Perhaps people should say they won't buy Bolton's book unless he testifies. Would that work?
6
I'm sure once Mulvaney starts to get fined for refusing to appear, Trump will personally pay Mick's fine out of pocket. That's just the kind of guy Trump is. Always looking out for his staff.
4
Ok, whiplash in the WH.
Chief of Staff, Mulvaney does a 180 and decides not to file lawsuit against Trump and changes course to comply with Trump's order to defy all subpoenas.
Yep, that Mick Mulvaney... he really is his own man. Or... did Trump make an offer Mulvaney could not refuse?
5
Note to Mr Mulvaney.... when you hear comments like "there is no distance" between you and #DavidDennison, listen closely. The next sound you will hear is the back up warning of the bus they will be throwing you under. Remember that time in 2016 when you described #JohnBarron as a “terrible human being”? That may have been the last time you were truthful and right about anything.
4
Dissention among the Trump administration personell is no surprise since most if not all joined Trump's team for their own selfish reasons and/ or outsized egos. If they had a ' Northstar' and a selfless devotion to the Constitution, there would not be this dissention and disloyalty to their sworn oath to the office. Trump not only has a penchant for selecting the worst but it seems only the worst would align themselves with a man of Trump's ilk.
6
Well, one things for sure. If American voters re-elect Trump in 2020, then it's pretty clear we will deserve every bit of chaos, dictatorship, more wealth transfer to the ultra-rich and god-knows-when-the-bombs-will-start-falling that we are going to get. Four more years of Trump, and American democracy will be forgotten history, as if it never happened. Our children and grandchildren will not weep when we pass.
4
I'm not sure whether or not Trump consciously understands his own limitations. But, I do know that whether or not it's conscious, he has learned to be as successful as he can be, by trial and error plus the dictates of his integral narcissistic personality. How? By running his businesses - and now the country - by promoting "a toxic stew of personality disputes, policy differences, political rivalries, ethical debates and" fundamental rifts amongst those who work for him.
This works for him, as much as anything can given his narcissism, ignorance, belligerence, and fundamental incuriosity, because all the resulting noise both hides his own faults and allows him to fake being in control. People think he's playing three dimensional chess because, hey, who could possibly endure such seeming chaos all day, all the time, and be as successful as Donald Trump?
It works for Trump because he is an agent of chaos. When you purposely sow it, of course, you're the one who can most easily benefit from it. If you have the appropriate skills. In Trump's case, that skill is a high degree of con artistry. But imagine if Trump was truly intelligent, learned as only those with high levels of curiosity can be, and able to curb his worst petty instincts, while remaining an agent of chaos. He would never step on his own con. He would anticipate more and react less. He would be able to generate real loyalty instead of mere loyalty for convenience.
American democracy wouldn't stand a chance.
5
@Barry Williams Trump is not playing 3D chess, he's playing 2D 'Hungry Hippos'
1
Wow--didn't politicians used to wait until an administration was out of office before publishing tell-all books?
3
Only in Bizzaro world could Bolton become a patriotic hero by taking down Trump. We're hoping.
4
@Rich
Don't bother. Seriously.
1
Bolton needs to shave his mustache and glue the hair onto the parts that will give him some courage and sense of duty to the country.
5
I have no sympathy for either of these two men; they are fighting for chairs on the deck of the Titanic.
They are either looking to avoid criminal prosecution and soften their exit with a book deal or lobbying job.
They have both been enablers for far too long to come away looking clean, so now it's time to try and sneak away while minimizing their time in the line of fire.
Sadly for them, they don't realize how quickly they will be thrown to the wolves by the current administration, the moment they display any disloyalty. We're a week away from Mr. Trump saying he never even met them.
4
Democrats seem to think that the impeachment hearings need to end fast. If so, I doubt many republican voters will change their minds, and I doubt many republicans in Congress will feel a need to reconsider their loyalty to Trump.
I think the American people would love to get Bolton, Mulvaney, Pompeo, Barr and yes, Trump, answering questions under oath, under penalty of perjury. I would rather have court decisions that Trump must release his tax returns, and have the investigation look into all suspicious behavior by Trump over the course of his presidency. There is the appearance of so much corruption and I think the American people deserve to know the truth (even if the truth is not what many of us expect). I think Democracy will fall if our elected officials are not held accountable.
5
The palace intrigue is always proportional to the madness of the king. And this palace has been a flaming dumpster of disfunctional intrigue since day 1 and will grow even hotter until either the king or the country explodes, or both.
3
I wonder if Mulvaney is beginning to realize that Trump is going to make him the fall guy, along with Sonderland and Guiliani. Namely that the Ukraine bribery conspiracy was rogue, and that Trump had nothing to do with it. The evidence doesn't support this, but we know Trump. He abandons everyone. Like Michael Cohen. And given the House Republican cult-like devotion to Trump, why wouldn't they play along just to keep Trump president?
1
One of the unconscious "traps" an oppositional interaction offers is that the opposition requires a response. The wacky world of the White House is a reflection of the person in charge. It does not require a microscope to identify disfunction, lies, etc.
Simple is efficient and effective. The President is corrupt. Those supporting his behavior are as well. The machinations of those avoiding being identified as corrupt are a natural consequence of trying to avoid consequences.
The question might be what is going on while everyone is looking at the trainwreck? How are judges selected? What is happening to our environmental protections? Is there a rise on "White is Right" and Christians more enamored with wealth than service?" Who is gaining control of the news outlets and the internet information highway? How is our public education system doing? Is our Health Care system doing well? Are prescription drugs becoming affordable? What is happening to our infrastructure? Why are Russia, North Korea and, Turkey so happy with Trump?
While we are distracted the real damage is being done. Do we value our freedom enough to stop watching and start doing? Will we vote? This nation will be defined by how we vote. The great experiment of American Democracy lives or dies in the voting booth.
2
Mulvaney is all alone and in jeopardy, Trump & Company won't blink for him as they did for Manafort. Unless he has something over Trump like Manafort does.
My guess is that Manafort has a pardon card ready to be played if the Trump clan can get public opinion to accept Trump issuing one. A task that is a lot easier than proving him not guilty. Mulvaney is not from the Stone/Manafort genesis of making Trump president, and that should worry him.
1
@Bob
Pardons will come after the next election, if Trump's still in office.
Neither Kupperman nor Bolton work for Trump anymore, so his "order" does not bind him. A subpoena, on the other hand, DOES.
End of story.
4
This country is governed by the RULE OF LAW-YERS. God help us all.
1
@sharon pendleton We could have law without lawyers of course, but then all we would have is police and judges to enforce the accusations. That kind of place is where you would need God's help, because you wouldn't get it from the law.
I suspect that the reason that Mulvaney wanted to be "in" on the lawsuit was so that he would know every word that Bolton had to say and, he, Mulvaney, could take it all back to Trump.
And, yes, forget "quid pro quo" and call this what it is: blackmail, extortion, misuse of public funds, bribery, intimidation, ransom, slush fund, coercion, shake-down or just a plain ole putting on the squeeze.
"Quid pro quo" sounds so...... innocent, yes?
"Extortion" .....not so much.
4
This administration is like a high school clique society, packed full of full of toxic rivalries, with Trump as the Queen Bee stirring it all up.
Made for dysfunction and regular failures on the part of Trump’s businesses in the past, is quite lethal when it comes to administrating the country’s business.
No wonder it’s unable to really accomplish anything, except wasting taxpayer dollars on Trump’s grifting and rallies.
Thanks, Trump voters!
1
Trumps gift to Putin, the gift that keeps on giving-
hire an amateur with corrupt intentions for president and this is what you get -
"the Trump White House is a toxic stew of personality disputes, policy differences, political rivalries, ethical debates and a fundamental rift over the president himself. "
so many resources caught up in trump's presidential mess -
Putin ; enemy of the state ; is winning, again and again and again...
2
The cabal put together by the current occupant of the White House is nearing the point of devouring each other. History will harshly judge those who thought that they could work for, perhaps even control, this horrible man, for he tarnishes everyone who comes into contact with him. Haley, Tillerson, Pence, Kelly, and many others will rightfully wear the stain of association with the most corrupt president ever, and the next most corrupt, probably Harding or Grant, aren't even close. The Donald won this one hands down, and we all know how much he likes winning.
2
What a great bunch. Scary to think these men are running the country. Let’s get rid of them all in 2020.
4
Very sickening to see how American policy & Americans are held hostage by people like Mulvaney, Cipollone, Bolton, etc. jockeying for power within the Trump White House
Really need to drain that swamp
1
It all sounds like the court intrigue of a monarch who’s inherited the title, whose brain is weakened by syphilis and whose mental instability reflects inbreeding. It is not what we are used to: a president and those he surrounds himself with have respect for democracy and the Constitution. It’s what happens when Putin picks the President.
3
This lawyer, that lawyer. The legal profession is the big loser in the impeachment battle as any thinking person can see that the opinions and positions taken by the various lawyers are little more than highly paid self-serving lies. What a waste of talent.
5
I've watched Mulvaney through the press for quite a few years now, he seems to have burned through multiple government agencies with maximal obnoxiousness and hostility and bad feelings in his wake.
So it makes perfect sense such a rotter would end up at the right hand of Trump, helping Trump be horrible, and then giving us the admissions of crime with "Get over it." So brazen, almost refreshing. "Yes, we did the crimes, Trump extorted Ukraine in a shakedown, so what?". Mulvaney just blurted it out and confessed. Wow, and oopsie!
I hope Mr. Mulvaney has a good legal team, because his aiding and abetting crimes, it looks like the Trump crime family are poised to throw him under the bus to save their own skins in what's coming. I won't cry if Mulvaney goes down, he seems like a thoroughly horrible person.
15
Can anyone think of a more toxic work environment than the current White House?
14
I would feel sorry for MM but he knew what he signed up for. MM is appropriate - Mickey Mouse
6
Mick Mulvaney has two choices:
1. Testify to the House, implicating Donald Trump.
2. Take the fall for Mr. Trump.
Trump will throw him under the bus regardless. He would be a fool not to choose Option 1. He will likely end up in prison otherwise.
