It's hard to imagine now, but Republicans used to be in favor of obeying the law.
6
Most Americans believe that they can do whatever they wish because the constitution gives them permission....no matter if what they do is moral or immoral, decent or indecent, or right or wrong. With this kind of total freedom the future will have no need of prisons, law enforcement agencies, nor law books. Why? Because if the law allows you to do what you want, then there is no wrong you can do.
Blessed are those who do not see yet believe. To those who believe in His name: who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Remember, Trump's demand was not an investigation. Trump's demand was for Ukraine to PUBLICLY ANNOUNCE an investigation into Biden to smear him.
I suspect that what William Barr's Justice Department edited out of the transcripts of Trump's call with Ukraine is that the public announcement was what mattered to him.
Remember, much of that conversation was edited out by Trump's enabling Justice Department when they provided their "edited" version of it. But William Barr's DOJ locked up the original transcript, which tells us it was very, very bad.
The cover up tells us that it was much, much worse than anything we have yet heard. I suspect there is a lot of erasing going on by the crooks in Trump's White House.
Lock them all up.
8
Refreshing. Thank you, Ambassador Taylor, for showing what it is like to be a real American.
6
If the entire Republican Party was not as corrupt as its leader, Trump, one of the Republican's moral leaders would have told Trump that for the good of this country he should step down.
Of course, there are no moral leaders in the Republican Party anymore. Any Republican who tries to act morally is immediately drummed out of the party and attacked by Republicans. The only way one can remain in the Republican Party is to give their unquestioning alliance to Trump and no crime or cover up of that crime matters.
The best example of this is Susan Collins, who would rather support Trump and get the riches of his billionaire donors than to do the right thing for her country.
Watch Susan Collins to see how the Republicans will act. As soon as Mitch McConnell gives the okay for her to be critical of Trump, she will pretend to be appalled at Trump's actions and probably sternly shake her finger. But Collins - like the rest of the Republicans in Congress - will remain quiet and complicit until Mitch tells her it is okay.
2
@ Average Citizen - Donny spit on me when were we playing on the monkey bars so I spit on Jimmy then Jimmy spit on Timmy then Timmy spit on Susie then Susie spit on Donny.
That’s about the strength of your “argument”.
Good luck when the bottom falls out.
1
Trump called his own diplomats and administration authorities who've testified against his actions "unelected radicals." At least Taylor and the rest have testified under oath. I'd like to see the president, Pompeo - or any of his merry inner band - do the same.
7
How would the Times know this, considering there are NO transcripts and the entire charade is being controlled behind closed doors? I doubt the accuracy of this reporting...
2
@Craig M Good old Craig again..he knows for a fact there is no evidence.
7
@Craig M
Here you go:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/10/22/us/politics/william-taylor-ukraine-testimony.html
Judge for yourself, and by all means get back to us.
12
I observe an atmosphere that resembles the end of the Roman Empire in the West. Back then, there were groups within the empire, as well as foreign generals, who were fighting with each other to better position themselves within the administration. The sad thing is, the empire was still winning battles against its enemies even a few decades before the final dissolution, and yet the end came quickly. A couple of incompetent emperors - remind you of anybody? - and Rome was done. We should be very afraid.
32
Clinton spent her ill-gotten foundation money, which was extorted from foreign governments, on dirt on Trump. The FBI was complicit and Mueller spent 2+ years and million$ investigating the Russian nonsense and found nothing. Clinton may be the queen of the rot but it runs deep and wide among the Democratic party. Take comfort here in your echo chamber but most Americans, including many liberals, are outraged.
1
@Average Citizen
Of course.
This story only pretends to be about an American diplomat in Ukraine.
But AC knows it's really about Hillary.
10
@Average Citizen it is obvious that you have not read the Mueller report. Nor have you read anyting about the investigations that found no wrongdoing by the Clinton foundation.
10
This is nothing but another whistle blower complaint from someone who already had an in for Trump prior to accepting his appointment in Ukraine. His testimony has Adam Schiff’s slimy hands all over it.
4
@Edward —- Whaaat? You make easy accusations but based on what evidence? There is no evidence of anti-Trump hostility prior to his being picked by Secretary Pompeo! This man was a direct participant in discussions with Ukrainian leaders and witnessed the normal channel efforts being subverted.
Talk about slimy hands! Sliming the witnesses seems to be the only defense left to the President’s supporters. I don’t understand how people can mouth such know-nothing apologia.
21
@Edward
Whistleblowers are a separate case given their risk. This guy is reporting as you would normally, as he believes his risk for revenge is slim.
6
@Edward
Being motivated by revenge and being “slimy” are among Trump’s most prominent attributes. Edward’s comment represents another one, the use of projection.
8
This is irrelevant.
What IS relevant:
President Trump won the election and saved America. He was the only candidate brave and smart enough to take a stand against illegal-immigration. He's also the only President for whom the office, in many ways is a step-down from his previous life, and by far, the office has cost him to date more money than all other President's combined, so it's hard to argue political-gain. At all times it would appear the President has simply acted in what he believed was the best interest OF America, and if he believed that JB and or his son were a threat to America, then the President was well within his authority and rights to say and do what he did.
On the surface, and the way it's been presented by the MSM, it IS, initially, a little cringe-worthy. But upon further analysis, it was just another phone call radiating from the tectonic-shift of 11/08/16.
To most people it seems like another witch-hunt and a manufactured-crisis.
What was protocol and precedent is insubordinate to the more critical-issues the President has dealt with daily in implementing his America-first, MAGA policies, which, despite the infinite-criticisms, has propelled America to it's all-time greatest strength, wealth and respect.
The nation would be better if the President weren't constantly attacked and if ALL our elected officials could finds ways to cooperate and enact more legislation to benefit everyday hardworking people:
INFRASTRUCTURE
4
"This is irrelevant. What IS relevant: President Trump won the election and saved America." Saved from what precisely? Might that be honour, honesty, virtue, truth? And does your country really need 'saving' from such things?
39
@Fortitudine Vincimus.
The president has brought this upon himself. Don’t fall for his “I’m a victim” game that he plays nonstop with his similarly aggrieved supporters. He’s playing you all like a bunch of rubes and patsies.
35
Given you are reading the NYT, I applaud your willingness to seek other sources beyond Fox News and other sources that seem highly biased toward the administration.
What I find most curious about your comment is the call out about Infrastructure. The GOP had full control over the legislative and executive branches of government for two years. Infrastructure spending was going to be a bipartisan issue that had an achievable outcome. This clearly wasn’t a priority to this administration - it could have readily gotten something done on that.
16
Using tax dollars for political gain? Sounds like business as usual in DC. When Obama did it for the Democrats, they considered it Constitutional executive power for the good of the nation . Trump was investigating Democrat corruption in the Ukraine, it was for the good of our nation. That it may have secondary benefits for him, that is acceptable practice and business as usual in DC. To make it an impeachable offense- also acceptable business as usual in DC. But it won’t sway the position or minds of anyone. Just a grand waste of tax money on a second rate drama.
5
Did I miss something ? Did Obama seek aid from foreign powers to gain an advantage over his political rivals? That’s what this issue is all about. It’s not business as usual. This is the most corrupt administration. Makes Nixon look like small potatoes.
48
Funny how Trump cultists are so concerned about “tax dollars” as long as they’re not the $110 million plus Trump has spent golfing or the tax dollars he grafts from then public into his resorts or for his kid’s’ personal business trips.
37
@Cousin Greg
Or the trillions he gave away to the super rich that we are left holding the debt on.
31
Everybody is already bored with Ukraine and quid pro quos.
There is now a growing consensus that Biden is failing, and flailing. His son's corruption will dog him forever. I am so surprised that Biden would even consider running now. He looks much older than his years, almost frail, and certainly is suffering from 'senior moments'...
As he scrambles around, he is losing support. I have always liked Biden from way back, but the new Biden is not what I would want anymore. He should resign from the candidacy before he ends up in a hospital.
Tulsi on the Rebound! Cheers for this courageous lady...
3
Except Tulsi knows nothing about economy, health care, education, urban development and immigration.
2
@Max How did you get Biden into THIS story? Or was that just a reflex?
3
So not only was there a quid pro quo, but it had nothing to do with investigating actual corruption; Trump just wanted an investigation to be announced publicly to sow doubt about his likely opponent.
He used the powers of his office not to benefit the United States, but to advance his personal political fortunes. That's the definition of a high crime.
If this isn't impeachable, nothing is.
5631
@M.
I thought perjury was impeachable but Dems proved me wrong about that.
13
@M.
Yep, that would be my own tax money, and money from the taxs of my friends that he was using to advance his own personal agenda. I don't recall giving him permission for that.
451
@M. With your final line you have nailed the entire last three years of the NY Times' lifetime.
47
More partisan rhetoric from our favorite liberal Tabloid.
Desperation is in the air for 2020.
Anything to avoid going against Trump and his great results so far.
1
And Barr and the DOG saw nothing criminal in this? Remarkable. The rot among Trump appointed officials is the greatest threat to the country in my lifetime.
7
Oh, Rick Perry. Has he been served a subpoena? A pom pom of a cheerleader, caught in a quarterback beatdown. I feel a teensy bit sorry for him, but nah. He's going to sing like he's on Mockingbird Hill. Oops.
2
Trump was looking for another James Comey moment to insure his reelection in 2020. He figured that once the President of the Ukraine publicly raised concerns about Joe Biden, it was over for Biden. Trump would have a talking point that Biden wouldn't be able to get around, just like Hillary couldn't get past her email server.
History will show us that Trump cheated to win the 2016 election, and he will do it again if he can.
5
And just like that, the Democrats take control of the narrative...
http://pjlehrer.blogspot.com/2019/07/if-you-want-to-control-narrative-you.html
1
It appears that Trump does not know what quid pro quo means... on the same level as the “phony”Emoluments clause, or the “12 Articles of the Constitution”.
It would be amusing, if it wasn’t such a tragedy.
5
If this doesn't move Republicans in Congress to disavow Trump, I don't know what will. The perfidy and mendacity of Republicans such as Meadows, Gaetz and Jordan is beyond belief - or is it just their ignorance, or do they think Americans are stupid? Hopefully, American voters will see the difference between what they and Trump and his supports say and the facts as presented by non-partisan, unbiased career public servants and understand that Trump and his Congressional enablers are the true danger to the U.S. It is always hard to admit mistakes but only by admitting mistakes can one learn from them. I believe that most Americans and elected officials want a country and gov't that adheres to the Constitution and protects all American's rights and privileges, a country that serves as a model for the rest of the world. America is not perfect, but that should not be an excuse for blatantly, overtly, imperfect, illegal, unethical actions by the government. All Americans, elected aand non-elected alkie, must stand up and tell Trump that this IS NOT RIGHT and WILL NOT BE TOLERATED! Impeachemnt - YES; convicted by the Senate - who knows; defeated at the polls - YES!
2
Thank you, Mr. Taylor.
We do need your testimony to help unravel the curtain hiding the criminality of this administration's doings and lies.
5
How much more does "the smoking gun" need to smoke? Come on, congress, put him out of our misery!
4
Since the House is going forward with this INVESTIGATION process for Articles of Impeachment, (as they should & are charged with the power to do so), they also need to put teeth in the bulldog by also using contempt of Congress charges against those who violate a subpoena, no one in the country should be allowed to be above the law.
7
The last time it came down to one man saving all mankind from sin, like Mr. Taylor’s letter and testimony is purported to be doing in taking out Trump, we ended up with the Catholic Church. Do we really want to repeat the same mistake twice?
"Stephanie Grisham, the White House press secretary, called the impeachment inquiry “a coordinated smear campaign from far-left lawmakers and radical unelected bureaucrats..."
Can even this White House say with a straight face THIS guy is a "radical unelected bureaucrat?"
I guess in the Orwellian world we now live in they can.
4
Trump is running the US as business all right, and he has been perfectly transparent in that. The only trouble is, his business model seems to be the mob. However, his apparent embrace of chaos as a tool surpasses even the mob. “If the President does it, it not a crime” is a heck of a reinterpretation of “Justice is blind.”
Mr. Taylor and his compatriots deserve our gratitude for their devotion to American values of democracy, integrity and world stability. It cannot have been easy. Would that Weimar Germany had had such a hero.
6
William B. Taylor Jr is a true patriot and a hero to our country.
5
He dodged a bullet when the Muller report came out, and had finally found the bouncer he needed at the Justice Department to watch his back, Mr. Barr. Full of confidence but insecure about his chances against Joe Biden in 2020, he fell back to old habits, play dirty and punch below the belt. He just forgot that there are laws that prevent abuse of power and corruption for personal gain from the elected President of the United States.
6
As soon as it is confirmed that U.S. Presidents are NOT above the law, which they are not, Trump will leave, either willingly or forcibly because he will no longer be able to hide his crimes behind the Presidential seal.
28
@C Pierson — IF he leaves, it will be because the crooked Congress, corrupt Dems, Hillary, Comey, Mueller, and fake news didn’t let him do the job that the billions and billions of people put him there to do. He tried, folks; but government’s a corrupt racket, and he’s fed up. Bye.
If it comes to that — and right now, I don’t care HOW he leaves as long as he DOES — he will go on his own self-serving terms. He won’t leave because of a phony thing called the law; nor because he’s disgraced the office and the country; and certainly not because he messed up — he’s never made a mistake, being the smartest guy ever.
(And, oh by the way...he can make much, much more money by being a businessman than president anyway, so who needs the headache?)
Not looking forward to 2020.
2
Behind closed doors for who. If the truth were being sought it would be out in open for all to see and hear with a voice from all constituents. The door of liberty and open dialogue belongs to the voter not the hidden deviousness of a prejudicial inquiry. So far nothing of note has been discovered except for biased innuendos and unsubstantiated claims.
Exactly. Which leads me to believe there is collusion against President Trump! The Democrats know they can’t win against him, so they have to do this secretive impeachment nonsense
If everything’s been hidden from view and that weird door of liberty kept closed, how do you know what you say you know?
1
@JLC
This is the fact-finding stage, like a police investigation when there is evidence of a crime. The public is not permitted to audit police evidence and witnesses are interviewed separately in private to avoid contamination of evidence. It is not the trial. That will take place in the Senate after this phase has ended. The Senate may then publicly interview the same individuals and Trump's lawyers can cross examine them at that point.
3
Looking at the picture of the silver haired Mr. Taylor striding confidently forward reminds me of the latest horse mounted white knight deeming himself worthy to face the evil fire breathing dragon and save the royal kingdom. The trembling onlookers swoon as he lowers his lance and charges full gallop into the flaming jaws of death. Many charred remains remind us of those who have fallen before him but at long last the chosen has finally stepped forth. I’ll be looking forward to his book to follow retelling his tale as well.
1
US Constitution states that these offenses are so aggregious that they call for immediate Impeachment:
1) Extortion of a foreign leader for personal or political gain.
2) Solicitation of a foreign governments involvement in a US election.
3) Solicitation of a foreign governments investigation of a political opponent that violates the civil liberties of that US person.
The United States Constitution states this very clearly -
"NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW"
41
@Benjamin
The GOP base clearly states : They don't care.
And they will vote out any senator who votes against Trump.
5
@gratis Then we Dems & Independents will vote them out. Yes We Can.
10
@Benjamin — You know that, I know that, we all know that.
But to one man, the Constitution is a phony document not worthy of his attention. What we have here is a wannabe strongman/dictator, of the ilk we once sought to defeat.
3
What will it take for the Republicans to wake up?
The actors in this case have committed treason, they are traitors, they should be locked up immediately and removed from office.
This is the real deep state. It’s the private government of the upper echelon‘s of the administration that have co-opted the US government and its constitution for their own personal benefit.
36
This is all well and good, but can we have these hearings in public, please?
1
No quid, no pro. Just a whole lot of nothing. What a total waste.
1
@Edward
"I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters.”
4
'Happiness is a warm gun. Yes it is.' Thanks William Taylor and a nod to Sir John Lennon.
11
Once a world power, the US is now a rogue state that can be bought and manipulated by the highest bidder. The US has been reduced to a country of irrational bullying. This will not change anything. He will be re-elected and will continue this madness to its bitter catastrophic end.
64
@Hobo, agree with all except "he will be re-elected." Sadly, he could be, but it's not guaranteed as long as good people get their/our act together and fight it like a full-scale political war, which it is. We're fighting for the heart and soul of our nation; what greater stakes are there? This is no time to give up and let the trumpists roll over us.
7
@Hobo We have taken on the personality of our Dear Leader. Trump conflates his desires with the country's. His statements make far more sense if you remove the word "America" and replace it with "me". The bigger problem is that a significant number of voters now agree with that worldview.
We are for sale because he is for sale, and an alarming number of people are OK with that.
