time she posted.

The amount and efficacy of the trolling she does of the illegitimate IMPOTUS is stunning.

[cubby]

Anyone else feel like Schiff is leading the GOP into a Trap on this Whistleblower thing? He is letting them run this ridiculous parade where they demand to hear the whistleblower, but if they get their wish they may not like it. I feel like this is all a trap, and the Whistleblower may already be planning to testify, and blow the socks off this talking point by being extremely sympathetic and credible.

That's interesting. If the whistleblower's name is already available, then it will come out (IIRC it's been blurted out a few times on neo-con state-run media or their functionaries). Why not set up the hearings to have the last witness be the whistleblower?

- - - Updated - - -

“The president and perhaps some at the White House have to know that the words of the president weigh a ton. They are very significant. And he should not frivolously throw out insults, but that's what he does,” Pelosi said in an interview for CBS’s “Face the Nation” that is set to air in its entirety on Sunday.

“I think part of it is his own insecurity as an imposter. I think he knows full well that he's in that office way over his head. And so he has to diminish everyone else.”

Nice one, Nancy.

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4...as-an-imposter

Whoa. Nancy is bringing out the big guns. Not just calling Resident Trump an impostor, but saying that he knows he is and the only way he can cover it is by attacking others. That is some next-gen shading on her part. I wonder if some of the strategy of the Democrats (and it's clear they have a master plan in play for these hearings) is to get Trump to continue his horrific tweets and make the GOP further question their commitment to his on-going crimes.

Regardless, Nancy is killing it. Fantastic.

[Benggaul]

I guess a lot more people were watching this than I thought...

https://twitter.com/gianabanan/statu...238713344?s=20

Unless that's a very convincing editing job.

[cubby]

Found this fantastic gem of analysis: Fact Check: A List of 45 Ways Trump has been Dishonest about Ukraine and Impeachment.

Great list. The 45 is just a nice touch that will be lost on most Trumpkins.

- - - Updated - - -

I guess a lot more people were watching this than I thought...

https://twitter.com/gianabanan/statu...238713344?s=20

Unless that's a very convincing editing job.

Looks pretty legit. I love the first comment and how she gets shut down. Fucking Trumpkins are just idiotic.

[Benggaul]

Fucking Trumpkins are just idiotic.

Yeah, well, without going too far off-topic, in order for there to be an "average" intelligence nearly half the population must be "below average". Guess which ones voted for Trump and think none of this matters?

[D Luniz]

That's interesting. If the whistleblower's name is already available, then it will come out (IIRC it's been blurted out a few times on neo-con state-run media or their functionaries). Why not set up the hearings to have the last witness be the whistleblower?

- - - Updated - - -



Whoa. Nancy is bringing out the big guns. Not just calling Resident Trump an impostor, but saying that he knows he is and the only way he can cover it is by attacking others. That is some next-gen shading on her part. I wonder if some of the strategy of the Democrats (and it's clear they have a master plan in play for these hearings) is to get Trump to continue his horrific tweets and make the GOP further question their commitment to his on-going crimes.

Regardless, Nancy is killing it. Fantastic.

well, for how long has one of the Trump defenses been "we're not hiding it, so it cant be wrong"
seems Pelosi is taking the some mindset you'd do with a child that just wants to eat only one thing
give it to them, make them eat it till they never can even look at it without feeling queasy

so get your forks Trumpers, cause your meal morning, noon, and night will be Trump's actions on full display, all day, everyday

[cubby]

well, for how long has one of the Trump defenses been "we're not hiding it, so it cant be wrong"
seems Pelosi is taking the some mindset you'd do with a child that just wants to eat only one thing
give it to them, make them eat it till they never can even look at it without feeling queasy

so get your forks Trumpers, cause your meal morning, noon, and night will be Trump's actions on full display, all day, everyday

Fantastic analogy. Pelosi/Schiff and the Democratic leadership have really put together a stunningly effective game plan. Trump being Trump is the worst thing the GOP can have happen.