9
Easy.
Testify as subpoenaed or get the Susan McDougal suite.
Next?
2
Do you think if you or I received a subpoena to testify, we could give them a finger and have nothing happen to us? I didn't think so either.
8
By his words and his actions, Mulvaney is coming across as a not-very-bright guy.
6
IT IS A SUBPOENA NOT AN INVITATION TO BRUNCH.
Sorry, I felt that needed to be pointed out. As much as I am skeptical of the sitting Supreme Court's ability to render an impartial an apolitical ruling on this, they need to jump to it and get this matter settled. Like yesterday.
14
If Bolton is so principled, when he became aware of the “drug deal” extortion of Ukraine, why didn’t HE blow the whistle?
7
Maybe he did.
3
Pam Bondi? The same Pam Bondi who let Trump Foundation off the hook for $25K?
6
Truly a swamp, growing by the minute.
4
It sounds like the inmates in Camp Swampy don’t know which way to turn, so they will eat each other and the king of Babble loves it all. When will Ken and Barbie join the fray? How about the Mooch, come on get into it Mooch.
Talk about a soap opera, sure hope it’s not renewed!
5
@George In a number of news articles the Mooch has been reported as having called Trump’s behavior traitorous and suggesting that he should be impeached and removed.
Looks like Mulvaney is the odd man out. Careful what you wish for. MM knows where Trump buried the bodies.
3
Pam Biondi? Yikes! That's like having Kelley Ann Conway as your lawyer. "Yes,there are a lot of alternate facts."
4
Our White House . . . "snake pit" central. -C
3
Yo know the nation has bottomed out when the likes of John Bolton is looking like a hero.
13
sounds like Mulvaney should be worried about finding a horses head in his bed one of these mornings.
3
I think they need to get Bolton to testify, and take him up on his offer. It sounds like Bolton is willing to prove his honor and shed light on the Kremlin infested executive branch.
1
SIDEBAR:
Barr, Cipollone & Giuliani … A law firm?
No.
In a 'more perfect' world …. an 'alphabetized' row of inmates in one corner of a federal prison's "Hall of Shame" (Lawyers Wing).
4
@Thomas Murray Barr, Cipolione Giuliani Esqs. is a firm of scofflaws
Oh the palace intrigue!
I believe this calls for a moment of Shawshank Redemption - if not also a trial for A Few Good Men.
6
@Andrew
Which "Good Men" are you speaking of? I can't seem to find one in this line up.
4
For once I respect John Bolton, not his ideas, but his distance form the stooges (Mulvaney among them) of this administration. And someone in office from Texas says this is now worse than Trump's daily behavior. Yes, that is probably correct, as stated in this article, however then it is also possible instead as the Texan seeks to absolve Trump, I would say if he were not so intellectually lazy or just plain immoral too he would understand "why impeachment on this issue is relevant." The governance in this country by this President is the worst I have seen in any government in my lifetime. And in such a short period of time. The Republican defence is completely without courage or fairness.
19
The chaos and dysfunction in the White House is running away with itself. Am I the only one who finds it difficult to keep track of all of the lies, factions, back-stabbings, etc. in the White House? Who's on first, no, Who is on second, etc.
25
I suspect Bolton knows where the bodies are buried but does not want to go down in history as one who ratted out the president of the United States. He is seeking legal judgment to force him to testify under threat of a subpoena and make it appear that he has no choice. Although his motives are not pure I grant that he had the foresight to stay away from Mulvaney's and Giuliani's drug deal. It would be deliciously ironic if he ends up appearing to be the ethical player in all of mess.
18
@Josiah
What bothers me is that Bolton, along with others, may have witnessed unethical and illegal actions by Trump and have remained silent. I have a hard time thinking Bolton, Tillerson, Kelly, Mattis, and McMaster are ethical.
1
Guys, I’m confused. Who‘s angling for whose job? Ugh. Here‘s an idea: Get a copy of Mr. Mulvaney‘s pay stub and see what he‘s actually being paid to do and by whom. Get Kurt Volker‘s, too, while you‘re at it.
8
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at those waxing poetic here about John Bolton’s ethics and patriotism. That he has failed to come forward at this crucial juncture and tell the American people what he knows merely affirms what we’ve always known about him. He’s a deeply partisan, self-serving war monger with no respect for at least two of the institutions at the core of our democracy - congress and the UN. He is no longer in the employ of the executive branch. There is no basis for executive privilege. This lawsuit is nothing but the petulant foot stomping of a grumpy old man.
30
It's probably unrealistic to think the internal warfare could come to blows, but that would actually be my preference. I'd even go for the cinematic drama of pistol-shooting at 20 paces and "Fire!" Maybe Mr. Trump would consider bringing it back. It wouldn't make him look like a fool for firing yet another Chief of Staff. It's possible, of course, that two fatal shots could take care of Mr. Mulvaney's lawlessness, and silence Mr. Bolton from hawking a deadly tell-all tome about the madness within the West Wing.
Just THINK of the RATINGS, Mr. Trump!
2
This soap opera with mulvaney, bolton, and the other sycophants is a joke. While they divert our attention with their buffoonery on stage, trump and his cronies are chipping away at the health, welfare, and happiness of every other living being on this planet with callous disregard.
I hope we collectively fix the mistake that is this administration by Nov next year at the latest, the earlier the better.
8
Democrat establishment types, the military industrial complex, neo-cons, and Never Trumpers unite. Their leader: the arch neo-con war hawk John Bolton who has publicly advocated for an offensive first strike bombing against North Korea and Iran. In other words, their leader, an unreformed war monger, presently yearns for wars that would kill millions if not destroy the entire world. In other words, he makes Trump look positively sane and level headed in comparison.
@Kali Going to work for the two worst presidents in history will never make you a Democratic leader. Democrats are intelligent and fair minded enough to notice that once every decade or so someone on the other side of the aisle can be on the same side of an issue as they are. In the case of Bolton, one can give him the benefits of the doubt on Ukraine. Then again one might also look at possible motives of settling scores and self preservation.
Even though he's no longer part of the Administration Trump's people are still afraid of Bolton.
1
Totally normal. Is this infrastructure week?
4
I love that even though he’s literally asking a judge to let him testify against Trump, Mulvaney knows he can get away with it because Trump is so unintelligent that all Mulvaney has to do is write that the motion is somehow “suing House Democrats”
3
So we are going to report that Trump has accused the Democrats of releasing “doctored” transcripts of the testimony of witnesses appearing before the joint committees, but that no house Russian Republicans have joined in that unsubstantiated nonsense. Never heard the not transcript phone call summary referred to as “doctored” despite indications on its face and from LC Vindman that it was highly doctored. Funny that.
2
In a nutshell, Dems focus on fake impeachment for the next 1 year, Senate votes against impeachment, American people tired of Democrats playing games instead of doing things for America, Trump wins again in 2020.
1
Bolton and others have referred to ”a drug deal.” How come no one, including media, has explained what this is all about.
1
@Norm
It's a metaphor.
1
Mulvaney revealed himself to be flustered , defensive, mediocre, and weak with "Get over it." And petty as it is- his suit fit very badly.
2
Kupperman's lawsuit is now irrelevant. Mulvaney still works in the WH; Bolton doesn't. It's incredible how this administration does not understand how the law works.
3
One thing is clear enough to me. There is no Leader sitting in the White House is there? Wherever it might be the buck is stopping it ain't in the Oval Room is it?
John~
American Net'Zen
2
Deceit does not form a foundation for general agreement. It is natural for people who worked for Trump to fight among themselves, because loyalty is no substitute for reality. Eventually none of them will go along with Trump's lies. The White House more resembles the House of Medici now, minus the competence.
4
I know of two books I will not purchase, Nikki Haley's "With All Due Respect" and John Bolton's yet untitled book.
10
Wow, some convoluted legal maneuvering going on. My question is what happens when we get to the Senate?
Assuming McConnell doesn't short circuit the trial, will Bolton testify there? The others currently refusing? Would it then be up to chief Justice Roberts to rule on whether they must testify? What sanctions, if any, could he place on them?
4
@Jack Toner Please. McConnell is going to let it sit near the trash can along with everything else sent over by the house.
Chief Justice Roberts will rule that you just can't do this to a Republican, and the Senate doesn't have to bring it up.
Given that Trump has yet to show any degree of loyalty to any other human being (except, perhaps to a blood relative) combined with the fact that anyone who works for him must show 100% loyalty to him at all times regardless of his actions, how can anyone expect anything but incompetence, chaos and confusion in the White House?
At the beginning of his term there may have been competent people in his cabinet who did not yet fully realize all the implications stated in the above paragraph or chose to remain in office despite them.
But now anyone who works for Trump has to be aware that there is no job security - none, zero - and therefore anyone willing to work for him and desiring to remain employed must either not have any regard for pursuing "right versus wrong" or somehow lack the ability to distinguish between the two.
It can come as no surprise that those willing to accept positions in Trump's cabinet are not likely to be highly qualified nor possessed by a large amount of virtue
4
@Richard Phelps Your comment reminds me of the opera Turandot. Everybody comes to the kingdom of the nasty princess thinking they will win her hand. Instead they lose their heads. In the opera world a hero finally succeeds.
But real life isn’t an opera or a TV game show. So in the end in Trumpland, the fat man in the Oval Office has destroyed all of his ambitious suitors and is always the one bellowing “Vincitore” as another career is tarnished.
Now the Fat Man singing for the Senate and being removed would be the best ending to this bad opera, but the chorus of the Republican Sycophants won’t let that happen.
Absurd comment:
"The difference here is that Bolton is not in the WH anymore. He can come forward, voluntarily and testify."
I think Trump is pressing his "executive privilege" argument a tad too far here, but I don't question that it's his argument to make. A government employee may or may not be required to testify about what he or she did while working for the government, but the employee isn't free simply to say: "Hey, I don't work there any more, and so I'm free to talk about what happened there when I did." The former employer may disagree, and a court may agree with the former employer. Here, the judge is likely to come up with some "cut the baby in half" solution, as the judge did in the Harriet Miers case when Bush the Younger was President, but the decision in any even won't be affected by whether the employee still works for the government.