7
@Hobo
When you investigate Trump, it's automatically a "Witch Hunt!!!". When you investigate Trump's political rival - by extorting an entire nation - it's "perfect" and "innocent."
5
I feel nothing but anguish for our nation. We are finding out we are not the "exceptional nation" we were always taught we are. We are descending into what were once smugly called "3rd world problems". At this point it would almost be welcome to wake up to the news that the military had taken over...
18
@Ed Robinson I have been wondering the same thing...
1
@Ed Robinson No. Worse. We have descended into an idiocracy.
13
Oh for the love of God!
Quit the handwringing. We have a bad president we will have another soon enough- this president is not indicative of the entire American idea.
He is just a criminal.
Pelosi will sort it.
Breathe.
1
Too funny!
Testimony in secret.
No cross examination
No lawyers for the president
No right to call other witnesses
No due process
Democrats are communists
And the media is cheering
Wait til the shoe is on the other foot...
4
@William Rodham Just like with a Grand Jury, the testimony is in secret so the witnesses cannot collaborate their stories. When Trump is tried in the Senate, it will be in public. There is a reason the inquiry is held in secrecy, just like it was for Bill Clinton. Know the law and you'll understand.
34
@William Rodham Next time the feds are investigating you, ask to send your lawyer to the grand jury proceedings and see how far you get.
What House Democrats are doing is standard investigative procedure, and it has been since the dawn of the republic. The president will have plenty of time to present his defense, and to confront his accusers, once he's being tried in the Senate. He will even have a mostly Republican 'jury.'
32
@William Rodham
The inquiry is its own thing. IF the House brings articles and sends them to the Senate, THEN a trial will commence—during which the President and all concerned may provide evidence, cross-examine witnesses, call other witnesses, and so on. The stages of this process—who can do what, and when—are explicitly outlined in the Constitution.
18
Donald Trump is the man behind the idea that Barack Obama is not a US citizen. He pushed that narrative, excuse me, FLAT OUT LIE, for 8 years.
Now we are supposed to believe what comes out of his mouth. "It was a perfect call.....", perfectly illegal........perfectly impeachable.....perfectly against everything the US stands for.....
Impeachment and/or prison are too good for Donald Trump.
370
@steve
Asking a question, privately, and answering it dishonestly, publicly and repeatedly, are not the same. Blaming Democrats for Trump's Big Lie birtherism campaign is beneath contempt.
25
@Trebor Flow
I think it was Sid Bloomenthal and HRC that floated the idea that Barack Obama is not a US citizen back in 2008
2
I do not understand how any Republican—or anyone else—can continue to deny that Trump has flagrantly abused his position, and continues to do so.
From his obstruction of the Mueller inquiry, to his Twitter witness intimidation, to his many lies about indisputable facts, to the Zelensky affair, to the Doral nonsense—this is a president who either wants to be fired or thinks he’s emperor.
2839
@ST Don’t forget market manipulation- insider trading based on what he tweets next.
117
@ST Does the utterance "I'm not a crook" sound familiar? Think back to Nixon and Watergate.
51
@ST
The emperor's new clothes will be an orange jumpsuit.
159
Yawn. If this is most damaging yet - all second and third hand and hearsay - then thanks for boring me once again.
The only interesting piece of information in this whole supposed secret but selectively leaked investigation was the diplomat who admitted that Biden had the appearance of impropriety and that he should be investigated.
7
Stay numb.
34
@Dan
So after the game, the Yankee fans pour out of the stadium cheering and dancing. You say you can't tell the Yankees win because you didn't see it, right?
5
@Dan
So let me get this straight, the POTUS blatantly ignores the Constitution, makes demands from foreign leaders purely for his own political gain and you find it "boring?" Is there any part of protecting the Constitution and America that you find interesting? They have the smoking gun, you're fooling no one but yourself with this spin.
12
It's clear that Mr. Taylor does no like the so-called "irregular policy channel" which included the ambassador to the EU (Sonderland), a special envoy to Ukraine (Volker) and the Secretary of Energy (Perry). Too bad that he's not President and does not get to set foreign policy and decide which people get to carry out such policy. According to Politico, Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election and attempted to help the Clinton campaign...talk about "irregular policy channels!"
5
@Hank
According to at least 11 US intelligence agencies, Russia interfered with the 2016 election.
Which would you believe? Politico, or them?
6
@Hank
Um, you forgot to mention the illegal part, where Trump made the aid to Ukraine contingent on Ukraine investigating Biden.
Oops!
11
@Hank Talk about no evidence. Fill us in on all you can prove for sure. Hannity has to have provided you with more than just bluster. Right?
10
He was with the Clinton state department under Obama. I was sure something was wrong here until I found this. The most corrupt state dept in history.When somebody like this turns on their boss,it's usually an attempt to vindicate guilt from the passed. The state department actions to have Kadaffi murdered by militants who armed by us and then went on to form the Islamist state after the Benghazi incident is the most alarming political coup of modern times. It seems this appointee is running from something and looking to defer blame to something else, typical.
6
Sorry but deflection doesn’t change the severity of this Presidents actions.
8
Ah of course it must be a deep state conspiracy if so many people say the Emperor wears no clothes !
6
Taylor has served in our diplomatic corps honorably for 30 plus years in both Democratic and Republican administrations, and served in our armed forces, too. He was first appointed an ambassador by George W. Bush. To smear his reputation through innuendo is disrespectful, and leads to the further coarsening of our public dialogue. We can do better, don't you agree?
16
Taylor served his country honorably for 50 years, including a dangerous tour of duty in Vietnam Nam, while our president is a draft dodger. Who do you believe?
90
@Mary Ann
Exactly! I would trust the one who had my back in Vietnam than the one who sat at home with a trumped up heel spur or whatever “medical condition” he claimed!
2
@Mary Ann
In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king. That's now Bill Taylor.
The world needs more William B. Taylor Jrs and fewer Donald J Trumps.
5
Pelosi 2019!
3
Why does the Times feel compelled to include quotes from liars such as grisham and meadows.
3
@libdemtex
Inclusion of their comments in juxtaposition to the testimony given to Congress merely points out that Trump supporters (Meadows) and spokespersons (Grisham) have no grounding in reality or ethics
1
REALITY: testimony sounds like nothing more than
an opinion
Trump withheld funds to Ukraine so they would start an investigation in Biden's son.
Biden withheld funds to Ukraine so they wouldn't start an investigation into his son.
I would call that a quid pro quo draw.
@Dino Reno
--First of all, there was no investigation into Biden's son
--Second, the investigation into Burisma was closed, maybe inappropriately, but closed
--Third, the request/demand was to remove the Investigator who was known to be corrupt and who wouldn't investigate corruption by Burisma and other entities
--Fourth, Biden didn't withhold funding, he was speaking on behalf of Obama, the EU, World Bank, IMF policies
So, Trump=quid pro quo; Biden=NO quid pro quo. Result=Trump criminality
1
As a taxpayer I am mad that Trump thinks our funds are his personal monies. And really angry that funds allocated for security purposes were his plaything. Impeach and remove now!
4
We need a new book to reflect today's Republican lawmakers. Borrowing from John Kennedy, may I suggest "Profiles in Disgrace"?
4
This Stephanie Grisham character who describes Taylor as a "radical unelected bureaucrat(s) waging war on the Constitution" has not yet stepped into the spotlight and held a press briefing. Until you do that, Steph, i.e. do your actual job, stuff it.
3
I thought the transcript was the "smoking gun"? The lies and second hand info is egregious. Trump 2020.
1
What Trump is doing indicates a level of disrespect for professional people in government that exceeds that of Ronald Reagan and that's saying something. Reagan went out of his way to mischaracterize government as trouble for all. Trump and his cronies are going out of their way to make trouble for anyone in government no matter what. This deliberate undermining and morale destroying behavior will ensure that, just as in the 80s under Reagan fewer young people entered government service, fewer young people now will enter and that many more talented, experienced, and knowledgeable people will leave.
Governments usually want the best and the brightest in their workforce. This administration is actively discouraging people from staying or joining. Who wants to be part of an incompetent administration? No one. Trump is a one man advertisement for all you don't want in a leader. To top it off, instead of ceasing he continues. He is a danger to this country and ought to be removed from office.
5
The astounding part is not what Trump did, by now we should expect no better. But how many have willingly participated in this scheme or aided in the cover-up - Pence, Pompeo, Perry, AG Barr, get over it Mulvaney, to name just the top echelon. And the republicans in the house and Senate who still show no shame in their support of the con Don. They do not even attempt to argue the facts, just deny the facts that are in plain sight, and parrot "No Quid Pro Quo", as if that washes off the stain and the stench from this swamp. No president in US history has turned MAGA to Make America Corrupt Again so fast.
Throw the bums out of DC and lock them up for good measure.
4
Watch the spineless Republican response to this clear proof of Presidential treason. Senators, Congressmen, aides, staffers and anyone in a position to put a stop to this high crime all parrot the Trump line. "Move along, nothing to see here", they say to the crowds gathered to stare at the burning wreckage of America's leadership of the world. If faced with Nixon-style tapes of the President ordering a quid pro quo in so many words, their approach would not change.
Every single Republican in Congress, with the exception of Mitt Romney, will hold on to Trump for dear life until the moment that they all decide it is better for their political careers to throw him under the bus. After that, the end will be quick.
Republicans in national government are a swarm of worker traitors surrounding and defending the queen bee traitor. They are opportunists, willing to sell America down the river in exchange for a job. They were put in office by a minority of the electorate that would rather see the country reduced to a smoking ruin than share power with the majority. They should all be thrown out, their leaders jailed and the rest brought before a Truth and Reconciliation commission. We'll need one of those before this is over.
5
Impeachment is a slow process....as it should be.
The House is proceeding in a thoughtful manner and with each witness or new document more truth is revealed.
The key is really making the Republicans comfortable in voting to convict the impeachment by the House.
There is no hurry to do this. As more and more evidence comes out it will just make defending Trump more and more difficult.
Patience and persistence.
Even the Republicans know you can only fool so many people so much....in the end...the truth will prevail.
Again...every single interview by any Democrat should start with:
1. All we want is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
2. Those who are innocent provide both documents and witnesses to support their innocence.
Now to answer your question
39
Not sure what it would take for Republicans to admit that Trump pursued a quid pro quo agreement. Even if Trump directly told Zelensky that he would not give the money unless there was an investigation, Republican would say he didn't say 'quid pro quo', so it wasn't quid pro quo.
1
A real estate jock behaves like a loan shark regardless of whether he is on a TV show or in political office. That much should never be in doubt just as birds fly, donkeys bray and dolphins swim.
What is in doubt though is whether a morally bankrupt political entity will actually rediscover the backbone and spine to hold the incumbent accountable or whether it reverts again to an arithmetic game of electability.
Mitch McConnell might do well to recognize that the more machinations he invents to hold on to a thin Senate majority that the more likely he is to make his party irrelevant 10 years out.
Somebody on the Senators team ought to remind him that America is getting more diverse, not less. With diversity comes discourse and improvement.
So does Mitch want in or out?
5
The corruption is the use of taxpayer funds (Trump's salary (even if he takes none, he is living rent free in the WH), office expenses, travel expenses, the Ambassadors' salaries, living expenses, office expenses, etc.) for private personal political advantage. Keep in mind this is money even Trump supporters worked hard for and dutifully paid as taxes. That money isn't going to advance our infrastructure for the future; we're paying for a madman. Argue if you will back and forth about "quid" and "quo." The crime is that it is your tax money that is paying for Trump's criminal enterprise. That is why Federal civil servants are turning on Trump; they honor a code of conduct to be faithful stewards of the people's money. Trump's does not.
4
What we have here are two instances of quid pro quo.
The first is the hiring of then-Vice President's son Hunter in exchange for the realse of funds by the Obama Administration to Ukraine.
Next we have Trump's push for an investigation of the aforesaid Biden hiring also in exchange for the release of funds to Ukraine.
Clearly there is wrong-doing by the parties involved in both instances.
2
@MIKEinNYC
Ah, no.
Biden is not the issue here.
3
You have it wrong, the Biden job had NO quid pro quo issues, that’s a distorted fabrication of the facts. Trump on the other hand committed a blatant and disgraceful request of the Ukraine president....a clear example of quid pro quo.....
3
@Bill
Do you actually think that Hunter Biden would have been hired by the Ukrainians if his dad wasn't the sitting vice-president? That his dad was the sitting vice-president was his only credential!
1
The one plus side, is this also the end of Joe the Nepotist.
His stance that his nepotism is good and ethical because there is no law against it, his son saying that this time if daddy is elected he won’t do this again. If there is nothing wrong about it, then why say you won’t do it again?
It’s wrong and unethical, but legal for the Bidens.
Do we really want another long time Washington insider in the WH who will be hounded by the Senate and the GOP for years to come over his mistakes over the past 40 years, his nepotism and eventually you know some one will show up saying he molested her or he paid out money or …
Both of them are cooked. Trump took out his main enemy, but might have taken himself out as well in the effort.
President Pence has a ring to it I guess.
It appears that Rudy Ghoul-iani is providing “aid and comfort to our enemy in time of war.” If Ukraine is our ally then this description should be valid.
The enemy being Russia. You can also count Russia’s cyber war against us... it may be equally or even more dangerous to us than a “hot” war.
The above statement in quotations is the definition of treason. Rudy is selling us out, as is Trump and all his co-conspirators.
They must be tried and as evidence will show, convicted for treason.
5
Trump can scream "Witch Hunt" all he likes. He's guilty and we can prove it. Impeach the tyrant and his lackeys and elect honest, smart patriots who actually understand their responsibilities, our Constitution and are loyal to the COUNTRY and not self-serving.
Crooks and lies are not permissible in our Democracy. Dump Trump, Barr, Pence, Pompeo, Mnuchin, the rest of the "Cabinet" and all Trump appointees and obstructionist, lying Republicans. We can do SO MUCH BETTER!
6
So we wait 2 years while Mueller (a staunch Republican), 40,000 attorneys, $40 million, and a 19000 page report does nothing but this lone CIA agent writes a short paper and everything thing blows up.
1
@ronnyc
You can't count (40,000), you can't add ($40 - recovered assets) and you can't remember the 34 indictments and eight guilty pleas.
Which lead to this set of investigations.
3
@ronnyc
Ridiculing Mueller report is sport in GOP world.
The real world goes like this my friend.
Nixon registered in history as a crook.
Trump will be registered to history felon, thanks to Mueller and House impeachment.
But you are expecting apprentice like spectacle.
History is not a spectacle,
3
No matter the spin, there is no accusation that President Trump had any interest in fabricating evidence in l’affaire Ukraine, which has become a democratic specialty.
The Russians never will rest until the Ukraine is under their thumb. I am not suggesting appeasement, but be prepared for what the Russians do best.
Americans should disabuse themselves of pipe dreams and fairy tales, and mix idealism with a healthy dose of realpolitik. We also should realize that the reunification of Germany, which was achieved with a he blessing of the United States, was the prelude to the Second Cold War.
@J.Jones
So, Faux Newz et al is now making "fabricating evidence" the talking point of the week claiming "there was no accusation....that Trump had any INTEREST" in that?
Talk about irrelevant diversions and distractions.
Here's a better one: There's no accusation that President Trump had any interest in fabricating evidence in the unification of Germany in 1871, which has become a regressive specialty as prelude to the falling of the Berlin wall.
That makes about as much sense as you do.
@J.Jones
Well, just to start: So you believe that ten minutes of dialog are the whole truth of the 30 minute phone conversation?
The key word with respect to the investigations demanded is "public." If Trump was sincerely interested in simply rooting out corruption, he would not demand a public announcement of an investigation. Investigations of wrongdoing are generally not publicized prior to their initiation, because it would enable targets to destroy evidence and disappear from sight.
Ukraine does not owe Trump anything, and the aid in question was not Trump's petty change kitty to spend as he wished. It is taxpayer money appropriated by Congress.
It seems that Vladimir Putin, Viktor Orban, Mick Mulvaney, and Rudy Giuliani were all trying to turn Trump against Ukraine to further their own self-serving agendas.
4
Having read Mr. Taylor's opening statement, it is inconceivable how Republicans, led by the likes of Mr. Meadows & Mr. Jordan can claim without winking or laughing, that there is no there there. It's one thing to protect the president from what they perceive as partisan attacks but it's another to lie to their constituents, the nation, and curiously, to themselves.
8
Mr. Taylor is everything President (bone spur) Trump isn't. After attending West Point, he served in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division and survived extensive combat. A true hero in every sense of the word.
5
First Trump strong arms the Ukraine to concoct an investigation into his rival.
Then Trump strong arms Ukraine to concoct the findings he wants against his rival.
Since the president was so clearly willing to break the law to do the first, we can fairly assume he'd do the second. If we don't stop this guy, neither will he.