Though this basic point is indisputable, numerous commenters seem not to get it.
1
I'm concerned that the Courts are being used as a cover for people to decide whether to do the right thing. While not a (constitutional) lawyer, I would expect public "servants"/officials to act in the best interests of the US and consistent with the demands of the Constitution (which they swore an oath of allegiance).
That the POTUS refuses to cooperate with the Congressional investigation is his decision. It can be added as an additional article of impeachment. That DJT threatens everyone to fall in line is indeed problematic. OTOH, based on his record of retaining workers, maybe the best thing for those subpoenaed, is to quit before being fired.
If it's easier for them, take a page from the Trump handbook, and announce it on twitter.
2
The difference here is that Bolton is not in the WH anymore. He can come forward, voluntarily and testify. He does not even need a Court clearance.
Mulvaney is not in the same position. He has already said a lot to the Press. Whether he testifies or not, is immaterial. It is unclear what he is trying to achieve.
10
@citizen
Mulvaney: obfuscation, to assist his boss's desperate effort to run out the clock on statute of limitations for crimes he'll be indicted for if he doesn't win re-election.
Bolton isn't yet testifying because he doesn't want to be the spoiler for the juicy tell-all book he's planning to write.
4
Speaker Pelosi was right when she said that an impeachment should not be pursued until there is bipartisan support for such an effort. For all the scandal surrounding Watergate, the House did not make clear that it would be impeaching President Nixon until many Republicans in both Houses has abandoned him. The Republicans made the mistake of a partisan impeachment of President Clinton. Not only did they fail to convict him in the Senate but they suffered in the next election cycle as a result. The fact that Speaker Pelosi has allowed this impeachment charade to move forward testifies to the power in fundraising and in voter mobilization of the activist left wing of her own party. My guess is that she knows her party will suffer in the end from President Trump’s partisan acquittal in the Senate just as the GOP had suffered in the end from President Clinton’s partisan acquittal. The skullduggery among Trump’s aids is as old as the Adams men and the Jefferson men fighting it out in the Washington Administration (not to compare Trump to Washington, of course, but to say that internecine warfare in the Executive Branch is old hat). No one will remember the particulars a year from now. What matters is that the impeachment itself will backfire, and given the weak Democrat field thus far likely President Trump will be re-elected regardless of the factual findings of Congressman Schiff and his impeachment crusader allies.
2
@Michael Nixon wasn't impeached, but hearings were held until the evidence was strong enough to get the support of both parties for impeached and Nixon resigned, making impeachment unnecessary. As with Nixon, hearings are being held to consider impeachment, but Trump is doing his best to keep witnesses from testifying.
24
Polls suggest that most people’s minds are set. If so, Pelosi is doing the right thing in pursuing the inquiry given the dramatic revelations already out there.
2
@Michael and there it is! "Trump will be re-elected regardless of the factual findings". I caught a news clip on Trump voters being questioned as to what could move them . The reporter asked if they would reject Trump if he shot a person. Oh, they all chimed in that they must first know why he shot someone, as to whether that might move them away from him! Trump is portraying the impeachment as dems trying to thwart the will of his voters. I see it as Republicans attempting to thwart the rule of law. They really believe that the laws don't matter if they decide they don't.
2
Who is paying for all these attorneys? If Trump had to pay his own legal fees, he wouldn’t keep the courts locked up for years as a way to obstruct justice.
19
It sure looks like there has been an increase in caliber among those participating in the Presidential Circular Firing Squad ;-)
11
We all know, and they know it too, that they will have to go to the stand and spill the beans.
16
All this petty infighting is certain to prolong and confound the critical issue of impeachment.
Is it purposeful or simply the way immoral and unfit officials just behave?
A proper investigation should declare a ban on personal quarrels among participants.
4
If there is any chance of our country defeating Trump, it is only because of the utter stupidity, incompetence, selfishness and corruption of his aides and associates. Their lies are transparent and Trump will leave most of them to fend for themselves, thus making it more likely that it will be, in the end, everyone out for themselves, making it easier to prove their crimes.
20
Hold on. This scenario reminds me of a reality TV show.
@Marianna
The lies are meant to be transparent.
This is well-known psychological operation employed by dictatorial governments to turn reality upside down and break the discernment and will of the people.
This technique and the encouragement of social in-fighting are two common actions of authoritarian governments as Trump desires. Along with his dictator friends, Putin his chief buddy.
It's really weird to be so out in the open and obvious. And that blatancy is also a known mind control approach.
Invariably, this impeachment must broach the subject of treason.
News flash.. Mulvaney trying to join the legal petition is nothing more then Trump trying to put a mole into Boltons post white house activities... and hence try to glean out why Bolton would bother to testify and petition court permission to do so.
28
That was the first thought I had. Great minds think alike and all that.....these guys are so predictable.
3
So to pay for all their lawyering bills these Trumpies are ""writing books". What a joke. Nikki Haley is becoming unbearable with her book promotion. She did recently buy a multi-million dollar home in SC. Giuliani will be next. Ugh!
25
i dont understand the point of this whole impeachment process....because of the Republican Senate. Did the authors of these rules not understand how the two houses could cancel each other out...or was that the intention after all?? Whatever crimes were or were not committed is mute ultimately-- and for the history books. It seems like there were and still are many politicans...ex intelligence personnel...rich men and women who have wanted a piece of the pie Kiev is baking up and many concerns about the US monies paid to the whatever government
Where does it end??? When do we get OUR country back???
2
@Julie
"I don't understand the point of this whole impeachment process....because of the Republican Senate. Did the authors of these rules not understand how the two houses could cancel each other out...or was that the intention after all?? "
I suspect the Authors did indeed want the two houses the ability to cancel, or check each other. But there is an inherent weakness in the Senate being the jurors:
A Senator is a more rarified Congress member. The House of Representatives are the rabble. The problem lies within this classism:
The Rabble are chiefly in competition with the Rich and rarified class. Their gripes are about corruption and advantage by wealth and are the grist of impeachment.
And so the House sends forth a trial for the Senate, where the rich and rarified----and ultimately influential---can end up protecting their sibling who incurred the impeachment.
It's actually a major flaw, and likely this will make itself apparent here. In a sense, it already has.
3
The rats are swimming away from a sinking ship, except for Lindsay Graham and James Jordan. They are swimming towards it.
39
Mulvaney was originally brought in by Trump to do a hatchet job on the CFPB, Consumer Finance Protection Bureau. Word has it he did an excellent job REDUCING the effectiveness of the agency's ability to protect people from predatory banks and lenders.
Having proven his ability to shaft Joe Public made him a likely candidate as chief of staff where he could use his intimidation skills to help hijack Ukraine military aid.
Once again, the rancid stench from the Trump white house seems to spread everywhere.
36
While I don't agree with most of Bolton's views I believe he is a manner of honor, which certainly cant be said about Mulvaney who told Americans on live television that Trump did in fact abuse his office for personal politics and that we should just "get over it."
14
Who There isn't anything going to happen to Trump when this impeachment process is over with! He won't be reelected and he won't be held accountable.
1
I swear to God, New York Times--there is a fantastic, dreamlike quality to the news that comes out of today's White House.
A surreal quality. Like some of the paintings of Dali or Magritte. You rub your eyes. Huh?
"Pressing to bolster his position in the White House. . . . .."
Huh?
Who in his right mind WANTS a position in today's White House? Who in his right mind wants to SERVE Mr. Donald J. Trump--a man incapable of loyalty to anyone or anything besides himself? Who wants to come within a million miles of Mr. Donald J. Trump.
BUT--
--I would gather from this that--yes. Any number of toadies and time-servers are JOCKEYING for positions with this man. Crowding in as it were--hoping to warm their hands at that bright blaze that is Mr. Donald J. Trump and his administration. His calamitous administration.
One could imagine such scene about RMS Titanic--the night of April 14, 1912. "The position of first mate is mine by RIGHTS!" "No no--it's MINE!" "MINE--it's MINE!"
As the iceberg comes lumbering ever nearer--and nearer--and. . . . .
"He can't fire me," your article suggests (referring to Mr. Mulvaney)--"because I KNOW too much as it is."
Well, my goodness! There's a piece of loyalty for you.
Mr. Mulvaney, sir? And you, Mr. President?
In all honesty--
--the two of you DESERVE each other.
More richly than I can say.
I wish you both joy of your mutual esteem and affection.
Live long and prosper.
24
Between Bolton and Mulvaney depositions public and testimonies the order of their appearances matters. Mulvaney has been caught in lies throughout his time as a legislator and DJT administrator. My preference is Mulvaney first. Mulvaney sitting under oath but not knowing what Bolton will testify to may well compel him to make his first truthful statements or most surely should Bolton testify prompt a G. Sondland memory jog.
15
I think I speak for all Americans when I say:
What a train wreck.
We deserve better.
52
Deserve or not, when you hollow out education and celebrate shallow celebrity, this is exactly what you get
@BothSides
Clearly all Americans do not find this situation a train wreck.
Otherwise we would never be here.
This White House resembles a bunch of drunken, meth addled squirrels being shaken in a cage.
And yet, the head squirrel still has an approval rating of 40 percent. What the heck is wrong with America?
45
@Objectively Subjective
Which also happens to resemble Trump's hair.
10
None of them will testify. This is going to be tied up in the courts for many months at the earliest. The House is going to impeach before the end of the year. Mulvaney probably tried to intervene in these suits because he likes the assigned judge. If he sues on his own, the judge will be picked at random.
5
On top of everything else, Mulvaney is obviously grossly incompetent. To think that this would fly is absurd. Clearly, there ARE no adults in the room anymore.
16
I'm starting to feel like this is some middle school social drama. These people have the emotional maturity of pre-teens jockeying for status.
I have a theory that many people sort of stop maturing at a certain point on their life's journey; most as good, functional adults, some continue to cultivate wisdom at they agree, but some apparently never progress beyond needy, grasping, greedy children.
11
Dan, you're giving them too much credit in the maturity department. The average GOP/right-wing emotional level is approximately that of a 5-to-7 year old.
Bolton is a True Believer in the malignant “Unitary Executive” theory, which claims the Constitution gives Congress no effective oversight of the entire Executive Branch up to and including the President. Bolton believes that the President can and should wage war on his own initiative, and only negotiate from a position of domination. Bolton has little common ground with Democrats.
One can imagine Bolton thinking that if this little lawsuit over subpoenas can find its way to the Supreme Court, the Justices might use the “Unitary Executive” theory to quash the subpoenas and put Trump completely beyond the reach of Congress, or accountability, for the Ukraine scandal, and for whatever even more malicious, enraged, destructive, even catastrophic, infantile tinkering he’ll get up to in the future. And Bolton will be the great hero of the right, who sucked the Dems in, to their downfall. Maybe he’ll be President himself. I hope he’s wrong. I hope I’m wrong, and I’m still waiting for someone who knows better to set me straight.
13
@bob
Literally everything you wrote about what the Unitary Executive theory stands for is wrong.
@GMooG It sounded accurate to me. Why do you offer no specifics?
1
@GMooG
Just a quick copy-&-paste from Wikipedia, a quote from John Dean's book "Broken Government":
"In its most extreme form [which Bolton advocates], unitary executive theory can mean that neither Congress nor the federal courts can tell the President what to do or how to do it, particularly regarding national security matters."
1
Excellent. There is nothing more pleasing than seeing the enemies of all decent Americans fight among themselves.
12
Well, not short of actual, mutual cannibalism.
6
When you have an unscrupulous boss, you should not listen to him, no matter what!! Your integrity is above everything. This president has a very serious problem, he’s the kind of when a trem comes, he’ll be happy to be the first one to push you down. Unfortunately Bolton is looking for profit from his book. We should not expect anything from him because he’s a Republican fanatic, and will not favor Democrats giving something that they don’t know yet. We need to wait for his book.
1
Mulvaney embarrasses himself again. What's next - Dancing in a tutu?
9
Mulvaney is Shylock - he betrayed his own ethical standards, his family, and for what? To protect a guilty man who will now throw him to the curb without a second thought?
You can lose your position but you cannot recover from self-emulation. The madness continues.
16
It seems that all the President’s men may be more interested in staying out of jail than it first appeared.
14
When Mulvaney thinks Trump or Pence will pardon him, I'd suggest he look at Manafort and face reality and come clean. Tell Trump you quit and testify truthfully or face a future in a jail cell.
27
@kay
Trump will pardon them all after (if) he’s re-elected.
3
@bob
Come to think of it, even if he's not re-elected, just after the election, if he's still in office.
Mulvaney and Bolton share an extreme opinion of their own omniscience, are extremely self confident and have little sense of compromise. What differs is that Mulvaney specializes in domestic political machinations and Bolton is a world affairs chess player.
3
All the President’s men (and Ms. Conway) are thinking, “Do I want to risk going to prison?” Should I lie for him? What’s in it for me? (Hint: nothing good).
Then they are trying to figure out the best way to not go there (prison). So many lies, who’s to believe what spin? Is this really legal to refuse a subpoena? But, He promises that he’s right and they are wrong! Us vs them! He says we’re great...until we’re not! Then it’s the Twitter version of “The Gong Show”.
The rest is yet to be even more interesting - Wednesday -the heat goes up. Likely to be some historical fireworks then!
Truly, this will make an interesting movie one day.
Sadly, we all have to suffer through this and the damage it is doing to our country.
19
Mulvaney has shot himself in the foot. He realizes this, too late, and is desperate to find any way out of the predicament that he's put himself in.
Alas, that ship has sailed.
21
The most important sentence here is the last one: Bolton and Kupperman are taking no position on the constitutional question of immunity. Bolton probably wants to testify but is playing it by the book so it can’t be said that he acted contrary to Article II of the constitution. I hope he sees his way clear to testifying. It will be hard for Senate Republicans to ignore a conservative straight arrow like Bolton.
16
Trump’s power of redemption never ceases to amaze me. Not only has he made the likes of George W Bush look like statesmen, he almost has me liking Bolton.
34
Mick seems a tad conflicted these days.
5
It’s too late to bail on this sinking ship, Mulvaney, you’re going down with the rest of the rats.
31
Welcome to the world of the mega-rich-NDA-stink-bomb.
These folks are afraid of being sued to kingdom come.
4
Trump tars everyone who goes along with him with a foul rotten stench of ethical and moral rot forever. Mulvaney is just this weeks latest fool to be swallowed whole by Trumpism.
20
Don't kid yourselves. There's no rift...the enemy/enemy/friend adage applies, and these guys have one common focus: Don't give the Democrats an inch, ever, at any cost.
Bolton has had decades of vitriol from Democrats, deserved or not. Don't expect him to lend any hand.
16
If Amb.Bolton has the courage of his vaunted convictions he has the moral obligation to be a public whistleblower. Much of what he knew and said about the Ukrainian scandal are already known. He hasn’t denied the facts and his comments to his staff while in office.
4
I'm interest in what Bolton has to share more than Mulvaney. If Bolton has some substance to offer, that is what we need more than drama from Mulvaney.
6
Come on Bolton, testify. You won't be be breaking ranks since you are already out. Now's your big chance to get back at your old Boss and doing your country a 'huuge' favor in the process. The House should thank you about your pointer on Mulvaney joining your lawsuit.
7
This one is full. Try another lifeboat
79
Love it!
6
@James A
I would call your comment "PERFECT" but the word has been sullied and is currently out for R & R
9
Mick Malarkey desperate for a lifeline reaches for Dolton's, while he pulls it just out of reach while letting out a quietly diabolical laugh. heh heh heh. . . .
(Huge laugh emoji here!)
12
It would be prudent for both of them to consider the consequences of not testifying. And then consider the benefits of being the first one to testify, including the pleasure of throwing the other under the bus.
23
Here’s what I don’t understand after reading this story: it says Bolton’s legal team filed the motion to prevent Mulvaney from joining- and their legal reasoning seems sound.
But Kupperman filed the suit initially to get a judge’s opinion about whether or not he has to testify. Then Bolton joined that suit later but used the same attorney Kupperman did- Cooper is his name?
In any event, why is Bolton filing the motion to prevent Mulvaney from joining, not Kupperman? As the original plaintiff doesn’t Kupperman have the deciding vote about Mulvaney’s 11th hour motion? Please explain NYT!
7
As Bolton says, he did not want "Mick" Mulvaney to POLLUTE his lawsuit. Well spoken. Mulvaney works and has worked hard to support the "Polluter-in-Chief".
15
Probably the only time the administration had come out against pollution.
"In an interview on CBS’ Face the Nation, national security advisor Robert O’Brien, who replaced John Bolton in that position in September, said that Vindman would be leaving his position along with several others as part of a “streamlining” of the National Security Council."
Vindman should be grateful to escape with his life, which I expect is more than can be said for the thus-far anonymous whistleblower. Once that person's name is (inevitably) revealed, that's the end of any reasonable kind of existence for them.
14
Nice try, Mick, didn't work.
5
The Democrats are making a big mistake if they do not subpoena Mulvaney, Bolton and Kupperman and require them to testify -- no matter how long the court cases take. And the same goes for Giuliani. The American people need to have ALL the facts, not just the subset thereof that Democrats may believe are enough to warrant a quick (but ineffective) impeachment.
23
Bolton doesn't need a court ruling to testify, he needs his $2 million advance from his publisher.
11
What kind of parent raises men like this. I’m sure they were taught their ethics in Sunday school religious training.
16
It really is just like watching cockroaches scatter when the light is turned on. This is surely the most despicable set of grifters to ever tarnish the USA. And those of you who think Bolton is ethical and a patriot, let's remember that it's only relative. He was making hundreds of thousands of dollars speaking in the Ukraine and elsewhere at Oligarch funded events. Let's also remember that he said nothing about Trump's quid pro quo and would have said nothing had the Whistleblower not come out. He may end up being of service by nailing Trump with the truth -- I sure hope so -- but it'll be purely in the interest of his own self preservation. He wants to be the cockroach who made it to cover while leaving Mulvaney out in the open to be stomped.
58
No. It is not "Quid Pro Quo" it is "Bribery" plain and simple. Clearly an impeachable offense (along with the other 1000s of offenses/lies 45* has rolled out since Jan/2017).
20
When the rats start abandoning ship, something's definitely not working .....
9
Please stop reporting this as a legimitjnate argument about balance of powers.
This is obstruction of Congress. It is a dereliction of duty by Mulvaney, Bolton and others.
37
Just like mice leaving a sinking ship, you have to scurry to a lifeboat or you'll end up in the water swimming with the sharks!
1
One imagines that Mr. Mulvaney ‘s attorney May drop the other shoe. Now that Bolton has refused this double yoke, his client needs to ruminate on the truth: he very well could be liable of felonies related to obstruction and bribery. Additionally there is no way his position is secure with Trump after this.
7
I wonder why Mr Bolton does not understand that MORE people would buy his book if he testified than if he keeps Mum. I know none of that amoral crew would ever do anything simply because it was the right thing to do, but Bolton’s marketability would likely increase were he to testify and get the eyes of the world on him.
7
Hard to believe that it may be Bolton who ends up the hero in all of this. I'll take it, though. "...didn't want Mulvaney to pollute the lawsuit..." Love it.
9
After the reports that Manafort Flynn Nunes and others in Trump’s orbit shared intel with Trump during various inquiries investigations and trials over the past three years, it would be difficult to trust Mulveny would be a good faith co plaintiff.
12
Bolton may or may not testify. But he is right about this one. Mulvaney has no right to join a lawsuit because he has already admitted to quid pro quo and therefore is not subject to Executive rights. He "must testify". Period. If not he should be treated the same way as a regular citizen - handcuffed and taken to the precinct.