3
Whoops.
I heard a Republican congressman saying that this is not as bad as Watergate.
This is worse. Rather than using domestic agents to obtain information on political opponents, President Trump and others sought foreign assistance.
Quid pro quo is there, although this is not at all necessary for impeachment as some have claimed.
I fear for our democracy and it hangs in the balance.
It may likely go to the Supreme Court. Looks like all of the strict constructionist / originalist justices may have their bluff called as the President has violated exactly what the Founders feared.
4
Quid Pro Quo indeed.
Donald could not avoid that if he tried.
2
What is probably occurring now is the Koch organization, and the "deep state" neocons are privately having conversations as to how to cut their losses. Trump is merely a "rental" to them. He nominated the list of judges they handed him, he signed the massive tax cuts, and now he has become a liability to the "brand". Their calculations will include dumping him, and looking "good" in the process so their 2020 losses will be minimized. They will just have to contain the damage the vindictive trump will try perpetrate on their treachery. Yep,trump is toast.
5
John Bolton has been mentioned repeatedly in the testimony of witnesses before the intelligence community. He cannot be disregarded by Republicans as a left wing careerist. Will he come forward and testify, will he be John Dean, or will he sell out everything he has claimed to believe in so he can cash in as a Fox contributor?
3
Meanwhile Fox News leads with quote that this testimony was demolished (without stating how) Quite worrying how a large section of Americans are living in a parallel “reality” of alternative facts.
6
I guess lying, cheating and stealing, fabricating, extorting, inflaming and dividing are the new norms for the President of the United States and the Republican Party. Please save us from this.
5
Oh for heavens sake will the NYT ever get it right? Trump wanted Ukraine to make stuff up about Biden and his son. Trump had no interest in an actual “investigation” of corruption. If he did, he wouldn’t need a fake and slimy Secretary of State, Giuliani to conduct a shadow agenda.
3
There are ample grounds to impeach Trump for treason as defined in the Constitution. Let members of the GOP state publicly why Russia is not an enemy or North Korea . (Trump saluting their top General).
The list of situations where Trump put Russia's interests ahead of the US along with his top aids is endless. Hungary and Russia have encouraged Trump to undermine Ukraine as a struggling democracy fighting Russia.
Even Iran is now benefiting from Trump's actions in Syria.
All the Democrats need is for John Bolton to publicly testify and it will be obvious what has occured.
IMPEACH FOR TREASON NOW!
5
Apparently, a testimony from Mr. Taylor, who was in the phone calls and text messages are now what Trumpistas call as “hearsay” — the very same people who are ok with Trump’s “a lot of people are saying” stupidity.
Republican pretzel logic at its best.
28
If, for time constraints, you can read only the Times reporters' story OR the opening statement by Envoy Taylor, cut straight to Taylor's letter. It lays everything out in clear detail.
My conclusions as a reader: A presidential candidate touting "America First" and drivel about "making America great again" in fact is shaping a foreign policy to benefit Russia and hurt the United States. His slogans would have more truly been characterized as "Make Russia Great Again" and "Russia First!" Hence our withdrawal from Syria and hence our president's shameful behavior with Ukraine.
We've been bitten by our own dog.
20
Most corrupt President and WH administration EVER! How anyone can go to his rallies to listen to his incessant whining is beyond rational thinking. Holding Trump accountable to the same laws and standards as every other president that had come before him is not a "witch hunt" or "lynching". It's the right thing to do FOR America!
18
In the comments below all of Trumps supporters are desperate now and in denial there hero/villain is not a criminal and traitor to America. He needs to be jailed and impeached . Get your heads out of the toxic cloud your in and Take time to learn about future corrupt GOP candidates.
11
Call and Response:
Emperor Trump? . . .
Has No Clothes!
Repeat:
Emperor Trump? . . .
Has No Clothes!
Repeat . . .
7
Donald, you should resign now, before you completely decompensate at a press conference, where the Cabinet will have no choice but to 25 you.
10
Apparently the President doesn’t understand Latin. He’s just a business man who expects to get what he’s owed before he gives something...
8
“I’ve been in there for 10 hours — I can assure you there was no quid pro quo,” said Representative Mark Meadows, Republican of North Carolina. “I can tell you there is not [sic] evidence that there was any condition placed on the aid.”
Mr. Meadows, your stubborn refusal to consider any wrongdoing by Trump raises these possibilities; either you have your fingers in Trump's corrupt pie with some future pay off in sight or you are just plain stupid to ignore the mounting evidence, much from Trump's own mouth, of his violation of his pledge to honor and protect the constitution.
23
@jhbev Thanks for this comment exposing Meadow's corruption. Perhaps Dan McCready would be the man to kick this guy out of the Senate.
8
@jhbev — I hope at some point they all get backed in a corner where they will be seen as enablers at best and co-conspirators at worst. I wouldn’t mind a thorough housecleaning of the White House and the GOP, though. To dismiss all of this damning evidence out of hand is dereliction of duty, also an impeachable offense, or one worrhy of censure.
But Trump, I think, needs to watch it. He appears to have put words in McConnell’s mouth concerning McConnell’s impressions of the Ukraine conversation, a discussion McConnell denies remembering. Do we really think that McConnell will become a martyr for Trump if push comes to shove? Do you think he’ll rush to the rescue of those of his colleagues who do?
2
@just Robert
sorry, just Robert. Meadows is my representative in the House.
And a vain, hypocritical piece of nothing for his constituents, courtesy of gerrymandering.
5
What a sordid cast of characters led by a depraved ego maniac that has been preoccupied raising 2020 campaign funds since his inauguration. That alone leaves him open to influence of US policy domestically and internationally. Three years of obstruction, at present extortion and silence or defense of this sorry excuse for a President exists. The Republicans can never wash their hands of the bloodshed the Kurds will suffer. It is perpetual midnight in America not dark days.
12
Trump's use of US power in regard to aid to Ukraine and corruption was not any different than Biden/Obama and many US administrations. It was Biden's son's profit from Biden's activity in Ukraine that was corrupt. Trump was pressing toward the truth and facts about how his campaign was attacked via Ukraine and other foreign governments aiding in seeking material for illegal FISA warrants of the Comey caba;'s actions to undermine Trump's campaign and presidency.
1
@Peter
Sorry, the Trump White House itself knew it was a crime.
The Republicans might have been able to bluff this out if they didn't commit a second crime to cover up Trump's first crime! They hid away the transcript and pretended it was top secret instead of incriminating to the President.
Too bad. And too bad the lie that "quid pro quo" was necessary if you commit a crime came back to bite Trump. Trump never thought anyone he hired was honest enough to tell the public what the quid pro quo was. Oops! Not only did Trump commit a crime, but the White House cronies committed a second one to cover it up.
11
@Peter If you remember President Obama went way out of his way not to become politically involved with digging up dirt on Trump during the past election. There are ways to obtain investigations in other countries and Trump using his presidential power to intimidate other countries is not one of them.
2
Lies and deflection. Biden isn't the President now.
3
Netflix —- make a film using Mr. Taylor’s 15 page statement, and stream it. Perhaps then the entire country, and not simply NYT readers, will ‘get it.’
9
In the campaign leading up to the 2016 Elections, Hilary said to Trump, "You want to be a puppet to Putin". Trump replied, "NO, no, you are a puppet (repeated twice)".
--------
What is coming out in the news these days is that president Trump is not only a Russian puppet, he totally sold out to the Russians. North Syria is a place where the United States invested billions - working with faithful allies, the Kurds to drive out ISIS, created stability in the area. Keeping Russian influence from spreading. And, then in one conversation with Erdogan, Trump gave an order caving in to Erdogan and Russians. Today Russians have taken over all the territory U.S. held only a few days ago. Russians took over all our equipment. Trump did all of this for no strategic reason. Only brought absolute shame to the American people.
------
Why didn't the U.S. Army High Command countermand the order and protect the honor of this country?
8
So, if Sondland knew all this, but denied that there was a quid pro quo in his testimony to Congress, shouldn't he be prosecuted for perjury?
15
@S
Haven't you heard? it's not quid pro quo unless you actually say the words "quid pro quo" while doing it. You know, like you're innocent of murder if you don't scream "murder" while murdering someone. Those dopes in the movies always yell "this is a bank robbery" when they rob banks, and that's why they keep going to jail. They'll never learn.
1
Trump should be on a rocket headed towards Elba where he will build the Trump Elba.
5
So what the heck is going on here? Now we have the smoking canon and we still have trumplicans telling us there's nothing there. Get real!! When trump gets impeached he may not get convicted by the trumplicans but the American people are not deaf, dumb and blind. If they do not convict the American electorate will convict ALL trumplicans who did not vote too convict. Simple arithmetic 40% does not equal a majority.
8
The ambassador, Mr Taylor, referred to enough documents that we can be sure some of these will eventually surface.
Meanwhile, the president's defence is "it's not what it looks like." If it really isn't what it looks like then the Justice Department and the State Department will undoubtedly be able to produce documents and witnesses that show that the Ukrainian aid was being delayed for a proper reason and that they were undergoing the proper process to resolve that matter. So far there doesn't appear to be a shred of evidence for that version of events, though.
Then there's the ridiculous "you don't have the authority to investigate me" line. Clearly Congress has not only the authority but the duty to hold the president to account and to investigate potential abuse of office.
The only thing that leads me to believe President Trump will survive this inquiry is the fact that Republican officials (with the notable exception of Mitt Romney) appear to inhabit an alternate universe where they can just ignore the whole thing and as Trump has put in considerable effort to undermining trust in the press he can dismiss all reporting of exculpatory documents and testimony from credible witnesses as a conspiracy against him and somehow millions of Americans believe it.
6
One person’s “radical, left wing bureaucrat” is another person’s man of integrity.
I do so hope that the truth and courage shown by these officials win out over Trump and his lapdogs in Congress. At any other time, such evidence of scandal and wrongdoing would become even too much for the most stalwart partisan to defend — but in these times, I really can’t be sure.
At any rate, we’re finding out who is still loyal to this nation, its laws, and its integrity.
Thank you, Mr. Taylor.
11
I like to think congress is getting very relevant testimony leading up to the supreme court case requesting the actual telephone transcript that is now residing in the white house secret server. This is analogous to Nixon's tape. When that happens Trump will defy the supreme court and then we will truly have a constitutional crisis.
4
When will this nightmare end? Trump and his cohorts have created a Bizarro world. No wonder those super hero movies are raking it in. Everyone is hoping those characters are real and can save us.
4
The hatred of all things democrat by Trump supporters and the GOP and their absolute desire to win at all costs. allow them to ignore any offenses by president Trump. It is as simple as that and the reason impeachment will never get beyond first base in the Senate, but emotions can not over ride the rule of law. If it does then we are finished as a democratic nation.
5
Who are the true American patriots? It is the people like Mr. Taylor who have dedicated their careers, their lives, to serving this country, out of the public eye
5
They are not trying to investigate anyone. They're trying to get them to frame biden fraudulently. I don't know why this point keeps getting lost in the coverage.
9
All of these news stories miss the big picture.
It isn't just that Donald Trump wanted to smear his political opponent and demanded that a foreign country concoct an "investigation" targeting him, but that Trump and his top administration cronies have lied over and over again to the American people about this.
The Trump administration - including Attorney General William Barr - were so certain of Trump's crime that they ordered a transcript of a phone call improperly locked away to cover up that crime.
It isn't just the crime. It is the cover-up. It is lying to the American people over and over again.
Forget the quid pro quo. This is a President who appointed an Attorney General who would cover up all his improper attempts to use his office to manufacture dirt on his opponent. Trump should already be impeached and the Republicans insistence that the Trump administration should be allowed to hide evidence of Trump's incredibly inappropriate efforts to extort a foreign country to help smear his opponent is appalling.
7
Did anyone notice all of the ‘evidence’ presented was second hand at best?
Or am I just a stickler about hearsay?
@stan: Taylor was there, Taylor spoke to Sondland and Pompeo, Taylor was the highest-ranking American official in the country. Does not sound secondhand to me.
15
Read his opening 15 page document. Doesn’t sound like second hand account to me
4
@stan
You are saying that US ambassador in any given country is actually a second hand man for US policy.
That is rich....
Mark Meadows was in the room for all 12 hours and said there was no direct link between Trump and blocking aid to Ukraine. Where is the direct evidence for this link? The Taylor report is full of interpretations of who-said-what-to-whom by Taylor, but contains no direct evidence of a direct Trump blockade of aid.
1
This is not just a political quid pro quo. It is extortion.
1
The playbook is clear by the day. Collude with Russia by messing with Ukraine national security and at the same time gain an upper hand on the political rival, two birds one stone. Not only WH is completely compromised, it is also deeply corrupted. Now the strategy is to deny, lie and shift blames. Well it seems to be working on some gullible supporters or equally corrupted, unfortunately.
2
Let’s not forget that once again, Trump’s foreign policy decisions always seem to be favorable to Putin’s government. Why is that? The House Committee needs to obtain all records of Trump’s conversations with Putin.
13
William Taylor, right man,right place, right time, an American Hero. Thank you!
31
Time for Mr. Trump to resign by citing his primary need for spending more time with his family!
16
Here are the crooks: “I’ve been in there for 10 hours — I can assure you there was no quid pro quo,” said Representative Mark Meadows, Republican of North Carolina. “I can tell you there is not evidence that there was any condition placed on the aid.” And -- The Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, refused on Tuesday to confirm Mr. Trump’s claim that the senator had described his July call with Mr. Zelensky as “perfect.”
We must hold these criminals in congress accountable for aiding and abetting a crook: Donald Trump.
They have turned on its head the United States experiment in democracy.
We are now, officially, a tin-pot-bannana-republic led by the GOP and MAGA.
Once we led marches to oppose Nixon and the Vietnam war. Now is the time to once again rise about the partisan politics and put these GOP leaders out of office and take them to court.
We have true heroes. For example: William B. Taylor.
31
I would like to see Trump, and his long list of accomplices put in their own "Public Box". Rikers Island comes to mind.
How any republican in the House or Senate could defend this behavior is most puzzling. My own senator, Lindsey Graham has shamed his State in the name of his constituents for political expediency, and has forgotten his words of condemnation concerning obstruction of Congress when he excoriated Bill Clinton during impeachment proceedings. His old friend and mentor Joh McCain wouldn't recognize him.
Et tu Lindsey?
33
@Yakker
The GOP base does not care. They still support Trump. Any GOP Congressman votes against Trump will not be re-elected.
2
I should have noticed that something was up when trumpf started talking about quid pro quo. That is a pretty sophisticated phrase coming from a man who can barely string more than three or four words together.
Trumpf could only have learned about
quid pro quo from his legal team as they tried to cobble together a defense that would
28
How can any Republican, or Americans of any political party, continue to deny Trump flagrantly abusing his position and oath of office for personal gain? A brief listing of his offenses includes:
• obstruction of the Mueller inquiry,
• Twitter witness intimidation,
• constant lies about indisputable facts,
• the Zelensky phone call demanding election meddling,
• violating the Emoluments Clause by “selecting” his Doral resort for the G-7 summit .
Trump is a president who either wants to be fired or thinks he’s emperor. Neither is good for America. As more information about his Ukrainian extortion is gathered from the House inquiry, polls are showing a rising percentage of Americans demanding he be removed from office.
Congressional Republicans cannot ignore results of the House inquiry, otherwise they’re proving they care about their political party more than what’s best for America. Vote complicit Republicans out of office in the 2020 election if they fail to uphold their Constitutional oath of protecting America from all enemies, foreign and domestic.
25
@Question Everything
The GOP base does not care. Part is racism. Part is pure hate of liberals (Limbaugh). Part is tribalism.
GOP Congressmen can ignore anyone they want.
6
The fact that Pompeo wanted to keep Taylor from testifying strongly implies that he had guilty knowledge about Trump’s treacherous plan. Impeach them all.
39
@Deutschmann
Pompeo didn't want to be shown up by a West Point grad with actual combat experience. Pompeo was a glorified quartermaster on the safe side of the Berlin Wall. Under-qualified for CIA, under-qualified for State.
Who are you going to believe? A West Point graduate with nearly a 50-year diplomatic record of service to the nation or a man on record for telling thousands of lies since he's been in office? Except for lying hypocritical Republicans I think the answer is clear. In the end Trump will destroy the Republican party, and Republicans would have no one else to blame but themselves.
38
The opening statement's chronology is extremely telling, however, more telling is sub-subtext, of which I'm not even sure that Mr. Taylor is aware of.
Who was pulling Trump's strings?
21
We Americans need to thank the Bill Taylors in government for their service, their honest and caring service.
23
So Trump continues his accusing others of the the things he did playbook by invoking the word 'lynching.'
Many bullies in history have done this, of course, but there are true believers still believing in him though tells us how regressive America has become. Or at least part of America. And the Republicans? Moscow Mitch suddenly has amnesia about some of his conversations with the POTUS.
From the historical perspective though, Montgomery, Alabama just elected its first black mayor. So, maybe there is still hope for America as a whole
13
So Republican boot-lickers like Mark Meadows says it's no biggie for Trump to extort from Ukraine an announcement of an inquiry into his political rival. They have never stooped lower. Not yet, anyway.
20
“I’ve been in there for 10 hours — I can assure you there was no quid pro quo,” said Representative Mark Meadows, Republican of North Carolina. “I can tell you there is not evidence that there was any condition placed on the aid.” Lickspittles and traitors to the nation and the Constitution. All that's left of the Republican party. They should all be voted out!
33
Honestly, is anybody surprised?
9
Like a true, sad schoolyard (elementary) bully, trump, a Constiturional despiser, complains he's not being afforded its protections.
17
If this person is an examplar of ”far-left lawmakers and radical unelected bureaucrats waging war on the Constitution,”could you please send a few of them over here to Europe? We could also make use of people with a real spine and an appreciation of truth and real patriotism.
18
Do our senators want to side with Erdogan, Orban, Kim, MbS, and Putin or do they wish to stand with Mr. Taylor?
23
Rudy has certainly been quiet the past few days, hasn’t he?
34
Ambassador Taylor is learning what everyone learns when they engage with Trump: he will betray you.
12
When will we grow tired of all of this nonsense? We have all had access to the exact transcript of the phone conversation and there was no quid pro quo. Do you folks need a building to fall on you before you realize that this dog and pony show in congress has no merit. Wake up people!
@DEWaldron - It wasn't an exact transcript but the modified account of the call makes it clear that Trump did exactly what he's excused of. Mulvaney said on air that he did it and apparently has done it more than once.
20
@DEWaldron
None are as blind as those who refuse to see.
24
I wish I could wake up...from this nightmarish presidency!
4
The depth of the sheer self serving strong arming of Ukraine, a struggling country at war, by Donald Trump is a disgrace to the good name of this country .
How can any Senate Republican think this is ok??
22
If Mr. Meadows of North Carolina says that, after listening to 10 hours of testimony he saw "no evidence of conditions being placed on the aid". perhaps he should pull his head out of the dark, moist place where he has been keeping it, and look around. Welcome to the broad daylight, Mr. Meadows.
18
From the perspective of a foreigner: The challenges in your country is not limited to the removal of your deeply ignorant and corrupt president. Removing him would still end with his personal victory, he has already enriched himself to extents never possible without the presidency. Rather, if this criminal is not prosecuted to the full extent of the law, the damage he has done will reverberate for generations. Along with it, the crimes of republican co-conspirators and enablers. Still worse is your de-facto propaganda outlet named fox news. This facory of disinformation may be an even larger threat to your democracy, without which Trump would never have become president in the first place. The total enmeshing of politics, money and special interest in your country is astounding. Trump is the symptom, not the disease.
44
Sean Patrick Maloney Is a representative for New York not Massachusetts.
I’m not sure that there is a better example of pure, distilled bald-faced cowardice and greed than the Republicans in Congress right now. At this point, they unquestionably own own the entire ball of corruption that is the Trump presidency, and they should all go down with him.
17
Okay, for a wild experience, now go to the front page of Fox news. It is an alternate universe, where the top story is an expanding inquiry into the FBI's "mishandling" of Russian influence in the election, and some sex scandal involving a Democratic staffer.
13
The Watergate burglars kept reapplying tape to the door latch that the Security Guard had removed several times. So they were apprehended.
But they are geniuses compared to Giuliani, trump, Soundland, Volker, Perry, Pence.
10
Why is Trump and his enablers still in office?
Telephone the politicians in the House and Senate that work for you and complain
9
Bless this man.
The truth, plainly spoken, may finally set us free.
13
Taylor's primary complaints here seems to be that Trump sidestepped the main diplomatic channels and that Trump wanted to see action on what Bolton (in the main channel) called "reform," i.e., apparently, investigations into corruption including interference with U.S. elections and succumbing to pressure from U.S. officials for personal and familial advantage of U.S. officials (read Biden). It may be in the eye of the beholder, but that record does not offhand seem to be worthy of impeachment or conviction. Plus, there are holes in Taylor's statement that raise questions about how clear this all is.
And then there is the continuing question of selective leaking. Prosecution of a president without the right to confront an accuser, cross-examine the accuser, and contradict the accuser is un-American.
Moreover, purely as a practical matter, I think it was a mistake to leak this statement, and that this leak will result in a more effective defense. The Dems apparently leaked this statement fully because the earlier testimonies before Schiff's committee were apparently confirmatory about Trump's basic, and largely consistent, narrative.
Taylor's opening statement doesn't obviously contradict what Trump said in his communications, for instance with Zelenskyy.
3
Nothing you have said here is true. There are no holes in Ambassador Taylor’s testimony. Try as you might to depict withholding American military aid until a foreign government investigates a political rival as “nothing to see here,” if it walks like a duck and smells like a duck, it IS a duck. Now, if the majority of our elected representatives cannot see this, we are “ducked.” But I have faith that soon enough, enough of them will realize that the person occupying the Oval Office is unfair for office.
11
@Dave Oedel
Your assumption that this is a court proceeding with cross examination, etc. is false. This is a set of depositions. The GOP are in the room, they can ask questions (equivalent to cross-examination), the only power they lack as the minority is the ability to subpoena witnesses. If it becomes a trial, Trump and his team will have that ability.
1
NYTimes posted the opening statement of Ambassador William B. Taylor Jr.
Line by line the story is compelling and somewhat fascinating. What a fine government official.
One day a spell binding film will evolve and the "prefect" narcissist will have a mirrored reflection never to be forgotten.
5
Mr. Taylor’s own growing sense of alarm as he realized that State Department diplomats were being sidelined.”
I try very hard to keep some perspective on what is going on in the USA at the moment.
(1) Ukraine has been a carpetbaggers paradise for Americans of all political persuasions and pure self interest since the USA supported coup d’etat in 2014
(2) The USA state Department played a large part in fomenting the coup d’etat in 2014. It is inevitably connected with the Military/Industrial complex and in many ways serves the Interests of private Business as distinct from the American People.
(3) It is a good idea to sideline State Department diplomats – in particular those who serve the DNC as distinct from the American People
(4) The Russia Hoax, as an attempt to unseat the elected President of USA, originated in documentation tied to the DNC
(5) There has been no serious effort by the Corporate Media to investigate corruption connected with Vice President Biden [and indeed President Obama]
(6) I believe I am watching a DNC effort to get rid of President Trump
(7) If I thought the DNC were better than President Trump I might hold my nose and welcome Impeachment and Conviction of President Trump
(8) I would prefer to see a truly objective process play out in the Impeachment and Conviction of President Trump; where evidence is tested and proven and believable.
1
Americans.
Americans agonise about image.
Images of fruit throwing Kurds directing anger at retreating US troops in armoured vehicles.
A 1960s Look magazine photographer would have captured the image of American camouflaged armored vehicles flying Stars and Stripes disappearing into the dust.
One phone chat between Mr Trump and Mr Erdogan has led to a couple of more hundred thousand refugees.
What nation needs Congressional oversite when Mr Trump is boss?
Defying ancient wisdom such as your Constitution, Congress, subpoena and maligning and sacking civil servants at whim makes America look like an impotent third world failed state.
Sorry to be so direct.
America is rusty but must do better.
13
Republicans are quite slow on the uptake, but one can only hope that when they accept reality they will have the courage to convict on impeachment. The GOP defense to date has been weak and focused on obfuscation, not the facts, which are now overwhelmingly against Trump.
9
Remember when trump and his friends were calling the whistleblower a liar? Despite the transcript confirming everything the whistleblower said. Then they said it wasn’t a quid pro quo, then they admitted it was a quid pro quo. How can anyone justify Trump’s repeated lies to the American public?
14
The GOP is waiting for a transcript of the president directly saying “quid pro quo”, as if that is how is done. I am wondering what more evidence they need? Is this the new standard and “normal” for them to run diplomacy?
11
Perhaps someone should explain the impeachment process to the president - inquiry by the House, then trial in the Senate - he'll get his "legal rights". DJT seems a bit confused...oh wait, normal occurence.
22
@Interested Reader He would not understand it even if you put it into a first grade reader. Look Donald your fired.
1
If you pull back a few thousand feet, it becomes clear that we have an Oval Office occupant who bullies those over whom he has power and cowers before those he doesn't. It's one thing for a weakling like trump to succumb to personal financial failures; his damage is limited. But, for trump to bow before Putin, Erdogan, MBS and Kim makes one wonder: when do his cumulative actions break the treason barrier?
26
Gotta get the biggest bang for the impeachment buck at this stage, because McConnell won’t even let it in the door.
4
As Pelosi said to Maureen Dowd, Trump is “projecting” in psychological terms.
He is the one who is conducting a “witch hunt.”
He is the one whose son is “stone cold crooked.”
He is the one who is “corrupt.”
He is the one who is committing “treason.”
On some level, he knows it.
That’s why he is so stentorian about it.
By saying it loudly and repeatedly, he thinks he can make it stick on others.
But he is really describing himself.
32
How ironic that Ukraine was given aid by the US to help them fight against the forces of corruption and then our own thoroughly corrupt president used that aid against them. For shame!
22
Trump IS Corruption!! He only wants to discredit the Intelligence Community so he can say they were wrong about the Russian influence in getting him elected. He cares NOTHING about Ukrainian corruption, he just wants to discredit anyone who opposes him. He is using his Presidency to his personal benefit and needs to go NOW!! I hope decent GOP Senators are paying attention to this...
13
Thanks to Hunter Biden! Maybe he did an unethical thing, but the ends will bring justice!
4
Reading the letter as with “reading the report” has left me again indifferent. Such a monumental waste of paper is all I feel.
1
i wish it didn't feel like it does
3
This is torturous.
The daily drip-drip of this man's unmitigated and unhinged ego in tweets and sound-bites that are truly cringe worthy. And that was BEFORE the Ukraine debacle, children in cages, dismantling of the EPA...
Meanwhile, Republicans are twiddling their thumbs with a "nothing to see here" attitude.
If impeachment (assuming it is finally invoked in the House) comes to nothing, America will never recover. It will go on, but it won't be the same.
14
Most damning to me is not that the President in withholding aid from Ukraine advances his personal and political interests, but that he does so secretly, as I suppose he must, because he is thereby thwarting the intentions of Congress and subverting the normal functioning of the government. How can that not be a crime?
20
So who would you want protecting your back? West Point man, Vietnam vet, Harvard grad and a dedicated public servant; or snake oil salesman that’s been a narcissist is whole life? Proceed with impeachment charges.
32
Isn't there a record of Mr Trumps conversation hidden away on a seperate server? Surely access to that would settle this, unless it turns out to have been "acidentally deleted".
7
@Henry Rawlinson: There is supposed to be a full record of the call, but Mick Mulvaney directed it to be kept secret. All of these guys - from Trump to Mulvaney, Giuluani, Sondland, and Volker - were working secretly on pressuring President Zelenskyy to make a public statement that Ukraine would be investigating the Bidens, in exchange for paying the security aid that Congress had approved. In other words, the executive branch was directly subverting the legislative branch in secret. In order to prevent the public from perceiving the depths of their perfidy, however, Mulvaney made sure that the complete record of the phone call was redacted before its release, so we may never know what exactly was said, unless Congress subpoenas the complete record. Good luck prying it from the clutches of our anti-transparency, pro-authoritarian, overprivileged, lying president.
8
It is such a pleasure to listen to someone committed to truth in the service of his oath of office. thank you for your testimony.
22
All the President’s men should go down with Trump. AG William Barr and VP Pence who were involved in this scheme and failed to say anything.
31
Stop calling it quid pro quo.
If I put a gun to your head with a demand that's not a quid pro quo… "you scratch my back and I won't kill you."
That's strong arm criminality.
"Do my political bidding or I will cancel the arms you need for your survival" is strong arm criminality.
Let's call it that.
32
I encourage anyone who hasn’t read the opening statement in its
entirety to do so. It clearly lays out what happened. If justice prevails trump’s treasonous accomplices will also get what they deserve!
24
All this and we handed control of Syria to Russia in about 30 days time.
There is no doubt left that DJT has committed impeachable acts and who he works for. He is a daily threat the the health and well-being of the US.
Right mitch?
mitch?.....
mitch?.....
28
This gets interesting....let’s do a little comparison. Nixon and his “friends” break into Democratic headquarters in DC. They are caught and become involved in a cover up. The crime and coverup are a local , internal issue for our government. Election related...very clearly .Nixon, facing impeachment, resigns. Makes it easier for the country to move on...more or less.
Trump and his crew....blackmail a foreign government , withholding aide designated by Congress, to pressure Ukraine to become involved in our electoral process. Trump essentially uses his position and monies that are NOT HIS to control, to pressure a foreign power to do his bidding in election interference. The only difference is that Trump doesn’t even seem to care or recognize what he has done to be in conflict with his position or law. And then accuses anyone who testifies or follows the law to be on a “Witch hunt”....or some other personal insult. You decide....Nixon was considered corrupt.....how will history, and any halfway reasonable voter , have to consider Trump. He wants our Country to be more isolationist....unless it involves criminal activity that benefits his cause...then being global is a good idea? Impressive!
25
Can you imagine Trump getting impeached over sex lies? How about selling out our ally and foreign policy to help his campaign?
14
So, to summarize: the President of the United States used to his advantage the might of the Russian army to extort—from one of the most young and vulnerable democratic nations on the planet—dirt on a domestic political opponent. Am I getting this right?
22
Taylor is who Mueller wanted to be but didn't have the backbone to do it.
20
Revenge of the competent bureaucrats.
18
Lock him up! Or as they often ask in late comedy sketches, is it too soon? But hope springs eternal! When did the C in Commander in Chief turn into Corrupter in Chief? Donald Trump likes to whine that no president in all history has ever been demeaned as he has. I would suggest the office of president has never been debased the way Donald is doing it.
20
Bill Taylor is making America great again. True Patriot.
33
I wonder if Trump has tried this tactic on any other country besides Ukraine.
14
This Barr/ Pence/ Giuliani/Trump/ Perry/Pompeo et al scam was not only to find dirt on Biden, but more worryingly the other purpose was to pretend that it was the Ukraine and NOT Russia who meddled in the 2016 election.
WOW
This makes Watergate look like Sesame Street.
Thank you Bill Taylor for keeping contemporaneous and detailed memo notes through this whole anti-American atrocity.
34
Put a fork in it already! It’s time to file for divorce.
12
What are we waiting for? I want the best Christmas present ever.
18
If congress does nothing about this, the next election will be a sham and no one will trust the outcome. That will destroy our Democracy. He needs to be impeached.
19
Just because a child says he didn’t do it doesn’t mean it wasn’t done, especially when the evidence is clear. Trump can stamp his feet all day long and shout “No quid pro quo!” but the evidence is not only clear but confirmed by those in his own orbit, no matter how much backpedaling they do.
What more do you need?
17
In light of current (and likely future) evidence corroborating the president selling out our country's election to a foreign power, any Congressperson who does not support impeachment of the President should likewise be sacked for failing to uphold their oath of office.
For Pete's sake, even the Ukrainians knew that this whole mess stunk to high heaven!
12
Trump, you’re friends with football greats Tom Brady and Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots. They’ll tell you what happens when you keep using the same, old playbook to defend yourself. Eventually, your opponents (and in your case that is now starting to maybe include your own Republicans) bulldoze you.
Keep it up and you’ll soon be seeing ghosts like Jets quarterback Sam Darnold did Monday night.
7
Most of the comments hear are extremely hard to read. Our corruption is morally superior to your corruption, blah blah blah. Most democrat and republican politicians are part of the same treasonous group. That is no longer debatable for anyone with an ounce of critical thinking ability.
The only question remaining is if Trump is really trying to save this country of if he's part of the same circus. I'm still undecided because I base my judgement on actions and not mere words. All I see in this country is a divided mob equally convinced of their moral superiority. I can tell one thing with absolute certainty. A nation that manipulates and selectively enforces it's laws based on the perceived morality of the current "majority" is undermining it's very foundation.
Are we at the point where we expect career politicians to save us from the "corruption" of a political outsider? I still read the nytimes because I value different perspectives and opinions. It's getting hard to look past the obvious biases on both sides these days. When facts are discarded if they don't fit ones narrative and people nod their heads in partisan agreement, it's hard to remain optimistic.
Weigh the facts and condemn the guilty even if they are of your own kin.