12
There is only one thing to care about at this time; will Mr. Bolton be patriotic enough to testify in front of the American people, just as his staff has done. While I do not share his philosophy, i am counting on his integrity and ethics.
7
@mcb@nj
Please don’t.
7
If they have nothing to hide, why don’t they testify?
29
Maybe worried they don’t get their stories straight?
2
You have to wonder what goes on in his head.
They are right, there is not pro quid pro witch means something like, I will give you this,if you give me that.
No this is extortion, I will not give you what I owe you, unless you do something for me. Holding back what had already been authorized and demanding other conditions not previously agreed to is extortion,and extortion is a felony. This has been Don the Swindlers business practice for years. Contractors agree to a contract, they perform,then he dose not pay, and forces them to sue. They cannot afford to wait for a civil trial and have to settle for less, this is racketeering.
Our dishonest President.
https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-ed-our-dishonest-president/
20
These inferior people are responsible for the downfall of this country. All of them have huge ambitions that do not include the safeguarding of America, doesnt even address any of the problems that Trump and the GOP have inflicted on this country. For example no one is working on easing the tariff burden on farmers.
Bolton took his ball and left when he should of stayed and held a press conference when he was fired and told the world what was going on with Ukraine Mulvaney was a tea party hot head who never should of held a position in any white house with his bigoted ignorant views.
This is a horror show of ignorant white men running around blaming each other and forgetting that they are suppose to take care of the country. Just because you put on a white shirt that doesnt mean you care about the country
Now Hadley on her book tour is going on about Tillerson, Kelly and her being all above the disruptive negative behavior . She didnt stand up for anything either, she to is a coward looking out for her ambitions. This entire administration is all about making money at the expense of the country.
There should be no misunderstanding on why the GOP are not fit to govern its easy because they just dont know how Totally selfish and corrupt
26
One truism in American politics; things always change faster than we think they can. Remember that George H.W. Bush had a 93% favorability from voters in February of 1993 at the start of the first Iraq war. In November he lost his bid for a second term as president.
At this moment, as the public phase of the impeachment inquiry is about to begin, things can change very quickly, and Republican support for Trump can evaporate right before our eyes.
9
@thetruthfirst
Just a correction: the first Iraq war is dated by Google as Aug. 1990 - Feb. 1991.
1
I seem to recall Jim Milkcrate Jordan complaining bitterly during the Cohen hearing about a book deal and accusing Cohen of a book deal and conflating that with perjury.
Here is Bolton with a book deal and not a peep of complaint from Shorty Jordan.
Book deals somehow discredit a person in republican's view.
12
Sure, add Mulvaney to the suit, aka a clown car carrying nitwits who thought working for trump was a good idea.
Or how about this metaphor: Bolton is about to drown in the swamp, so he must be eager to tie a boat anchor around his neck (does Mulvaney sink or float?). Mulvaney has to be one of the biggest nitwits going these days. How could he (or any of them) have possibly known that lying and doing the dirty work for trump would end this way? Wasn't Cohen already in jail by the time Mulvaney signed up as yet another acting something or other?
9
So now it has been revealed that Mulvaney withheld missiles to Ukraine because he didn’t want to upset the Russians. Excuse me ...correction...Putin. Now who really doesn’t want to upset Putin? “All roads lead to Putin”. Ms. Pelosi stated clearly to the president. Truer words have never been spoken.
22
What a world - John Bolton always seemed like the stupidest guy in government to me, and quite evil in his absolute intransigent hawkishness..Now he is our savior..What next!
12
Another delay tactic to determine whether Mulvaney can join the lawsuit? How long will this take to get thru the courts?
4
The headline is sloppy and wrong. Bolton is not a party to the suit and therefore hasn't rejected anything.
1
I think the Republicans on the Judicial Committee should be allowed to request subpoenas for Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson, Laura Ingraham and Jesse Waters. Only they are capable of making the inquiry understandable to Trump's high school educated, evangelical base.
19
If Mulvaney was ever under the impression that his legal stunt would somehow elevate him to the level of Bolton, he is now sadly mistaken. While I rarely agreed with Bolton's positions, he at least stood by them and defended them with conviction. In contrast, Mulvaney's principles will be associated with "yes we did it and we do it all the time," no I didn't say that," and "get over it."
No wonder Bolton wants nothing to with him.
Who would?
22
John Bolton may well end up as the last man standing. He does effectively hold the keys to Trump's jail cell. Ironically, he could become a hero of the left if he uses them to lock the door. So far he seems to be playing his hand skillfully. I only hope that he has a good bodyguard!
11
You must admit the WH has pushed the Syrian retreat to the back pages.
13
It's a rat free-for-all.
8
I am reminded how easily reputations are lost, dignity stripped away by simply working for Trump. Everyone goes out with multiple knives in their backs. Mulvaney should evaluate his long term welfare because some GOP Senators aim to blame him and Rudy for exceeding authority surgically lifting blame from Trump. Rudy preempted that approach with his tweet about acting on behalf of this client the President. But, as Michael Cohen can affirm sometimes you work for Trump and sometimes you don't. A mess for sure. Bolton is no hero he did absolutely nothing to halt or daylight what was happening.
18
Correct: if you work for the Mafia, the cops are going to squeeze you first in order to get to the boss. Henry Hiil did time for Uncle Paulie and didn't rat - but in then end, he spilled the beans to beat a coke rap and ended up in the witness protection program somewhere in the boonies. Paulie and the other wise guys ended up in the slammer doing hard time. I'd sell the film rights.
3
There are some points that ought to be clarified:
1. Some argue that Mulvaney waived executive privilege to the extent that he discussed the White House Ukraine scheme in two press conferences. Executive privilege belongs to the person higher up the chain. Thus, anything Mulvaney or Bolton are asked, under compulsion, or what they say, voluntarily, are subject to being kept confidential, if the President demands confidentiality AND the subject matter fall with the lawful authority of the Executive Branch. The appointee cannot waive the privilege and privilege is not lost when the appointee leaves office.
2. The President does not have a blanket authority to impose confidentiality, upon everything an appointee may say or be asked. Thus, if such an appointee is asked about matters not relating to his lawful authority, the president does not properly have the power to block such testimony.
3. The President can waive the privilege. Waiver may be because he has taken no position or has explicitly waived the privilege. It may also be waived to the extent that he has publicly discussed the matter. To the extent that he has lied, it cannot reasonably be a lawful basis for claiming the privilege since, with some narrow possible exceptions, even the President has an obligation to tell the truth.
4. There is ample room for the Courts to hold that executive privilege does not apply to a credible impeachment inquiry or impeachment trial. We are intended to be a government of laws.
11
If Mulvaney gave up his right Not to speak about the extortion, we hope he'll man up, testify, and get over it.
1
This is reassuring. Knowing the slipperiness of our current crop of Republicans, I’ve been wondering if all of this was an elaborate ploy. At the minimum, it appears Bolton has a spine, a brain, and the vestiges of an independent streak.
2
3 paragraphs into this story and all I could think is when will this national nightmare end? Trump, Giuliani, Mulvaney et. al. have corrupted the good name of America. Please, powers that be, ensure that Trump is NOT reelected in 2020!!
Vote 2020.
13
If the stakes weren't so high with this impeachment it would be amusing watching these knuckleheads all running for cover.
17
The Democrats will be making a big mistake if they don't push much harder for Kupperman and Bolton to testify. Bolton is much better known than any of the other scheduled witnesses and he had direct access to the president - He has the reputation of being a solid conservative Republican. He could be another John Dean and completely change the direction of the expected trial in the Senate. Since Bolton has taken a neutral position on whether he should testify, the Democrats should subpoena Bolton and announce that the White House has 10 days to get a Court Order quashing the subpoena if it can - and the Democrats should also announce that in the absence of such an order if Bolton doesn't show up and testify, he will be held in contempt and jailed until he talks. In the event of a delay caused by a Court Order, the Democrats should continue to push, even it means that Bolton's testimony will be delayed until the trial in the Senate.
6
Good for Bolton. Mulvaney is a saboteur and is still working for Trump's personal needs.
9
If Bolton truly wanted to testify, he could appear before the committee, allowing the president to file a legal action to enjoin him on whatever basis he chose to argue. Then the court would rule.
Bolton, in my view, has made a cynical decision to pose a dilemma for the Democrats. In the end, should he ever testify he still might invoke executive privilege.
His future lies with the GOP. He sees no gain in helping the Democrats, however slightly.
He may reap short term gain. Long term he will evoke Teddy Roosevelt’s words: “I could carve a man with more backbone out of a banana.”
11
Is this anyway to run this country? The World According to Trump.
10
If Republicans are really serious about the impeachment, they should call on Bolton and Mulvaney to testify. I am sure they will exonerate the President. After all, GOP congressmen have nothing to fear since they insist on the "perfect phone call". Let's prove the impeachment is all but a Democratic conspiracy against a great president. Bring them on!
9
Who would have ever believed that John Bolton would become a sympathetic character in thus drama?
Even though he’s an ardent hawk, he’s shown respect for the rule of law.
I’m not holding my breath for Mulvaney, Trump, Pompeo, the rest of the current WH staff...or Giuliani.
Apparently being fired by the President is an indicator of a person of honor.
- Tom
4
A creator of chaos, and the ultimate corrupter, Trump undoubtably put Mulvaney up to this.
24
The interesting thing is that the Congress already has voluminous testimony establsighing beyond a shread of doubt Trump's criminal conduct in using Cingress approved aid as a bribe/extortion tool to compell a foreign power to manufacture or provide dirt on Biden.
No more witnesses neded.
3
Certainly doesn't seem to be any love lost between Bolton and Mulvaney. Mick probably lobbied Trump to get Bolton fired. If they ever testify publicity, it should be riveting.
3
Oh lord, the den of snakes and rats fighting spills out in to light of day...
13
The Mulvaney- Bolton may just be a sideshow. I am deeply suspicious that this lawsuit is ultimately a Trojan horse designed to provide the Supreme Court the opportunity to rule that the despotic "unitary executive" theory is the true, correct interpretation of the Constitution, which would destroy real Congressional oversight of the executive branch, and put the kibosh on this or any future impeachment proceeding, once and for all.
I haven't seen or heard this possibility discussed, and I'd be perfectly pleased to have someone explain how I'm barking up the wrong tree.
36
@bob - Agreed. I have been thinking this is in pursuit of the ultimate prize.
5
@bob if the Supreme Court rules for Trump then be prepared for everyone else to defy a subpeona. Why testify anytime when the big boys don't. The court will know they have in essence destroyed the courts, laws and Congress. And you bet the Mafia will be defying subpeonas left and right. And don't want to hear any whining ignoring subpeonas doesn't apply to anyone but rich people.
3
@bob -- You're exactly right
The Bolton lawsuit is PRECISELY a Trojan horse
Its purpose IS to allow a right-wing Supreme Court to establish the despotic "unitary executive" theory as the correct interpretation of the Constitution
You're also correct such a ruling would destroy real Congressional oversight of the executive -- at least as long as Trump or some other RPB is president
That's where I disagree -- that this would be an "eternal" ruling
Given the corruption of the RPBs in general -- & the Rehnquist / Roberts court in particular --
it's entirely possible to imagine that the court establishes this as the "law of the land",
BUT ONLY UNTIL A DEMOCRAT BECOMES PRESIDENT
At that point, it's equally easy to imagine a bogus suit brought by some right-wing special interest group -- think Citizens United --
that would advance some hoked-up argument that would undo executive dominance until RPBs again occupy the White House
Is this too cynical, too "conspiratorial"?
Consider that Brett Kavanaugh was a militant believer in Congressional "oversight" while on the scandal-seeking Starr Commission during the 90s
Then, during the 00s Rove / Cheney regime, he suddenly decided allowing a president to be subject of a civil suit during his reign was "bad for the country"
The grim fact is the supreme court and rest of the judiciary must now be considered part of the RPB ruling machinery,
and EVERY decision is a short-term expedient designed to advance that right-wing agenda
5
It’s just so incredible to think that just maybe John Bolton - John Bolton! - is the good guy here. Whodathunk?!
3
@Dr if
Incredible is precisely correct, as in not believable. Don’t be taken in by this enemy of peace, diplomacy, and democracy.
7
Please add my name to the list in case I get called to testify. In my near 70 years as an American citizen I still can't tell right from wrong... Mommy, where's my blankie?
13
Grab some popcorn. This one looks like it could be good!
7
Amazing! Absolutely amazing!
Was there EVER such a White House? Was there EVER such an administration? At loggerheads with much of civilized America. At loggerheads with much of the civilized worlds.
And now--the crooks and toadies hopelessly at loggerheads with EACH OTHER. Like those formidable dinosaurs at the end of "Jurassic Park"--flying at each other, tearing at each other. . . . ..
.. .oh, New York Times. When--oh WHEN?--will we be rid of this man? Himself an all-but-acknowledged CROOK--with a whole bevy of CROOKS around him.
One can but wish the House of Representatives God-speed as the labor over his innumerable delinquencies--his staggering record of incompetence.
And I think of these two men--now at each other's throats.
The one filled me with foreboding.
The other with unalloyed, unmitigated contempt.
And Mr. Trump himself?
I'd better not go there.
Remember what we were all saying after nine--eleven? "God bless America."
Now it's "God HELP America."
You listening, Lord?
Lord?
79
Jesse James Trump. And his Hole in The Wall Gang. Robbers, thieves and liars.
10
Jesse James, unlike Trump, had class. He was an honest crook. Trump - not so much.
4
I learned this as a child: "Birds of a feather flock together." It is still true. In law school, I learned it is true for criminals, too.
33
The funny thing about Mulvaney is that although he is in Trump's crosshairs, he is not going anywhere. He is the bottom of the barrel, so no degree of scraping will find anyone new to replace him.
32
@stan continople I am sure there are plenty of toadies out there who would be thrilled to take over as Trump's COS. The only reason they might think twice now is that they would not want to incur any legal liability now that Trump is in the House Democrats' cross-hairs for impeachment.
2
Bolton is not going to do the honorable thing & testify. He got a book deal so he will reveal his "earth shattering information" in the book. Coward & corrupt individual. Can't spoil the book by a big reveal. Can't do the right thing & protect the country from a wannabe dictator.
34
Can someone please explain how members of this administration would have any grounds to sue house committee members? It is not those on the impeachment committee who have committed a potential crime or are obstructing justice! And in the meantime there are plenty of witnesses who are backing up the accusations of crimes and misdemeanors committed by the President and his men...
14
All these leaders are so wrapped up in the shifting impeachment conversations that it appears the U. S. Government is in a total shutdown. There are other things that would be good for the U.S. One suggestion is to pay off the billion dollar debt to the United Nations that Congress approved.
7
Is this really happening? What a creep this Mulvaney is.
19
clearly this has become personal and the long knives are out and sharpened
15
Mulvaney is grasping at straws since he know he is tied to Trump unless he resigns.
15
@tom if he resigns Malvaney knows the Jordans and Graham's will certainly blame him for everything and try to throw him in jail to cover up for Trump.
4
"...the merits of the constitutional dispute before the court...”
No such thing. Mick Mulvaney is trying to piggyback John Bolton's lawsuit so it can appear that he is not abandoning his boss's (the president's) difficulties--as he very clearly is--as this motion demonstrates.
Mulvaney is trying to have it both ways. He blurted out, in his "get over it" mea culpa last month, that the president did, in fact, commit bribery; after all, what else is "quid pro quo," a Latin phrase with which a vast number of Americans are unfamiliar. Republicans know this and employ the term to obfuscate the details of the roiling matter. They have bashed Democrats for years as "elitists" but now turn to an "elitist" legal term that they want to warn MAGA nation away from as being some "deep state" coup launched against a "duly elected president."
Any excuse to muddy the clear stream will suffice. And Mulvaney, out to save his own skin and distance himself from a criminal--if not, for him, an impeachable--offense, is casting his lot with an enemy from the West Wing (Bolton) who, it's now apparent, was fired via tweet, for not going along with the extortion of Ukraine's president.
Who's stupid here?
17
@Red Sox, ‘04, ‘07, ‘13, ‘18
I would bet that DJT never took a course in Latin. We should either
1. stop calling this "quid pro quo", and call it what his base and almost everyone will understand: Extortion, a shakedown, a mob style protection ploy, or
2. Rephrase some good old Latin from Cicero:
"Quousque tandem, Donaldus et Repulicani, patientia nostra?..."
5
Cat Fight. Meow.
5
If Mulvaney manages to elbow his way into Bolton’s lawsuit wouldn’t he then gain access to all discovery associated with the lawsuit? Could Mulvaney’s actual motivation be to supply Trump with information he otherwise has no right to legally access.
79
Who would have ever thought that Bolton would become the hero of the left? As they say, politics makes strange bed fellows.
8
Very telling of the state of the current Republican party if Bolton is considered a hero of the left...
10
@Scott Werden
He’s no hero. He has no intention of helping the impeachment. He may despise Trump and the worm Mulvaney but Bolton believes the President is not answerable to Congress. He’s baiting the Democrats for some ulterior purpose. I had believed that he deeply mistrusts Putin and Russia, but then what was he doing working for Trump in the first place? Either way, though, he believes that he shares no common values or goals with Democrats. He’s a neocon warrior. Schiff & co. shouldn’t touch this weirdo with a 10-foot pole.
3
Seems to be an ever increasing number of people in the Trump administration unwilling to testify.
-If you have nothing to hide ;telling the truth would be so easy and absolve any number of individuals.
-But we don't have that do we .
-There can't be that many " principled" individuals that feel the public has no right to the details of this matter.
-An innocent person wouldn't take this path.
7
I haven't agreed with Bolton much in the past, but am definitely on his side in this case. He and the chief of staff are on opposite sides in this situation. Mulvaney should be on his own.
12
Bolton's lawyer is right: Since Mulvaney publicly spoke about the matter in question by admitting there WAS a quid pro quo, he clearly is not entitled to claim executive privilege in this matter. So it's not just that he "should" comply with Congress' lawfully executed subpoena for his testimony; but that he "must" comply. So now the only question is how come the Congress doesn't use it's inherent contempt powers to compel his testimony?
738
@Pluribus
Great point! I think Mulvaney dug his own grave. Since he publicly admitted to quid pro quo, the Judge will reject his motion, and order him to follow the subpoena and testify.
110
@Pluribus
I think the same logic applies to Bolton as well. Given Bolton is selling publicly his version of the truth through a book deal, Bolton clearly knows and understood that there aren’t any privilege issues here. This is a ridiculous request and wasting court’s time!. The Judge should toss this out, penalize Bolton and compel him to testify under oath.
101
@Sara Yes, Why are those in contempt defying lawful subpoenas still roaming the earth as free men?
117
This whole gang was obligated by the subpoena to appear. If they had privileges to assert, the proper time to assert them is when they are under oath and being questioned before Congress.
Thus, if a specific question or line of questioning broached the Executive (or spousal, or clergy-penitent, or doctor-patient, or attorney-client...) privilege, that is the time to raise it.
And if one of these privileges was not proper for them to raise because it was pursuant to a crime or fraud (the "crime-fraud exception" to many claims of privilege), then they were free to assert their 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination.
10
Despite the crassness, the venality and the menace of it all, this is starting to make me laugh.
7
Time to get out my copy of MacBeth. Oh, how the pot boils.
23
I never thought a well oiled machine, as the president has described the WH, would sound so clunky.
15
Mick Mulvaney and John Bolton deserve each other.
Cheering for one over the other is akin to preferring a scorpion over a spider.
Like choosing between burning to death or drowning.
Why isn't it inherently abnormal unacceptable, unconstitutional and illegal for any American citizen to refuse to testify voluntarily or by a subpoena to an Article I Congressional legislative committee with jurisdiction exercising it checks and balances investigative duties and powers?