"To expect bad men not to do wrong is madness, for he who expects this desires an impossibility. But to allow men to behave so to others, and to expect them not to
do you any wrong, is irrational and tyrannical." ~Marcus Aurelius
It’s easy to wax poetic and quote someone who’s been dead for thousands of years to make yourself seem smart. Harder to actually put forward an opinion and defend it with evidence. Something you fail to do, but vague assertions are cool too I guess
12
What does any of that have to do with the completely obvious evidence and facts showing that Trump is guilty of exactly what he's being accused of? It defies logic and reason for a reasonable, nonpartisan and unbiased person to look at the evidence coming out against Trump and conclude anything else, besides the fact that he's clearly abused his power and office, in an illegal and corrupt manner, unlike any we've ever seen before.
If you can't see that, then you're either a die-hard trump supporter, or you just don't care much about what happens to your country and don't want to know. You're okay with corruption and the Swamp.
9
@RSB Much of what you've said has some merit. To suggest that a question remains as to Trump's motives is where we would part company.
2
Republicans have two choices:
1. Continue to stay on Trump’s ship and watch it sink with them onboard as the Democrats bombard them from now until November 3, 2020.
2. Jump off the corrupt ship, vote for impeachment and removal, and save their careers.
14
Until now, I thought there was something contradictory or inconsistent in accusations that Trump has been secretly conspiring with Vladimir Putin to undermine our democratic process while at the same time cooperating (albeit with some strategic foot-dragging) with Ukraine's defense against Russia by helping it to arm against the latter. How strong could Trump's alleged covert alliance with Russia be if if he is participating (even in a foot-dragging way) in protecting Ukraine **against Russia**?
But now I see. (Okay, I'm a bit slow). It's "protection"!!
This military aid is being offered to Ukraine as "protection" against aggression by Trump's friend. In a protection racket, a gangster lets a targeted party know it's in danger, & says "If you want me to protect you from this harm, give me what I want" -- typically, cash. In this case, instead of demanding cash to keep the Russians at bay, Trump is giving Ukraine the cash to defend itself (against the threat Trump is dangling before them, in the form of tacitly condoning Russia) in return for campaign assistance. Putin simply plays along because he has nothing to lose, and, in the event Ukraine turns down the protection terms, a lot to gain.
Trump is simply using Russia to put the squeeze on Ukraine, to extract political campaign help, masking this by giving defense money assistance. That defense money is simply the "protection" being given against a threat orchestrated by Trump and Putin in cahoots (spoken or unspoken).
15
Will Mr. Schiff be releasing that transcript?
I sure hope so. probably at Trump's trial in the Senate, where it's supposed to be presented. right now we're just in the grand jury phase of the impeachment process. Trump doesn't have a right to know anything yet. He'll get to find that out once the articles of impeachment against him or voted on and passed. Then his defense can begin, just as the Constitution is laid it all out quite clearly and wisely.
7
what a waste of time. this guy has proven over and over that everything rolls off him. let’s focus on finding the best candidate to defeat him in 2020.
It’s like the entire world has been caught in the vortex of me me me.
Trump doesn't want to govern.
He doesn’t care about US citizens or the Kurdish people.
He just wants to unleash the racism, hate, and bigotry he feels onto the US, and 40% if the population backs him on this.
But he doesn’t care about them.
He simply wants to ‘cut deals’ that will make him look good. Or enrich him.
Or pay back his debts. To Russia.
It’s a vortex, centered on Trump and only Trump.
The US has a president who is a narcissist of epic proportions.
It’s laughable to think that any law or policy or norm or future election will stop him.
It’s possible we will see in the not-distant future sitting president lead out of the Oval Office in handcuffs. Physical force may be the only thing that punctures his intellectual bubble.
7
With respect to Testimony by William Taylor Jr. to the impeachment hearing.
Mr Taylor below testimony showed me President Trump was more interested in getting political advantage for to 2030 election than the danger to Ukraine lives and political advantage Russia received.
Mr Taylor's visiting the front line bey Ukraine and Russian forces ....
...'one side of a war-damaged bridge in Ukraine staring across at Russian-backed forces and saw the real-world consequences of President Trump’s efforts to advance a personal agenda. “More Ukrainians,” he said, “would undoubtedly "
I would like clarification from Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell why their response to President Trump's endangering Ukraine lives and it's strategic importance to NATO ..is any different to Their outrage of abandoning Syria.
Bruno P.
8
As with Robert Mueller,Trump seems to get called out for his illegalities by distinguished military veterans.They just don't seem to care for old Colonel Bone-Spurs.
7
A never Trumper, Mr. Taylor, gives another 2nd, 3rd and 4th hand account alleging an unproven allegation of a quid pro quo and the media builds him up as some national hero. This is an opinion piece, not evidence. This whole inquiry is a travesty full of secret testimony and selective leaking. The good Lord have mercy on our Republic if we continue down this path.
And Hillary should be locked up for her emails, Obama was born in Kenya and Trump never had a affair with “those women.” Trump lies every day, and yet Republicans simply express selective belief. These testimonies are not “secret,” as Republicans are part of each, and every one will eventually be released. Initial testimony is held in closed session to ensure witnesses are not intimidated (Trump would never do that), and that uncooperative witnesses have no opportunity to develop a common fictional story.
The Senate trial, which is inevitable, will be a public event. Let’s just focus on truth.
9
@samuel
You do realize that Trump appointed Taylor, right?
6
But all the accounts align, and agree on the same facts.
5
The argument, which denies and dismisses Mr. Taylor's statements, is that "the Democrats" are simply angry at Hillary Clinton's loss to Mr. Trump who was the "choice of the American people." He was not the choice of the American people, he was the choice of the electoral college. Yes indeed he was elected President, and yes indeed he as corrupt now as he's ever been
as a big business bully.
8
Republicans need to know that dems aren’t mad that Hillary lost. They are mad that Trump won by cheating. Whip me in a fair fight, I may not like it, but fair is fair. Republicans like to use the phrase ‘duly elected’. Except he wasn’t. Elementary school children understand this. Why don’t republicans?
2
The impeachment process is unfortunate but I have never felt prouder to be an American to see living, breathing patriots exposing corruption (and possibly treason) under the wisdom of a Constitution hammered out multiple generations ago by our founding fathers. What an exciting time to witness in real time the other two branches of government coming together against an overreaching and quite possibly criminal Executive Branch.
7
To Steve Bannon’s horror, the Deep State may be taking on the connotation of deep loyalty to the Constitution, deep patriotism, and deep wellsprings of courage.
8
Just like the Mueller report, this too shall pass for the president. The more he is assaulted, the more strongly the senate will defend him.
The Senate will not be defending him, they will be covering for him, and History will be glad to record their complicity.
Let them write their political obituaries now if they want to. Let that stain forever mark their betrayal to their Constitution and Country
9
-“He never worked with a foreign government.”
-“He never personally encouraged aide from a foreign government”
-“There was no quid pro quo”
-“So what if there’s quid pro quo?”
The bar(r) keeps lowering for the GOP. They should just swear loyalty to Trump, at least we’d have some honesty then.
7
The process in the House is totally unfair and any recommendation coming out from it is tainted.
I certainly wonder about the text message he received that the President is not having any quid pro quo.The real looser in the process is Pelosi and Schiff.
The cops never put all the suspects, collaborators and witnesses in the same public room to interview them about what transpired. Very quickly all the stories would align. Every small town police department knows this. This isn’t unfair, it’s the way things are done.
4
On the 11t September, writes ambassador Taylor, the aid package was released. Who pushed the president to release it? That person (was it Secretary Pompeo?) needs to be mentioned too, let's not be too negative folks, someone did a good job out there, so who was it?
1
I don’t think it was a good job inasmuch as they were attempting to throw dirt on the shallow grave and hope nobody would see it.
11
Nothing is so brazen than the way Mr. Trump and his allies have been trying to gaslight the American public. The Times' report cites Stephanie Grisham, "the White House press secretary, calling the impeachment inquiry 'a coordinated smear campaign from far-left lawmakers and radical unelected bureaucrats waging war on the Constitution,' adding that Mr. Trump 'has done nothing wrong.'” This from a spokesperson for the White House where the President doesn't have the patience to read the Constitution and is trying mightily to become a law unto himself.
11
Not much Latin survives. What does has been widely adopted and says it best. Quid pro quo is ‘something for something”. E pluribus unum is ‘one from many”. Post hoc prompter hoc is “what follows something is not necessarily caused by what precedes it’.
BTW, lol, and BFF are merely abbreviations. Latin shorthand concisely states abstract concepts if you get yours, I insist on mine. And if I don’t get no more recommends for you. And that’s a quid pro quo.
2
In a statement issued Tuesday evening, Stephanie Grisham, the White House press secretary, called the impeachment inquiry “a coordinated smear campaign from far-left lawmakers and radical unelected bureaucrats waging war on the Constitution,” adding that Mr. Trump “has done nothing wrong.”
That would be nothing more than a retelling of the massive trump lie attempting to explain away his obvious, corroborated corruption/campaign of political smear and dirty tricks. Each and every Republican Senator and Congressperson need to be held to account for the stand they take from here on out. Mr. Taylor's testimony, along with the previous testimonies and whistle blower accounts of the administration's dealings with Ukraine, leave no doubt of trump's willingness to commit impeachable offenses and...crimes in an attempt to skew the next election in his favor.
Impeachable, immoral, unethical.
Par for the course.
13
To anyone who says, "this is a coup!" or "you're trying to undo the last election!", just no. That's not what's happening here. Look more carefully, please.
I hear this every day from my MAGA acquaintances online.
12
It’s a crime scene, not political bias.
3
Nothing says credible better than having Debbie Wasserman Schultz confirm it.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz, wasn't she forced to resign as Democratic National Committee Chair after she and others were caught rigging the primary against Bernie Sanders in favor of Hillary Rodham Clinton of Russiagate fame?
Democrats pave the way for Trump's re-election.
Ad the voting public treated to another freak show.
What we are seeing is a serious crisis unfolding in the American bourgeois democracy.
Remember, it’s possible to oppose Trump, lament the ineptitude and corruption of Democrats, and understand the public’s ambivalence about this Ukraine matter and impeaching over it, all at the same time.
@Chris So selling out Ukraine for dirt on your lead political opponent is not against the Constitution and not impeachable, got it? I recommend watching Active Measures. Very telling that all Trump really wanted was a statement sullying Biden.
8
Re Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s ‘crime’: Bernie isn’t a Democrat. He and his followers don’t seem to get that. His ideas are spot-on, bless him he’s right, but he thumbs his nose at the Democratic Party. He’s likes being the lone wolf. Why in the world should Schultz spend time and money on a candidate from another party?
1
@Chris I don't like Wasserman either--but no one's wrong all the time, or without their modicum of honesty.
Are Republican elected officials so fixated on retaining their seats that they are afraid to call a spade for a spade? Obviously their oath to defending the Constitution doesn't mean much, after all. Just some words you iterate for the sake of iterating. Sad.
Very sad.
10
Donald Trump - when George Orwell speculated about the future, he saw men with evil intentions carefully crafting their ditatorship through cunning, guile and brute strength. He would be gobsmacked to know that imbecility and mendacity could also be powerful enough components to force the birth of an autocratic regime.
11
This all comes down to one thing. Republican senators are afraid that Trump will literally rally the Republican primary voters against them. But guess what? Once these Republican senators vote to convict Trump they’ll be rid of him and their party can get back to normal. Maybe in 4 to 8 years. After Nixon/Ford we only had 4 years of Carter, so the pendulum can swing fast.
Republicans should view impeachment as an opportunity for cleansing the party. Moreover, Trump, once he’s gone, will make every remaining Republican look like Lincoln by comparison. Well, maybe Reagan. Er, W?
7
If Trump never told anyone it was quid pro quo, why isn’t he exposing the folks who miscommunicated his demands to the multitudes who were told it was? Rhetorical question.
3
Donald Trump famously claimed that he could shoot someone in broad daylight and get away with it.
Now he appears to have shot both the Constitution and our body of law under cover of darkness. He must not be allowed to get away with that.
As for Rudy Giuliani, he may finally learn what real law enforcement is all about, and it couldn’t happen to a more deserving guy.
10
So it is somehow improper for the US President to ask the President of another country to investigate corruption, but it is perfectly all right for a Vice President to demand the firing of a Prosecutor in another country because he believes that Prosecutor is corrupt? What was Taylor's opinion about whether Biden had a conflict of interest when he made his "fire him in six hours" demand?
Yes it was perfectly fine for Biden to ask for the firing of that prosecutor, because everyone in the European Union and the state department and the Department of Justice and most of our European allies wanted that corrupt prosecutor gone. That's not even in the same league are ball park, as trying to force someone to start a fake investigation to collect fake dirt on a political opponent.
Biden was threatening to withhold funds of an already ongoing investigation, by Robert Mueller and the Department of Justice.
They weren't trying to start an investigation, they were trying to get to the bottom of one. Quit trying to Gaslight everyone and mix apples and fire hoses
6
The Trump and his allies keep asserting that he did nothing wrong. If that is indeed the case, why are individuals ordered not to testify, and why are subpoenas being disregarded? Looks like the swamp in DC keeps getting bigger and deeper.
6
Why do all his moves benefit Putin and compromise our security? He knows exactly what he is doing, and so do his co conspirators like Pompeo. Bolton bailed on this drug deal. If Trump can so easily hold up our funds for his gain and have help, it begs to ask what other drug deals have been going on?
6
This is all selective stuff leaked out from behind closed doors. Believe it if you like but the consensus is that there is no quid pro quo and it is not impeachable. There’s a reason that these hearings are not public and there’s no vote. It’s because there is, yet again, nothing to see here apart from political revenge by the elite establishment.
I'm sorry, but have you looked at the evidence so far, I have to conclude that they're absolutely was a corrupt and the illegal quid pro quo here, despite your stating that there's no evidence for that. I'm going to go with my own eyes and earsm over the pronouncements of a random Internet poster.
5
@Hjb At this point, it is not a trial. It’s the process of fact finding, an inquiry. Everything will eventually come out. Be patient and allow the process ( which is the legal, standard process) to work.
1
Whether or not this (clear) evidence of a direct quid pro quo is convincing, you don’t really need it: when a President of the world’s most powerful asking a foreign government to do things to benefit him personally, it is crystal clear that there are implicit rewards/disincentives in complying or not with the request.
7
The GOP and any Trump voters who could read (but wouldn't) had all the information they needed to stop this before it started:
1) their man's 4 bankruptcies--no U.S. bank will lend him a dime
2) the manifold swindles of Trump University
3) his refusal to release tax returns
4) the lewd, crude boorishness of the Hollywood Access tapes
5) his continued call for the execution the Central Park 5, young black men who turned out to be innocent
6) his constant insistence that Obama was not born in the U.S.
However, I suppose his supporters consider the sexism and racism of items 4, 5, and 6 to be features, not bugs. They've shown themselves willing to put up with the worst crookedness as long as he embodies their worst prejudices.
93
This country has a long history of reelecting known scoundrels such as New York mayor Jimmy Walker. Walker's reputation as a flamboyant man-about-town made him a hero to many working-class voters. Boston's mayor James Curley was actually reelected while in prison.
Sadly, no amount of misconduct by Trump will dissuade his base from supporting him enthusiastically. We can only hope that enough Republican senators will feel some twinge of responsibility when the vote on conviction comes up.
25
Today is it; 10/22, the date that finally exposed the truth explicitly. Thank you Ambassador Taylor, the senior diplomat when he said the unvarnished truth. Yes it was Quid Pro quo; and he said he discussed with Mr. Sou..... hold back the money until the deed is done. Zelensky must publicly say in print they are investigating Hunter Biden and Bursima. Isnt it down hill from here? Its over Trump you are done cooked .
This day is the end of trump, but we must fight to make it the end.
32
Maybe the GOP and Trump are the deep state and this was the plan all along to give up Ukraine to Putin in a quid pro quo.
22
@Aristotle: Well, Trump and Co. are certainly the ones operating behind the scenes, informally, without the knowledge of the American people, with the intent of subverting and undermining official U.S. policy approved of by the U.S. Congress. Sounds pretty "deep state" to me.
1
No QPQuo!
If i were Trump’s lawyer (would never be), my only remaining quid, etc. defense would be that Trump wasn’t demanding actual dirt, just that Ukraine investigate, an investigation that he could then point to throughout the campaign (assuming biden ends up his opponent, which ironically is starting to seem unlikely).
4
And how is that not ‘quid pro quo?’ You might want to look at what ‘quid pro quo’ actually means. The President of the United States held up military aid, which Congress had already appropriated, to pressure a foreign power to investigate his political rival in order to benefit his re-election campaign.
If that isn’t high crime and misdemeanor that our Constitution explicitly forbids, I don’t know what is.
5
Right. But in our modern world it’s not the dirt that matters. It’s the narrative. “My opponent is under investigation for corruption. By one of the most corrupt countries on the planet. How bad must HE be?!?”
Guffaw guffaw har har go the red hats. “Lock Joe up!” They chant.
However faced with page after page of actual evidence of wrong doing. It’s “so what. Everyone does. He’s just smart”
Trump knows this. Better than most.
3
Trump did not specifically say "this is a quid pro quo" during his telephone conversation. So there is no direct evidence of any wrong doing on Trump's part. It's not enough to point a gun at the bank teller. To be proven guilty you should have said "I have a gun in my hand which is loaded and in case you haven't noticed I am here to rob your bank located at Broadway and 53rd."
22
Trump didn’t say it because he didn’t know what it meant. His actions truly speak louder than words.
4
I am not sure that you are required to explicitly lay out the crime you are committing in order to be held responsible for it. Are you suggesting that a person committing a hit and run has to actually say out loud, “I am committing a hit and run. Please take note” in order for the law to charge the individual?
1
@Roger
Wishful thinking...If it walks like a duck, etc.
1
1. He said there was no quid pro quo. 2. We have no context because the hearings are closed and we have only Dem leaks. 3. There is no impeachable offense.
2
@ehillesum: 1) Read Taylor’s statement. There was a quid pro quo. 2) Read Taylor’s statement. No leaks needed. 3) A quid pro quo is not needed for Trump’s “do me a favor, though” request to be an impeachable offense, but it sure adds to the severity of the offense, as the holding up of military aid helps Russia in its aggression against Ukraine.
3
Soliciting the interference of a foreign government in our election process is an impeachable offense. It is one of the primary reasons the powers of impeachment were written into our constitution.
4
@ehillesum
Who said there is no quid pro quo ?
Please read Ambassador Taylor's opening statement which is publicly available and judge for yourself. The reporting, context and analysis is based on Ambassador Taylor's opening statement.
3
Mr. Taylor’s testimony gives us yet another example of Trump’s complete disregard for everyone and everything he deems of no use to his personal aspirations. He has put himself above his country once again—enough is enough.
17
As a side show, it would be interesting to see chronological how the individual GOP evolves from shameless supporters to cover lookers at the end.
4
It’s hard to believe that the Republicans continue to defend Trump. For one thing, he won by a very narrow margin, in very few states, and is not likely to win a single additional vote in 2020. Certainly, he has lost votes. The Republicans may lose a few Senate seats due to the votes of Trump’s maniacs, if they dump Trump now, but will surely lose seats in purple states if they don’t. They are better off running Pence, with someone like Haley as VP.
So the safety of the world, security of the United States, and integrity of the US Constitution aside – since the Republicans seem to care about none of these values – the GOP would be better off from a political standpoint if the Republican senators voted to remove Trump from office.
That the Republican Party would rather hand the US over to Putin, jeopardize the Ukraine, and watch the Kurds slaughtered then lose one Senate seat is bad enough. That they don’t know where their political best interests lie, proves that they are, if not as actually venal and crazy as Trump, then certainly as out of touch with reality.
21
It has become obvious to me that the Ukraine scandal is much, much worse than Watergate. Endangering the national security of an ally by withholding congressionally approved military defense funding for the sole purpose of coercing a foreign leader to assist you in smearing your domestic political rival is just a tad more serious than breaking into an office and rifling through some file cabinets.
Impeachment and removal should be a slam dunk, as we have more than enough evidence already. What we lack, however, are ethical and patriotic GOP senators like those during Watergate. I have come to accept that there will be no surprise endings here. There is no GOP anymore, just the party of Trump sycophants. The Senate will not vote to remove Trump and America will continue down the path away from democracy and towards authoritarian dictatorship.
37
Yes, imagine if Nixon had gone to the North Vietnamese and asked them to hold off on peace negotiations until the 1968 presidential election was over, while a few more American soldiers died. Oh, wait, that did happen.
4
Notice that Trump demanded Ukrainians to publically announce that they opened the investigation. No real investigation was necessary, he only needed the public announcement so that he can yell "crooked Biden" and "lock him up" on the campaign trail.
27
To me the bigger issue is that by withholding aid to an ally that was under direct attack by Russia, Trump endangered said ally, and therefore the interests of the United States. Whether he did so for personal political gain or because he owes Putin favors, this is treasonous behavior.
32
The sincere gratitude of the People of the United States—
To William B. Taylor, Jr., a model American citizen and public servant, who put the truth and his country first.
32
Readers below are describing Trump’s actions as a bribe. In fact they are extortion, with the lives of Ukrainian soldiers threatened as the cost of “not doing business.”
I didn’t think it was possible for me to be more aghast. I was wrong.
24
If treasonous abuse of office to extort a foreign government to fabricate dirt for persoanl benefit to smear an American political rival and interfere in an American election is not grounds to impeach and remove a sitting president from office, no matter who is that president, then what is?
719
Ambassador Taylor's complete written statement is well worth reading.
See link.
:https://www.washingtonpost.com/context/opening-statement-of-ambassador-william-b-taylor/6b3a6edf-f976-4081-ba7f-bce45468a3ff/
It chronicles in detail how Trump and his personal attorney systematically subordinated and undermined US national security policy in Ukraine by extorting Ukraine's new Government to fulfill Trump's personal political demand to interfere in a US election for Trump's personal benefit as a condition to receive US military assistance to protect itself from Russia's invasion and five year war against Ukraine.
The wreckage and venal criminality of Trump's presidency is in plain sight for all to see. It is a complete sell out of all America has stood for and generations of Americans have fought and died for at home and abroad since 1776. The open question is whether or not today's Americans themselves resolve to get rid of Trump, his criminality, and wreckage while they can.
81
@Allan Slipher
Something truly serious like lying under oath about a consensual sexual liaison. Mr. Trump did not lie when he recently agreed to go under oath, did he?
10
@O'Neill
Knowing how Trump operates, it's perfectly clear to people not totally brain-washed, that Trump was indeed asking for dirt on Biden with which to smear him. When does Trump ever comment on political opponents without smearing that person?
40
I think we already have a pretty clear picture of what occurred here. The only question is will Republicans do the right thing? I'm not holding my breath...
1147
@Dersh
That is a rhetorical question, right?
25
@Dersh I don't expect Senate Republicans to do the right thing, but voters will have an opportunity to override them--and hold them accountable for their wilful blindness--a few months later. And thanks to the impeachment inquiry, voters will have direct evidence in hand, something Trump would otherwise have been able to bury under his usual avalanche of noise and nonsense.
And who knows; maybe the Senate will surprise us.
42
@M. The Republican base will never turn on him. That means the Senate will do nothing. As usual.
14
This is what honest, professional civil servants do. Thank you, Mr. Taylor.
Trump supporters will continue to try to discredit their testimony as part of a Deep State conspiracy. It is up to good citizens and politicians (regardless of their political affiliation) to support these heroes.
2535
@George : That is all fine and good that Mr. Taylor testified. But why all the kudos? The man did not disclose or express anything except after subpoena. So, the threshold is now we commend and laud because someone was just honest under subpoena testimony.
8
@APS
Better than refusal to respond to a subpoena —- and gives him slight cover that he had to testify rather than risk being in contempt.
38
@APS he could not appear voluntarily because the secretary of state vowed to defy requests. But under subpoena a law-abiding citizen is required to appear.
74
Individuals that have had career leadership positions in the US Military are demonstrating non-partisan Honor in speaking out against our corrupt President.
11
Shakedown. Trump suspends the aid. Trump tells his henchmen to pass on to Zelinski that he will release the aid, but the Ukrainian president MUST open up investigations. Then he calls Zelinski, taels him the aid will be released and asks him to investigate Joe Biden, the Democrat party frontrunner, using the words "but do me a favor though". He did not have to use the words "quid pro quo". It was implied. He then released the aid. Trump put the security of Ukraine at risk to further his own race against Biden. Any Russain advance in Ukraine, which could happen if the US does not provide support and weapons, would weaken the West. In this way, Trump's actions also put the United States and our allies at risk with his actions.
5
@Hah! Zelensky didn’t even have to open investigation, Trump wanted him to go on tv and announce he was going to investigate. In other words, another media ploy, NOT a search for the truth. It was a classic shakedown.
Sounds like Trump was treating it like any other business deal of his
And THAT’s The problem
10
Two West Point graduates serving in the current administration with contrasting Patriotic fervor, duty and loyalty. William Taylor, a Vietnam Vet, retired from federal service after serving more than 50 years for the country, came back to the duty again in May at the insistence of none other than Pompeo himself, who sees loyalty to Trump over rule of law. Here the facts speak for itself. If Ambassador Taylor’s testimony isn’t going to tip the scales of impeachment for republicans, nothing will.
14
I am in awe of the courageous public officials who have chosen to speak despite White House efforts to silence them.
In my bleakest moments of the past thousand days, I often have wondered if such people of principle exist. Yes, they do, and to them I say, thank you.
And to the watching world, I say, the strength and soul of American democracy lies in the heartbeat of its people. We have never left, and from the darkness, our brightest moment lies ahead.
21
There is more than enough evidence to convict Trump in the senate provided there are enough Republican senators who want to uphold the constitution. That may be asking too much of Republicans. Republicans argue that quid pro quo is to benefit the United States, because Trump re-election is benefit to the United States. Therefore, no high crime. In fact no crime committed. So, no conviction in the senate.
2
This is no final straw for Trump but it does set a new world record in predictions of his imminent demise. Eventually his detractors will be right and he will have to leave but it will be after his next term as President.
Who makes policy -- The President of the United States or State Department diplomats? For good or ill, and like it or not it's the president. If he's considered unacceptable, vote him out in NOV of 2020. He won't be impeached, because he didn't break the law or violate the Constitution, though many would like to assert that he did. He won't go at least until the next election, if then, so you gotta live with it.
No, the president is not a monarch. He is bound by tradition, norms, and, yes, the bureaucracy that embodies them. And now we see why those things all exist in the modern era.
1
@Jeremiah Johnson: Trump did break the law asking for Zelensky to investigate the Bidens to benefit his election, and he did violate the Constitution (emoluments clause).
2
Are we really questioning whether there was a quid pro quo? Everyone everywhere knows what Trump is like. There was a quid pro quo.
9
While inherently conservative in my political instincts, if the republicans fail to evict this villain from the White House I will vote Democrat right down the line from now on.
15
Once Chief Justice John Roberts declares that the Senate vote to convict (or acquit) the impeached President will be held in camera (like juries everywhere), or even by secret ballot, Trump will be finished, and so will his list-making son.
Admittedly, if it's 100 to zero for conviction, it will be hard to deny how one voted.
3
@John Kell No I'm afraid you're misinformed. The senators' votes will be public.
It's a kinda, sorta trial. Which isn't wrong or bad or unconstitutional.
Lindsey Graham other Trump supporters are asking that Trump should be given the same rights as Nixon and Clinton in their impeachment proceedings. Well, it is very simple then. Trump has to two things to follow Nixon and Clinton's paths.
1. Testify under oath like Clinton did. Clinton testified in front of Grand Jury. Here Trump can volunteer to testify in front the House impeachment committees and tell the truth. The committees will be more than happy to accommodate his eagerness to tell the truth.
2. Submit all the documents/evidence to the committees similar to Nixon did under subpoena.
3. Comply with the subpoena like Clinton did during his impeachment.
11
In the current issue of the American Conservative there is a piece that shows exactly what happens when the administration sidelines the professional diplomats and runs on its (very large) gut.
The current situation in Syria is the result of a 'deal' worked out between Putin, Erdogan and Iran. Then fed to Trump, by Erdogan, as a solution to a Middle East problem (his). If this betrayal does not meet the definition of a "high crime", I do not know what could.
Any professional diplomat would have advised that this was an horrendous decision for America's global standing and would lead to further human suffering and displacement. Trump, however, gets foreign policy from his ego.
Whether or not Trump was complicit in the Russian activity in 2016; the Russians obviously determined that his presidency would do the most to divide and weaken America. Especially given his disdain for expert opinion and his inability to tolerate challenge or criticism.
8
Many are wondering why Republicans in Congress will not step forward and acknowledge the obvious given all the facts laid bare.
One reason might be that Trump, being a demagogue and knowing the power of loyalty, has Republicans caught with their backs to the wall. Some have quit. Some have denounced him only to rethink their position and come back into his fold (Lindsey Graham recently flip flopped his views on Turkey/Syria for example). Some, like Devin Nunes betray a fear to cross him, or insanity, it’s hard to believe what we are seeing from some of these members of congress. And it’s not just republicans in congress acting this way, his cabinet has the malady as well.
Maybe the congressmen are afraid that he’ll tweet something that causes them to lose their next election, he’s a bully after all. Maybe he has promised something worse, like withholding funds to their states if he is crossed. He is the most powerful man on the planet right now, and well practiced in deceit and fraud, so anything is possible.
Reminds me of Mao or Kim Jung Il; those in his cabinet, in congress, and on his staff act like minions in his cult of personality.
Whatever the case, I think this a very interesting topic, one that might be worthy of study by historians. As far as the Republican congresspeople, I doubt it is lack of being able to see the facts before their eyes; the behavior must be rooted in fear and that fear must be rooted in something Trump has threatened, directly, or implied.
7
Let us remember that trump said the emoluments clause is “phony”. Defend THAT, trumpers.
21
I still can't understand why anyone thought that trump was POTUS material. From long before he rode down the escalator in 2015 to a cheering crowd of paid "supporters", it was obvious that he was no more than a dishonest con man.
trump--our first Kardashian President. May he soon end up on the ash heap of history.
25
@Bill
Love, love, love your phrase, "trump--our first Kardashian President."
Here's another that also suits DJT:
"Don of a Thousand Days." Perhaps his final day as president is within sight.
A few weeks ago, when I thought that life under Trump could get no worse, this circumstance with Ukraine appeared in the news. It was like the heavens had opened and rained down the gift of hope. Thank you, Nancy Pelosi. Thank you, William B. Taylor, Jr. Thank you, Whistle Blower, whoever you are.
2
Donald Trump has been a crook since he first time attracted my attention on the news media. That was long back during one of his bankruptcy episode.
At the time my annual income was a little higher than $40,000 in the San Francisco Bay area, but he complained he was so poor that he only could have $40,000 a day to spend.
He has been collecting his crook credentials along the way over last presidential primary and the election. His name-callings disturb me. He has lied all the way to the White House and continue his practice shamelessly.
It was unfortunate The United States has president Donald Trump. It is a disgrace to the country and mankind.
I sincerely hope the Trump presidency can end as soon as possible.
26
This is crazy. The Democrats want the hearings behind closed doors. When they find information against the President the Democrats come out and leak the information. They need to door the hearings in front of the American people. Let us hear everything.
2
Julia - This is how impeachment is conducted. This is how all investigations are conducted. In private. The impeachment hearings will be transparent. This is the same process as it was when President Clinton was impeached. You can read Taylor’s testimony from today. The statement was released in its entirety. You could not find a more credible witness - appointed by Pompeo - And it’s completely damming.
11
@Julia
Gosh, if Trump has nothing to hide, why then the attempts to stymie the investigation?
1
Yes. Let’s hear everything. With each new piece of info that comes out, Trump looks worse.
2
The House will vote to Impeach.
Any Senator who does not vote for conviction, is a traitor to our nation, our ideals, our Constitution, and their very oath to their office.
Senators it is time to show your allegiance.
Trump, or the United States of America.
Choose wisely, Senators, the nation is watching and paying attention.
17
Thank you, William B. Taylor. Thank you.
14
Sean Patrick Maloney ran for AG and is from
NY.
Are we supposed to believe a respected Diplomat's word over that of the man who leads us? ;-)
1
Clearly, yes. One is actually respected, respect that has been earned, the other doesn’t know the meaning of the word.
4
What are the chances that 20 Republican senators would vote to convict? I'd say zero to none. Their constituents don't care what high crimes and misdeanors the president has committed, they don't care about his lies, his racism, his divisive political strategy based on hate of the poor, of people of color, of every imaginable minority group in the country - they simply don't care as long as they keep seeing bluster and hearing hate and undisguised incitement to violence. All that makes his supporters - 40% of the population - as guilty as he is, and as amoral.
Given that situation, the Senate could never reach the two-thirds vote to convict - those 20 senators are far more interested in keeping their seats than they are in doing what's right. After all, if the president and their constituents are uninterested in doing what's right, why should those senators care?
As always, this all speaks not only to the perfidy of the politicians involved but of their enablers: the morally challenged people who vote for them precisely because they want morally challenged politicians.
10
Taylor's staement is riveting! The whole bunch of them are in cahoots. How the Senate could not find Trump guilty, is beyond me.