17
@New World
Yes. Trump’s charisma, if that’s the right word, is he’s the guy that can say and do the most outrageous stuff and get away with it. Forget about politically incorrect; he can scheme in public with America’s biggest enemy, tell multiple Big Lies every day, violate the Constitution, you know the list — and enjoy absolute impunity for his celebration of infantile defiance. He’s the king sociopath of the age, the Biggest Baby of ’em all. And he’s the role model, not to say puppet master, for all the rest of these creeps. (Tangentially, though not irrelevantly, what on earth does he have on Lindsey Graham?)
4
@bob
What does Trump have on Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio?
Mitch McConnell and Jeff Sessions want to flood the federal courts with judges who will try to reverse the outcomes of the Civil War and Civil Rights eras.
Kevin McCarthy and the House Republicans wants to insure their tax cuts for the corrupt crony capitalist corporate plutocrat oligarch caste and class.
2
@Blackmamba
Yes. The way they mumble this and that and then end up sticking to the most ludicrous party line cries out for explanation. What are they afraid of?
We are all mesmerized whether in horror or delight by Trump's epic performance while in the background the 20th century is being repealed and the new Robber Barons are carving up the spoils.
Pending court case disclosures are a very useful arena for exposing motives and alliances that are otherwise not public.
However,
it must be in the toolbox of both President and House majority, to petition highest priority court dates, for an urgent final ruling, where time is of the essence, and delay is a tactic for overriding facts.
Would House council have the best standing and willingness to petition the high courts to speed this up to the max?
1
Well yeah, of course their interests are different. Bolton wants to testify but needs (or thinks he needs) legal cover. Mulvaney definitely does not want to testify and would probably have to invoke the Fifth Amendment even if he did.
7
If I was Bolton I wouldn't want Mulvaney anywhere near me.
Mulvaney is nothing but a paid political liar for Trump while Bolton is simply an outspoken far right conservative.
You might not like what Bolton says but it will more truthful than anything that Mulvaney has to say or what he imagined he said.
519
@John H I agree. I don’t particularly care for Bolton’s policies but he is not a stupid person. I could never see him involved in any of these “dumb crook” controversies.
47
@John H Watch the Subjunctive as in "If I were Bolton ..." Thanks for your comment otherwise.
19
@John H
Bolton has a 2 million dollar book deal, there is nothing keeping him from being a man and holding a press conference and tell the truth,
I suppose America despite all the money you make here doesnt matter to any of these GOP individuals.
25
I did not always agree with John Bolton, but I respected his ethics. Compared to Bolton, Mulvaney has a diminutive intellect and a disregard for ethical behavior. As others say, can’t wait for Bolton’s book. When a Trump tries to attack him he will look completely foolish to everyone except his most ardent and ignorant base.
261
@Wilmington EDTsion
Which ethics do you respect, Sir?
The ethics of going to war on false premises that got hundreds of our men and women in uniform killed and thousands of innocent civilians including women and children slaughtered?
Bolton is a war criminal. Nothing less. His opposition to Mulvaney or trump does not make him a better man .
56
As I said, I did not agree with many of his policies. But he was ethical in ways Trump and his toadies can never comprehend. People are complex. History shows us that over and over.....
15
@Wilmington EDTsion
If he was ethical, he would testify and not wait to make money on a tell all book. He is self-serving.
30
Mulvaney's delay tactics are consistent with WH’s overall approach to the impeachment. However, it seems Bolton doesn’t have any problems to make money out of his version of the truth through a book deal. However, to tell the same Truth under oath, does he really need a subpoena or court’s approval? It seems Bolton’s priorities are misplaced.
227
@VG Last Friday Bolton's lawyer said that Bolton has many more interesting things to say on the subject of Ukraine and White House/ Giuliani nexus. That may or may not be true and may not be revealed in a testimony to US Congress if that were ever to happen. Nonetheless, it sure is a marketing ploy to ensure that people buy the book for which Mr. Bolston is supposedly getting $2 million.
22
@VG-Bolton is not exactly an upstanding kind of person. Interestingly, he hired Cambridge Analytica to help rehabilitate his reputation/career prospects before Trump did. Also worth noting, Bolton and WH lawyer Pat Cippione, DoJ AG William Barr, Brett Kavanaugh rushed to his Supreme seat, and other Trump supporters all have worked at Kirkland & Ellis. Some of K&E clients include Russian oligarchs, Russia's Alfa Bank, sex slave pedophile Jeffery Epstein, and BP oil in the Deep Water Horizon environmental disaster.
9
@VG
I guess the difference is that in writing a book, he is free to choose what to say or not say and whether or not to be truthful. If he were giving testimony, he would not enjoy such liberties.
7
Bolton wants to blame everything on Muvlaney and Giuliani, and exonerate Trump.
John Bolton is an enemy of democracy, Democrats, and the rule of law.
Bolton believes in the most radical form of Unitary Executive Theory where America is ruled by a right-wing imperial president. Bolton began in politics as an intern in Richard Nixon’s White House. Bolton was livid that Democrats "forced (Nixon) to resign in disgrace". Bolton believes Watergate is about a vastly "overreacting Congress", not about Nixon's abuse of power; he believes Congress has no right to even question presidential abuses of power.
As Ronald Reagan’s Assistant Attorney General, Bolton attacked Congress' investigations into the Iran-Contra affair. Reagan's White House did not invoke executive privilege, but Bolton called the inquiry an "assault on the Reagan presidency" by "radical Democrats", and he vilified special prosecutor Lawrence Walsh as a "wacko".
Bolton found an ally in then Congressman Dick Cheney who also believes America should be ruled by a right-wing president not answerable to anyone, not even Congress.
In testimony before the Senate Governmental Affairs subcommittee Bolton called the post-Watergate Ethics in Government Act, including appointments of independent counsels, entirely "unconstitutional."
Bolton asserted that a president has "unfettered" power, and he "tried to torpedo" any attempt at congressional oversight.
Bolton will blame Mulvaney while killing the inquiry into Trump.
55
@Robert B It really depends on how honest Bolton is. If he honestly testifies to the facts but offers his opinion that Trump can do whatever he wants as president, that's fine. I don't think the American people will agree. But if he alters his factual testimony that is something altogether different, though potentially amounting to perjury depending on how careful he is.
8
@Robert B
A very interesting perspective, and a reminder. Thanks!
9
@Robert B
"Bolton was livid that Democrats "forced (Nixon) to resign in disgrace"."
It was bipartisan forcing that got Nixon to resign. Back then the GOP was far more inclined to believe in the rule of law.
6
Hmm, John Bolton doesn't want to talk to impeachment investigators or at least wants a court to decide the question.
Despite the glee I have watching Bolton battle his former boss and his lackeys, I feel that Mr. Bolton doesn't care about the Constitution.
I guess that's what you get from Republicans these days.
10
@MikeG - He has a book deal and why spill the beans for free in front of the camera when he (and Bezos) can make some money first?
5
I never thought that I would say this about War monger John Bolton.
The only one who was in trunp`s caminet, has some ethics after all.
Can`t wait for the tell all book.
2
@B Sharp I fear you are mistaken. He is defying the constitutional authority of the House of Representatives to subpoena witnesses. What will happen if by some twisted chance (not unusual these days) some twisted judge (not unusual these days) finds that the President has more authority than Congress. BOOM! The democracy dies, and we lose the real American dream.
7
@Monica
Actually, I should have made myself clear.
I was commenting on his action past month, resighing for trump`s unethical and dangerous behavior. Just just before resigning I understand Bolton released the money approved by the Congress but holdup by trump`s quid pro quo condition.
2
It seems exceedingly clear that Mulvaney’s real intent is to obstruct and delay the lawsuit thereby preventing timely and damaging testimony. And as Bolton pointed out he does not share all the same interests with all other plaintiffs. If he were an initial plaintiff there would be sufficient grounds to severe. But as usual nowadays, the depends more on which judge rather than the issues and relevant law and precedents.
6
You can't make this stuff up.
Kick down, and hard, Mr. Bolton.
4
Cowards all, POTUS and his supporters calling to out the whistleblower, yet don't want to hear from the men directly involved on the "most perfect call." Don't count on Bolton to have an epiphany and do the right thing. He's penning his book and waiting on a new paycheck from Fox. This administration has surely set a shameful record of ignoring subpoenas. DOn't look for Mulvaney, Pompeo or Bolton to even come close in doing the right thing for the country. Cowards all. The obstruction charge from the House will unfortunately go unnoticed during the Senate trial. Mulvaney and Pompeo, tarnished, but still able to deflect skillfully, will continue serving only POTUS or themselves, not the public interest.
535
@Robert Peak
Well said!
16
@Robert Peak replying to my own post! " We want to hear from the man who said the barn is on fire(whistleblower); but we don't want hear from the arsonists" said all Rep sycophants
35
@Robert Peak I wouldn't say "skillfully."
5
Bolton has the Trump world in his hands, he's got the whole Trump world in his hands...
12
Its hitting the fan real bad..!
4
Come on, Bolton, break ranks.
Testify, tell the truth.
You don't need the sanction of a court to testify in an impeachment inquiry regarding the president violating his oath of office and threatening US security and the integrity of our elections.
[And you'll still have your 2 million dollar book deal with Simon and Schuster.]
608
@srwdm Yeah, Bolton. Don't think of this as doing the right thing for our country. Think of the subpoena as a great tease for the soon to be released book. Think "marketing" and all of the blood money you will make off this deal!
70
@srwdm
You’re absolutely right. It’s time for Bolton to come clean and spill the beans.
29
@srwdm - Good suggestion. Bolton's book could be even more interesting if he were to write the full arc of the story - from the background and moment when he became aware of the administration's actions in Ukraine to Mulvaney seeking a safe harbour to Trump inevitably spouting off about how he barely knows Bolton and that he was in his role for only a short period of time. Could be a real page-turner.
20
How is it that Bolton has standing to file a motion in the instant case?