8
What Trump and his enablers clearly do not understand, is that America is its people. America is not Donald Trump, and Donald Trump is not America.
12
Sondland clearly perjured himself according to Taylor's testimony. I hopes he is indicted and convicted for lying to Congress. All his money won't protect him. He should be both ashamed and afraid. I am disgusted at his sycophantic action. And news for Sondland: Trump doesn't care. He will throw you under the bus like he does everyone.
Mulveney is in deep trouble. He is up to his ears in Trump's crimes. No punishment for him is too severe.
17
Another day, another trumpster fire.
8
This administration is infested with those who would do harm to America for personal gain.
It’s totally alarming how sure they are that they are unstoppable, and they keep doubling down.
These people are playing for keeps.
This is probably the ultimate test of our country and the rule of law.
11
All for not. Save the paper, and the server space. trump will get re-elected.
@Sam
Not for naught. History will note that the right thing was done, no matter what.
1
On CNN tonight, I heard a House Congressman (Republican), I think it was Mullin, debating with Cuomo. His position was that there was no evidence or any proof of a crime or wrongdoing by Trump. He asked Cuomo "was you there?" to bolster his position that the case against Trump was just hearsay. Both his posturing and his grammar was shameful. We really need to put educational and ethical standards in place for eligibility to run for Congress.
12
Perhaps Ms Grisham should actually read the Constitution first.
8
What a fine example William B. Taylor Jr. has set for all those
in our foreign service: and now from here on ; the other
dedicated and deserving honorable men and women can
take pride in their own fine service to our country as well;
Taylor has taken the first step towards saving our Constitution
from the peril it has been due to Trump; Trump's enablers
in The Executive Branch; the Legislative Branch and the
Judicial Branch of our government....
I see a clean sweep of the "Swamp" coming out of this
impeachment inquiring...now we really have a chance to
recover our Republic...Good News and very good reporting
by Michael Shear and Nicholas Fandos...keep it up NYT.
10
As former State Department family, I am appalled by this behavior but more by the decimation of State and diplomacy under this administration. Our president has SO reduced our nation internationally it is PATHETIC and becoming very risky as others step into the voids we leave....such as Syria. We cannot afford more of this.
13
Republican officials - senators, vice-presidents, representatives - are boxing themselves in by remaining silent. When this house of cards, this lying, this excuse making, this silence, comes crashing down and there is,at last, a wide realization of what this imposter of a president really is, how will they defend themselves? The Taylor's will be lauded for their courage. The people will remember the McConnells unkindly; their grandchildren will remember them with shame.
8
@Doug Fuhr
They know exactly who he is, Doug. And they don't care.
You say Trump liked aid for Ukraine to an "inquiry?" To an "investigation?" No, the aid was used to attempt to extort Zelensky to join in a conspiracy to smear Joe Biden by pretending to investigate him and is son.
The aid was linked to a cheap Republican dirty trick, nothing so grand as an inquiry or an investigation.
14
This is stunning testimony, yet still Trump’s apologists still find nothing of concern. I’m not sure that Trump shooting someone on Fifth Avenue would move the needle for some of them. They would find a way to blame the Democrats and the media.
20
Trump has admitted to asking for a foreign government to investigate his political opponents.
Mulvaney has admitted to there being a quid-pro-quo.
There is a White House call ‘transcript’ that documents the whole thing.
There are career diplomats testifying about the whole scheme and confirming the worst of it.
Yet somehow there are still Republicans on Capitol Hill claiming there’s nothing wrong or rubbing the backs of their necks and claiming they need to see more evidence. Every last one has violated their oath to defend the Constitution, and every last one should be removed from office and shunned as traitors to their country.
31
What seems to be getting lost here is that there doesn’t need to have been a quid pro quo for Trump to be impeached and removed from office. Simply asking a foreign leader to interfere in our elections (by asking them to dig up/make up dirt on a political opponent) is an impeachable offense!
32
@AMinNC
Yep. Just asking for a favor without it is a crime. And he was just under investigation for it in the Mueller report. This behavior actual asserts the Mueller report. He should have been indicted by Mueller.
4
Just when we thought, oh, good - another clown comes out of the car. Those clowns are now going to rescue us - they may even need a bigger car than a VW. It will be interesting to see what goes on from here -but I think we have what we need. All of the rats are bailing out of the flailing boat; too bad none of them will recover their honor, if they ever had any.
8
So, when will any Republicans publicly acknowledge what they know in their hearts is true:
Donald Trump is unfit to hold the office of the Presidency and is a threat to our nation every minute that he remains.
It's absolutely maddening and disgusting that Republicans continue to give cover to this domestic enemy of our Constitution and our laws, making us weaker with every decision he makes. And yet, the Republicans see no problem!
Once again: If any Democrat had done even ONE of Trump's misdeeds (crimes), they would've been hollering impeachment on Day 1. Their silence is a loud indictment of their own collusion with a President out of control. They should all be impeached.
27
@Kingfish52
Agreed. Vote them all out.
1
Donald would be a better dictator of a third world then the president of a free world. He is classless, and if given the chance, would have handed out his yearbook from Wharton to be signed not by classmates, but by Putin, Kim Jong Ugh and all those communist dictators he likes to rub shoulders with. Maybe, fingers crossed, after impeachment, he will be forced to move to Russia and end up cleaning windows at the Kremlin. For an oligarch wannabe that is as good as it will get. Don't forget the Windex.
9
How much more of this despicable president’s behavior do we have to witness before such behavior is normalized and America is history?
11
@Michael C I thought Erdogan and Putin's little summit today, making the U.S. more irrelevant, is a low that had best not be matched. Otherwise, we'd best start learning a new language.
1
The Ukraine affair continues to be an all you can eat Something Burger buffet
7
Enough with the Republican dodging and weaving.
This scenario is classic Donald Trump, the Donald Trump that people have known for many, many years.
23
There are only three candidates besides Trump in the Republican primaries. Since the President may soon have to exit the race due to circumstances beyond his control, some additional Republicans may want to take the opportunity to throw their hats in the ring. Better act fast though. The primaries are just a few short months away . . .
13
What should be emphasized in this encounter between our president and the president of Ukraine is the precarious position of Ukraine. Situated on the border of Russia and having lost both men and land to Russia, Ukraine faces an existential crisis--an invasion by Russia. Can it survive as an independent free state or will it become a vassal state of Putin, whose values are inimical to everything we value in a free state. In a sense we see there a struggle between democracy and dictatorship. If Trump truly loved America and its values, he would have rushed to carry out Congress' mandate to send needed military supplies to Ukraine to enable it to defend itself against Russian aggression. It seems Trump is not too anxious to stop a Russian takeover of Ukraine---the spread of authoritarian rule which limits free speech and kills reporters and opponents . Russia would be taking over a state which allows freedoms such as we have here, albeit with a past history of corruption. Holding back military aid? Doesn't Trump value freedom and democracy? Maybe not.
12
I hope that if Mr. Taylor went out to eat after testifying, he received a standing ovation from the patrons and staff.
21
Thank our lucky stars that voters turned out in 2018 to deliver Dems the House. If it wasn’t for that, Devin Nunes would be leading the show, and the Republican-led House wouldn’t have done a thing.
45
@Olan
Yep. Thank progressives for fighting hard and speaking about the truth while Fox News lies daily. They sacrifice well paying careers to support the community and truly independent journalism and information sharing.
@Olan
If the GOP won the House, we would be hearing none of this. Barr buried this and no one in the House would ever pick it up.
If you have not already done so, read the full transcript of Mr. Taylor’s opening statement. It
is incredible, picking apart Trump, Pompeo, Volker, Sondland, Guiliani, Mulvaney, and all of their duplicity. If the President falls, it will because of this man’s honesty.
But more importantly, read to understand why he exited comfortable retirement to take a role helping Ukraine seek freedom and democracy in the shadow of Russian aggression, despite his understandable concerns over our current administration. And how Trump put Ukraine’s future to risk for the sake of his own political benefit, while further undermining American democracy.
56
@JDice
After one has read it, one may contemplate how there is still no way 20 GOP Senators will vote to remove Trump. And how Trump will officially be above the law.
And how the GOP base does not care about any of it, and will send their last dollar for Trump's re-election.
3
President Quid Pro Quo's defense seems to be that he didn't utter the words "quid pro quo" while conditioning his release of the Ukrainian aid on the Ukrainians agreeing to conducting his political investigation of Biden.
14
Mr. William Taylor, has displayed loyalty to our country. He is a true patriot. An example, which many of our elected leaders can learn and follow.
27
Was this whole thing a ploy to provide cover for an attempt by Trump to further aid Russia and Putin by denying the Ukraine security aid? Look at what is happening in Syria. The Russians are taking over, lock, stock and barrel. If Trump entered the "stalemate" phase with the Ukraine and froze all security assitance on some kind of permanent basis, this would have been of tremendous benefit to Putin - and a tremendous detriment to the U.S. and its democratic allies.
23
Taylor's is just one interpretation. The most important interpretation was by Ukraine's president who stated many times there was no pressure, implying no quid quo pro. Trump's behavior appears to be irresponsible, but that in itself is not impeachable. Obama also demonstrated substantial irresponsibility but there was no impeachment inquiry directed toward him.
2
@sh
In the real world, Ukraine's survival is still 100% dependent on aid from the USA, and that aid is controlled by Trump. This means literally today and tomorrow and next week.
Of course he will say what Trump publicly told him to say. He says it, or Ukraine goes to Putin.
This is implied by all the evidence that has come out the last few weeks. Is it not obvious?
2
@sh Of course. The most important "interpretation" is that offered by a man with a gun pointed at his head. That's the way John Gotti saw it.
1
@sh
The president of Ukraine is going to come out and say, “I feel pressure; I am weak”? No, he is not going to say that.
Just like all the other heads of state of our allies when it comes to Trump, he is being diplomatic. I guess just in case the US ends up still mattering in the world order after Trump finishes shredding us to pieces.
1
“These career state department officials are the epitome of the deep state. They have jointly and severally decided that the result of the 2016 election must be invalidated because the people made the wrong choice.”
If you read this with that lens you will see why Trump’s America still supports him. If you don’t, you will miss the opportunity to understand that election and make different decisions in the upcoming election.
3
“J” - Thank you so much for that false quote.
Here’s one for you - “Whatever you do, don’t listen to the mainstream (lame-stream) media because you might be exposed to some truth.”
Very powerful and moving testimony. Thank you Ambassador Taylor.
And Yet will it matter? The corrupt republican senate will not vote to remove trump from office and the pockets of hate and ignorance in swing states will likely carry the electoral college.
I pray that honor and decency will carry the day but I fear it won't
13
This sad and dreary spectacle proves only one thing. The two-party system is dead. It is no longer functional and does not serve the interests of the people. Time for a third party challenge. Hillary knows which way the wind is blowing. She’s trying to stave it off but she knows it’s inevitable. The future belongs to Bernie and Tulsi. The Democratic Party establishment will throw everything they have at them but will end up becoming the third party themselves. I’m already thinking what this new party will call itself. The People’s Party?
@Edward
Third-party challenges got us Clinton, Bush, and Trump - none of whom belonged to said party.
1
@Edward Wrong. Tulsi is not going to win.
1
That whole opening statement by Taylor is the gun left after the crime. It's still smoking, and the prints are a dead match.
It is no longer sustainable for any Republican representative or Senator to dismiss these allegations or continue to harp about "process." The time has come to take a stand. You either believe and support career diplomats and officials with a sense of duty and loyalty to the United States and its security, or you die on the hill of avariciousness and selfishness.
We have come to that place Thomas Paine wrote of, when "History finds us." What will we do?
13
If you read the 15 page opening statement there is no doubt the President Trump and his enablers did there utmost to subvert our ally for personal partisan purposes. Shame on them. They all deserve to be held accountable.
Reading the last page of Ambassador Taylor’s statement is inspiring and heart wrenching.
14
There IS a quid pro quo, there ARE witnesses, even Republican leaders seem taken aback by the tawdry sale of our foreign policy. Has anyone checked Craig’s List to see what else he’s put up for sale? And does this mean that by tomorrow morning we wake up to a nuclear bomb that’s been dropped on a random city, by the White House, to divert our attention? Smoking cities and burning children because someone gave him the nuclear codes, and he pushed the button?
4
That Trump was a criminal and a Russian agent was known before he accepted the nomination. So this new testimony shouldn't be a surprise. I turned over to Fox News to see what they had to say about this. And lo and behold they were showing a Kamala Harris town hall meeting in Iowa. "This election is about Justice. Justice, Justice, Justice...." I invite you to watch it.
Even if trump is impeached, his supporters will still be around. So the election is also about what can be. It's up to the readers here to not only know that, but to teach it to others. America's welfare at home as well as our place in the world is what we make it, and this election is about making that happen.
9
I never thought that embassy employees no matter their rank were supposed to make foreign policy on their own but rather to carry out the policy as formulated by the Secretary of State or the President. I find this employee conduct reprehensible!
2
@Judy Weller,
Ms. Weller, here is a bigger question: Do you find Trump's behavior represensible? Most people with a shred of ethics would agree that extorting President Zelensky is, in fact, reprehensible on its face and that it also represents a threat to democratic nations around the world. I hope you will think carefully about this.
2
@Judy Weller,
He was carrying out official US policy, which includes the State Dept and Congress as well as the executive branch.
Trump was carrying out policy to benefit himself. That is illegal.
3
@Judy Weller,
So, you believe if the President says to commit a heinous crime, the person should commit the crime?
The oath of office is to the USA and the Constitution, not to any person, including the POTUS.
That is what Rule of Law means.
5
In holding up military aid to generate pressure on Ukraine and asking for a corrupt favor before delivery of the aid Trump solicited a bribe, a corrupt foreign investigation of great political value, aimed at Trump's domestic political opponent, a bribe in exchange for an official act. Soliciting a bribe from a foreign government is called out as Bribery in the Constitution, as impeachable as Treason.
9
I commented, much earlier today, on Trump's "lynching" accusation and Senator Lindsey's claim that it was "a literal lynching." I see now, having read the updated version of this article, that Trump should have said "This is a linchpin." Mr. Taylor's presentation will surely be the linchpin of this impeachment inquiry, and all of it will hold together.
7
Thank you for your service to the United States, Ambassador Taylor. May you serve as an example to the rest of us. You have stood up and borne witness to unethical and criminal behavior, at personal risk to yourself and your career. A real profile in courage.
13
What would it take to get gop senators to vote to convict?
If pres trump call up the irs and suggested that they investigate the tax returns of his rivals would that be abuse of power? I mean it’s not an order. There is no quid pro quo. He just wants to make sure the Democratic candidates are on the up and up right? No abuse of power.
Come on gop think of america and not your party. Or for that matter think of your party and not trump. Our president has abused his office and is probably crazy and or incompetent ( see Kurds and Syria). Remove him and move on.
6
William Taylor is an American hero. Americans of all political leanings should be grateful for his honest, detailed, and very troubling account. It's impossible to read Mr. Taylor's opening statement without wondering why Trump continually invites Russian incursions -- in our elections ("Russia, are you listening?"), in Syria, and in Ukraine. It is impossible to think that Trump is fit to remain in office.
50
Dismayed as I am at the self-dealing efforts of the current administration, I am so very much more proud of men like William B. Taylor, Jr. I read his written summary and it is superb in fact, feeling, and courage.
54
And one might doubt that Rudy Giuliani, our shadow Secretary of State, was using a secure email server.
44
Can you imagine being an ally and needing assistance to save the life of your people and your so called ally withholds help for something in return? This is not what we as a nation should do. President Zelensky was at the mercy of Donald Trump. This is a total abuse of power. Our national reputation is down in the sewer.
Thank you Mr. Taylor for your service.
Our president should be impeached. He is a national disgrace.
77
Bill Taylor - you are a hero for speaking truth and for ending your detailed comments with hope for the future of Ukraine. How shameful of our President to undermine this emerging democracy as collateral damage as he goes after Hunter Biden. How much that must have hurt to watch this ridiculous and unnecessary drama unfold.
50
Stevie Van Zandt wrote a wonderful song that Jackson Browne often sings--it was running through my mind as I read this piece and Taylor's patriotic testimony:
"And the river opens for the righteous...someday...
I was walking with my brother
and he wondered what's on my mind
I said, What I believe in my soul
ain't what I see with my eyes
And we can't turn our backs this time
I am a patriot and I love my country
Because my country is all I know
I want to be with my family
people who understand me
I've got nowhere else to go
And the river opens for the righteous... Someday"
28
@Lizzie Well Trump is now Running on Empty as Mr Browne sings.