1
@George Gollin
Because he was subpoenaed to testify
2
@GMooG
Bolton has not been subpoenaed. He had received a request to testify but was a no-show at the scheduled time.
OK, I've gone through the looking glass. Never, even in my most fever driven dreams, did I ever imagine I would sympathize with John Bolton. It just goes to show you how bad things are when the chicken hawk Bolton looks sterling compared to the inhabitant of the White House. We have sunk so low with Trump.I only hope we can recover our dignity and status as a nation after the cesspool of this presidency and its enablers are fully exposed and removed. It may take awhile.
104
@andy b How sterling is his behavior if he won't submit to questioning?
I think your bar is set too low.
12
Mr. Mulvaney is squarely within the cross-hairs of the investigation, with probably criminal culpability of his own to worry about. This joinder motion seems like a fairly transparent effort on his part, and maybe Trump's part as well, to spy on and, perhaps, undermine Kupperman and Bolton's legal strategy.
Mulvaney's only hope is to thwart the investigation. Bolton and Kupperman don't seem to share that goal.
316
@Justin Spot on.
26
@Justin Agreed, that was absolutely my first thought when I read this. Much easier to rig and sabotage things from the inside.
25
@Justin-I feel kind of sorry for the clueless Mulvaney and worry that he'll be persuaded to become the 'fall guy' as soon as Trump et al can cook up a plausible story for him. Watch out for Mulvaney to be pressured to claim: It was he who held up the $391 million for Ukraine... blah blah blah (plausable excuse). Of course, Trump will have promised Mulvaney: "You take the rap, and I'll pardon you later."
4
As long as these Kilkenny cats claw one another, I mostly don’t care who’s right among them.
15
Back in 2012, Mitt Romney talked about the "takers"; those who free rode on the backs of others. Who knew Mulvaney would be one?!
19
I did, the moment I first heard him speak.....
5
@Brad every Republican is a taker, including billionaires now whining they might actually have to pay their fair share.
7
Bolton is saving his testimony in case Trump tries to throw him under the bus.
14
@George: He is saving it for his book. There is no honor among these thieves!
7
What a stinking mess. I am ashamed of our leaders, many of them elected and many of them appointed. They have irresponsibly and blatantly failed the American people. Trump has created a cess pool of dishonesty, betrayal, greed and narcissism. Many officials have supported his deplorable decisions and frankly, criminal and unconstitutional acts. Many, many elected officials in the Cabinet, Senate and Congress deserve to be removed from office and prosecuted and/or fined for their despicable abuse of the power of their offices. Trump must go... McConnell must go... and many others. American citizens of ALL Political Parties must stand firm and protect our country's democracy from this narcissistic tribe. This isn't a game folks, Russia isn't destroying us... Climate Change isn't destroying us... greed and narcissism is destroying our democracy. The next generation will NEVER forgive us if we don't stand firm. Enough is Enough.
205
@Leslie374
Although it’s worth pointing out that greed, narcissism and corruption are facilitating Russia and climate change and, if things don’t change possibly nuclear war.
18
I guess when you don't have a functioning conscience to tell you what the right thing to do is, you need a judge to tell you.
578
@CW Bravo! You nailed it.
31
Favorite comment of today.
12
@CW : These people are politicians. In that profession, a "functioning conscience" would be an automatically disqualifying disability.
8
The conflict current and former administration officials have between obeying the president's absolute privilege and the congressional subpoena is a false equivalence.
Presidential executive privilege is a limited construction of convenience for the executive. The constitution makes no direct reference to executive privilege.
Whereas, the constitution does mandate congressional oversight and the impeachment power. That implies investigation and the subpoena power.
Moreover, Donald needs a lesson. His blanket obstruction of every congressional investigatory effort, and his stunning legal position that the executive is beyond the reach of the congress or the courts deserve to be slapped down by this arch-right Supreme Court.
But, the House won't wait for the courts to instruct the president and his three-dollar lawyers.
75
@Occupy Government
It is also an unqualified outrage that government officials, elected and appointed, who have all sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution, are outright refusing to comply with congressional subpoenas. If any of us civilians tried this stunt we would have already been hauled off in cuffs.
51
@Occupy Government - they're not waiting, but they should. No matter how long it takes. They need to wait until the courts rule on testimony from Kupperman, Bolton, and anyone else who is subpoenaed and refuses to testify -- including Giuliani. For the sake of expediency, the Democrats are rushing to judgment with their "lite" version of an impeachment investigation that is neither going to remove Trump nor expose the crimes of his subordinates. Sometimes the left is its own worst enemy.
1
@JW - Agreed. And I consider it an outrage of near-equal proportions that the Democrats are not taking steps to require their testimony. For the sake of expediency, they are going to let Trump and his subordinates off the hook when additional evidence could very well provide the evidence needed to make even a die-hard Trump-supporting Senator give serious thought to removing him.
3
It's immensely gratifying watching this crowd all trying to engineer a successful strategy that will simultaneously enable them to: a. Distance themselves from Trump if that becomes necessary; b. Immediately jump back to Trump's side if it seems he will emerge unscathed from all of this; and, c. Protect their reputations and/or stay out of jail.
Good luck, boys!
538
@Andrew Santo
More and more truth will start to emerge as these crooks turn on each other to protect themselves. It can't happen soon enough.
51
Both should testify. We celebrate this Veterans day for those who sacrificed for this Country and Constitution. Both have signed an oath to defend the Constitution agains all enemies foreign or domestic as million of veterans, including numerous times for some. Bolton is a coward and Mulvaney may be a criminal, but both should tell the Congress what they know, or take the 5th and stop hiding in a losing court case.
125
@Newman1979 They shouldn't take the 5th; however, they could request immunity and spare our country from collapse.
14
I can't wait for Mulvaney to testify. I have spent a good part of my career managing developmental aid programs in third world countries. What Mulvaney and Trump may have in their heads is that development loans and grants do, indeed, have strings attached, often entitled "Conditions" or "Covenants" that are commitments by the recipient government to undertake various policy measures as part of the formal loan or grant agreement. All foreign aid agencies have such conditions attached to their assistance, the most well known agency being the International Monetary Fund (IMF). But what Mulvaney and Trump decidedly, and fatefully, do not understand is the concept of using "public funds for private gain." The latter is in no way permissible or legal, most particularly in the impending impeachment indictment of President Trump. No, Mr. Mulvaney, that does not happen "all the time" nor is it something to "get over."
940
@C.L.S.
President Trump pressured a foreign ally for his own political gain.
He's guilty as sin.
P.E.R.I.O.D
166
@C.L.S. & @JM yup. Fingers crossed these parasites are going down.
63
@C.L.S. & @JM May they go down in a manner deserving of traitors.
60
Mulvaney’s ploy makes it more likely that Bolton will let it rip in the impeachment hearings.
59
Bolton, Mulvaney, Kupperman...these are simply worthless people grandstanding for personal gain and recognition in a serious situation that risks our Constitution. Any patriot would step forward with accurate testimony given the circumstances. We can count these three out of that group of people who care deeply about the importance of the Constitution and the path of government in the United States. Perhaps we simply should say that in their failure to come forward at this critical juncture, they have made themselves irrelevant to the future of our country.
480
@James Di Giambattista It's possible that you are wrong as to Bolton and Kupperman. They may want to tell the truth but may believe that they are constrained from testifying by law. I believe that would be a reasonable position for them to take. It's similar to being asked to betray attorney-client confidences--you can't just so because you think it's right.
7
@James Di Giambattista: Add Mattis, Cohn, Kelly, McMaster, Tillerson, and Halley to this list of worthless non-patriots.
45
@James Di Giambattista
Mulvaney must have heard the GOP's plan to make him the fall guy for Trump's withholding aid to Ukraine.
So now Mulvaney wants to "join the Bolton/Cupperman lawsuit" hoping to be ordered by the courts to comply with the congressional subpoena over the president's orders.
But does Mulvaney really want to provide damaging testimony about Trump or is he just pretending...and trying to muddy the Bolton/Cupperman lawsuit to delay these two from providing damaging testimony.
Congress should start the impeachment hearings without these three bumbling idiots.
By week two of the hearings, these three will be tripping over each other to be the first to hand in dozens of pages of damning written testimony incriminating Trump and claiming their own innocence in the Trump's Ukraine extortion scheme.
37
A side show, signifying nothing. Any of these Trump loyalists could testify without court intervention.
175
@David Henry
Yes, they could, but that would be incredibly stupid. Suppose you worked for a company, and as part of your work , were required to sign an NDA about the things you saw while in that job. That NDA says you can't disclose any confidential info. (And it really doesn't matter whether it's an actual NDA, or simply that you received privileged info while in your former job.)
Later, you leave that job. But the NDA still restricts your ability to speak publicly about what you did at your job. Later, someone - the government, or a competitor - sues your former employer, and subpoenas you to testify.
What do you do? If you comply with the subpoena, your former employer will sue you for violating the NDA. If you abide by the NDA, and fail to comply with the subpoena, the other party will seek contempt charges against you.
What you do is exactly what these guys are doing. They go to Court and say, "Court - you tell me what to do, because if I comply with your court order, I am protected."
That's all this is. These comments about, "A true patriot would just testify without court intervention," etc., are just naive and uninformed.
8
@GMooG
What NDA?
2
@SolarCat
Read my comment again. I used an NDA as an example, but also said the same result would obtain if, instead of their being an NDA, you acquired info during the course of your employment that was subject to a claim of privilege, as is the case here.
2
I have never shared Bolton's policies; however, I always though he did what was best for our Country. I hope he comes forth with the truth and helps us get to the bottom of this mess no matter what the outcome is. We are so surrounded by lies it is difficult ascertain what is true.
133
@Philip W: Bolton always did what was best for him. Going to war with Iran or North Korea was never the "best for our Country".
36
@Philip W:
You dislike (don't know how you could "share") his policies yet think he did what is best for the US?
Odd statement.
19
@Philip W
Willing to put what he knows about the Ukraine scheme in a book for millions but not under oath? Sounds as self-centered as anything Trump would do and completely contrary to what is best for this country.
34