It seems that the deeper forces within the establishment are done with Trump. Godfather fans will get the analogy of the mafioso boss’s kiss of death. The ball got rolling once Mark Sanford entered his nomination papers for the 2020 Republican nomination. Watch ‘The Family’ on Netflix and you will get it. Nothing to celebrate here. We need to open our eyes first
14
“I’ve been in there for 10 hours — I can assure you there was no quid pro quo,” said Representative Mark Meadows, Republican of North Carolina. “I can tell you there is not evidence that there was any condition placed on the aid.”
What the he-- is wrong with these people? One only needs to read the man's opening statement and you can see that in fact there were conditions placed on the entire relationship.
I guess it's easy not to see when you're doing your best to cover your eyes.
84
@KB Mr. Meadows is so afraid of Trump's base in his western NC district that he cannot uphold his oath to the Constitution of the United States. Shame on him.
2
Let’s hear from people like Mike Pompeo and Mike Pence. Under oath. I realize that probably doesn’t mean much to them, you know, as evangelicals, but still, perjury is at least a crime on this celestial kingdom.
70
This is, I think, the final nail in the coffin of Trump's defense on Ukraine. A career diplomat spells out as clear as day the criminal behavior of DT and Co. Let's get on with the impeachment ASAP, let the House vote, and the Senate show their true colors (and that won't be pretty.) Then let's go roaring into next November with a mandate to clean up the WH with new blood and a new agenda for the people of the USA.
44
However long it takes for the GOP leadership to publicly come to terms with reality and turn to Pence, it will be too late in the eyes of the electorate in 2020.
They had their chances to act responsibly, but watched as their majority government slid in the midterms, never once acknowledging or making any reasonable effort to reign-in this blatantly erratic administration.
Now their defensive rants clearly reek of hypocrisy while serious errors unfold on the international security front.
How long?
26
Mr. Taylor's biography is an interesting contrast to that of the current president. Chalk and cheese or perhaps more appropriately West Point vs New York Military Academy or Harvard graduate vs Wharton "graduate".
Although very close in age, I would wager that Mr. Taylor accomplished more in one year of his fascinating life than in the entire 73 years of Trump's.
Of course, Mr. Taylor doesn't have his name plastered on dozens of buildings but perhaps after all those fake gold signs are inevitably removed in the future, there will remain a small plaque somewhere honoring Mr. Taylor's public service.
80
I honestly don’t know who is worse: Trump with his serial lies and abuse of office or the myriad Republican lawmakers who hear this testimony and then deliberately twist it to promote the opposite of what was said.
If these lawmakers are worried their base will rebel and throw them out of office, just keep quiet.
Retain some dignity ... but I suppose that requires they hadn’t sold their soul to begin with.
73
As satisfying as it will be to see trump impeached, he will feel completely vindicated when Pence pardons him. Pence will do it to “heal the country” in the spirit of the true evangelical that he is - his only act of evangelicalism.
11
No worries. New York State has enough on him to put him away for life. Pence can’t heal that.
6
@Steve Didn't work out so well for Ford.
What leads you to believe Pence is not involved and unimpeachable?
1
You know, I know, Democrats know, Republicans know and Trump knows this is an offense for which he must be impeached. This conduct is beyond improper, it is absolutely outrageous. The idea that anyone in public life would defend it is a disgrace.
The only remaining question is whether Senate Republicans will vote to convict, based on the incontrovertible evidence staring them and the entire country in the face.
Based on the recent behavior of the GOP, it’s hard to be confident that the right outcome will happen.
49
@David
Then we impeach them at the voting booth and by funding their opposition. This is their opportunity to uphold the constitution or choose tyranny.
1
He should quit
And hard to imagine Pence can’t be pinned for co-conspiracy, because he surely didn’t have his head in the sand, and if he loved America, he would have been a whistleblower. He should quit too.
Guessing by the line of succession that the next President will be a woman, President Nancy Pelosi.
50
@slogan: Pence was in on it. Taylor mentions Pence's meeting with Ukrainain president Zelenskyy in Poland. Pence knew about what Bolton called the "drug deal." He has already been implicated, and more will come out.
2
Meanwhile, in the alternate universe that is Fox, this is what they’re saying:
1. The Democrats are running a sham investigation behind closed doors, leaking lies, and withholding the vast majority of testimony, which is in fact exculpatory for Trump.
2. All Trump wanted to do was get to the bottom of what was actually a Ukrainian effort to cripple his chances against Clinton in 2016.
3. The real corruption is what Joe Biden did in terms of his influence as V.P. to enrich his son, Hunter.
4. Yada Yada Yada.
These people think that propaganda and lies will always carry the day, and for the vast majority of their viewers who lack critical thinking skills, they’re unfortunately correct. But even the Goring-level master manipulators have their hands full with this one. Why? Because the inculpatory testimony is coming from the administration’s own people! Subpoenas and sworn statements. Keep them coming, and I think truth will actually win out. It will be close though!
44
@Tim The argument that it's behind closed doors will have a pretty short shelf life. Well I guess Fox viewers have short memories but still, seems like a very temporary expedient. When the public hearings start what will they say?
1
@Tim
Fox News must be dealt with in the future. Anyone have ideas? Can we trust bust them and force local level media across the board? We need to do something because they are not an organization devoted only to lying for republicans and the wealthy. We must find a solution to deal with them or inoculate people to their lies.
1
By a show of hands, how many readers think Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) was intellectually honest when he said, "The bottom line is no one has yet to make the case for why the aid was withheld...."?
Anyone?
20
@LarryAt27N
The best thing for Rep. Meadows to do at this point is to resign and apologize to the American people for his shameful failure to uphold his oath to the U.S. Constitution. It is only through such action that he can redeem himself.
1
Game over. Even if the Senate acquits Trump he will go down in history as a criminal tax evader who betrayed our allies. He’ll never be re-elected with this mess hanging over him.
36
As much as that would be a desired result, don’t underestimate the amount of delusion present in the Republican Party and Trump supporters, specifically. Combine that with a too far left leaning Democratic candidate and we easily can have “four more years!”
Thank you Mr. Taylor for your courage and honesty. You would think it's now a slam dunk that congressional Republicans would see the light and impeach and remove Trump. If Hillary Clinton had done something this outrageous, they would call her a traitor and remove her immediately. Congressional Republicans must act to remove Trump or we're going to see future presidents think they can get away with the same corrupt behavior. It also would be a good message to send to young people that no one is above the law and cheaters never prosper.
24
Time for some Republican senators to tell Trump, “Resign now and save us a lot of trouble”.
46
Are we surprised? It’s Donald Trump. He’s a corrupt businessman who thinks only of himself. Question is what will we do about it? Will we log off our screens & march & vote? I will. I hope others feel moved to do more than pontificate on social media.
26
I hope that this is the first impeachment and removal of a sitting president. It will be a 'historic' achievement for the man, well deserved.
46
Republicans are increasingly confronted with more and more news reports of Trump acting badly as President and creating chaos with his ill-considered decisions. He and his supporters have struggled long and hard to convince people to mistrust and criticisms but the real world consequences are going to crack that disbelief in the news and when it does, Trump faces a catastrophic loss of confidence from his Republican supporters.
8
One would hope. But Trump support is a cult. It’s not rational. The rules of logic and reason don’t work on his followers the way they do on well-adjusted people.
8
It’s amazing to me that this testimony is even necessary, given how obvious it was from the get go what happened. But I guess politicians will stretch plausible deniability far beyond its reasonable limits if it supports their political goals, and the people will lap up propaganda from their stooges at Fox News
16
@David Clarkson The guy and his circle are slippery, you can expect given what has been lobbed at the dems already for it to be a dirty fight. I would think it good to go into trying to blow out his candle armed with a firehouse.
The GOP should think harder about how they act here. Do they really want to operate in world where every foreign government can meddle in US elections? Trump is detested by most people around the world and certainly through most of the developed world. They seem to want a world where republicans get unconstitutional foreign help, but they aren’t thinking about what happens when we all let this basic principal lapse. Is that what anyone wants? Whose going to cry foul then? Either we stamp this disgusting corrupt behavior out or we all go down a rabbit hole that makes us collectively worse off. That’s the choice.
19
I’m pretty sure the vast majority of the undeveloped world is not fond of him either.
3
@Baldwin m
Doesn’t the NRA have funding by the Russians now and has ties to it. Makes sense if you want to destabilize a country to poor massive amounts of firearms into it.
Doesn’t citizens united ruling allow wealthy corporations to funnel massive amounts of foreign money through donors. The wealthy have been global for decades. They don’t care about Americans or liberty.
2
I'm now thinking "The Mooch" prediction is correct. Anyone remember that? Let me refresh your memory. MARCH 2020!
12
Nixon to Trump , GOP is again stuck in the tar pit, bring the feathers, let's finish this circus.
28
I am a democrat , I vote for HR in 2016. I don't really care if democrats loose the 2020. Not a worry inch.
But
Trump must be impeached and removed from Office , that is what America needs, rest is secondary.
12
Trump is clearly being outmaneuvered by Adam Schiff. I love it!
22
Aside from the clear impeachable offenses that our Fake President committed in addition to his criminal violations of federal law, what is absolutely reprehensible, from any moral perspective, is that Trump was attempting to personally extort something from a young, inexperienced leader of a small country, dependent upon America’s continuing military assistance, which at the time was involved in a perilous shooting war with a vastly more powerful adversary, Russia. If this isn’t a classic case of outrageous “bullying” on an international scale what is? He is a moral monster of an epic, evil proportion. He must be impeached, removed from office, and then vigorously prosecuted, convicted, and imprisoned.
70
"There was no quid pro quo."
"There was no contract."
"There was no signature."
"The signatures were smudged."
"The contract wasn't notarized."
"The gun wasn't smoking."
Despicable.
40
William B. Taylor, Jr., American Hero
69
How fitting that a man of such unimpeachable credentials--with a lifetime of devotion to serving his country--would add to the impeachment of Trump with such powerful testimony. And that he did so with truth and authority, two qualities entirely missing from the miserable Trump and his cabinet and cronies who are proving to be corrupt in a way that deserves a sentence to prison.
52
So the diplomats have become matadors for our democracy, while the generals are all hiding under their desks praying that the phone doesn't ring.
44
Good for Mr. Taylor but this is just awful for our country.
Sad day.
35
Trump is in a bad place if he promised Putin a gift of Ukraine. He is playing a very dangerous game.Eventually Trump is likely to have something Putin wants that he cannot deliver to Putin. People who fail to deliver to Putin and cause Putin problems may suddenly acquire uranium poisoning or may suddenly have acid thrown in their face at some unsuspecting location, it has happened. Trump will stay on Putin's side now until the end. Wherever and whenever that will be.
14
Mr. Taylor please accept my heart felt thanks for your courage and love of our precious nation. On another matter I'm hoping your wife will forgive you for having taken the position. If not I would be pleased to provide couseling services, pro bono of course!!!
15
His opening statement needs to go in American History texts. Our children need to read and understand the importance of integrity. Taylor is a hero.
39
Trump sought to use gain personally by withholding military aid authorized by Congress unless a foreign head of state agreed to provide it. Since it involved a political campaign, while the Republicans may disapprove, they will not consider it sufficiently egregious to amount to a high crime and misdemeanor. Make no mistake, if Trump was a Democrat, they would consider it a high crime and misdemeanor. The Republicans consider our government one big computer game which only matters when it taxes them or prevents one of their constituents from selling tainted food to their customers (the dead and dying customers will make the business man not repeat the transgression).
8
Let's come to grips with the fact that Senate Republicans will not convict Trump in an impeachment trial, so no matter what information is imparted by State Department officials implicating Trump in broad abuse of power, the Ukraine affair will be depicted in history books as one of the many malfeasances committed by Trump without consequences.
3
@nzierler
I disagree. The turtle has been quiet and didn’t defend Trump recently.
1
It’s extremely disturbing to see how Republican leaders with their silence approve of the damage DJT is doing to the foundations our country was built upon,,, how could they possible look themselves on the mirror. If you don’t know what’s happening you haven’t been paying attention.
11
I pray that impeachment will be successful and he is forced from office. But what I really pray for is that the investigations coming out of the southern district of New York will indict him with criminal offenses and he is found guilty and sent to prison.
36
@Pamela Ryan
And shouldn't he be tried for treason? It seems so likely that every move he has made, including his non-transcribed meeting with Putin, his backing of North Korea, his attacks on the EU, and certainly his "policies" in Ukraine and Syria, are all geared to benefit Russia.
7
Frontline is taking notes for their future broadcast.
9
This will increase the number of House members willing to vote for impeachment, but more will be needed to convince Republicans to support impeachment. The majority of Republican voters must support removing Trump from office before he is at risk of conviction.
11
Isn't it interesting that in all this, John Bolton of all people is the one who strongly opposed Trump, Pompeo, and Rudy's sleazy backroom deals?
80
@Joe Arena
Just because Bolton rejects the U.S. world order since 1945 does not mean that he's a crook.
4
It's probably 12 weeks or so before impeachment articles are voted out of the House. Senate republicans (and red state democrats) would do well to use that time to decide which side of history they want to be on with regard to a Trump impeachment vote. History will record their choices, and most surely will not be kind to a vote that upholds Trump's abuse of power, which may not arise to the letter of illegality, but meets the Constitution's test of High Crime & Misdemeanor.
67
Mr. Taylor is a hero. I thank him for his service, integrity, honesty, and--frankly--for knowing right from wrong, which is woefully lacking in the President and the remnants of his administration.
82
My concern as I read Mr. Taylor's letter to the committee is for the balance of power between the USA, Ukraine and Russian currently seeming to shift with the imprimatur of the US government, when in actuality it is little more than the actions of one man, supported and furthered by strange bed-fellows, and publicly unchecked by many GOP Senators and Congressional representatives.
Rather than careful service to our nation and care for the well being of our allies, hubris and self-serving need for power is clearly on display here.
This recklessness is truly frightening.
Although I'm sure you now agree with the advice of your wife about taking on this post, I am glad for your service in this situation. Thank you, Mr. William B. Taylor Jr. and so many of your colleagues in the now decimated State Department, for your courageous integrity and service to this country.
56
Bill Taylor is a great American. History will commend him for his public service, his openness, his patriotism, and his honesty.
65
Heroes:
Bill Taylor
Fiona Hill
Marie Yovanovitch
I know there are many more but these stand out at this particular moment. They offer no histrionics via twitter or otherwise but rather detail, credibility, perspective, and years of service. They leave it to us and to the strength of our institutions to arrive at the proper place. I wish I was more hopeful that we would get there.
Still, I am incredibly moved and thankful for what they have done.
98
And add the unknown whistle blower.
1
Unless you believe that the testimony of a U.S. ambassador, a respected veteran of the diplomatic corps, must be completely disregarded, it is clear that Mr. Trump sought to use defense aid to Ukraine as a bargaining chip to obtain foreign help to his campaign.
That is illegal. It's also a high crime or misdemeanor under the Constitution. He must be impeached.
70
Thank you Mr William Taylor, you have exemplified the best that West Point and your 50 year career can show; Courage Under Fire.
To other readers of this, your political affiliation does not matter, the truth knows no political lines, it stands alone on its lofty perch, not to push any agenda, only to be there to be acted upon or, deny it, if you will but it will still stand, unlike all others. The bells now toll.
46
Well done, Mr. Taylor. Thank you for your clarity, and for a lifetime of honesty.
25
Why are all of these hearings done behind closed doors? What happened to sunlight being the best disinfectant??
2
@ Jason
This process has been explained many, many times before, but Republicans keep bringing it up even though they know better.
This is an impeachment inquiry. It is not a trial. It is in the investigatory stage. Witness testimony is heard by the bipartisan intelligence committee members (repubs& dems) behind closed doors, just as it is done during a grand jury investigation. This is Standard Operating Procedure.
It is done this way so that potential witnesses don’t hear each other’s testimonies and “synch” them up. As in: “Let’s get our stories straight.” It helps to encourage truthful testimony.
If this goes to an impeachment trial, everything is out in the wide open. Very public.
37
Normally the investigation would be done by the DoJ or a special prosecutor. However, the DOJ abrogated its responsibility, so the House is doing the investigating.
12
This is just the investigation. He sunlight will come soon enough. And you'd better wear SPF90, it'll be a scorcher.
16
The Republicans first criticize the whistle blower as providing unsubstantiated, second-hand information. Then when the allegations are repeatedly reinforced by multiple individuals from different roles and capacities, the exact same Republicans retort, "Yeah, we've already heard this. Nothing new here." It may not be new, but it gets harder and harder to refute, doesn't it?
65
@Michael Pesch
Has anyone tried to refute it? The "transcript" produced by the WH actually confirmed the allegations. The corruption of Trump and his cronies is so bad that they do not actually even know right from wrong anymore. Any Republican who is still Republican is a crook, it seems like to me.
1
If the Republicans are unwilling to abandon Trump in light of clear and convincing evidence of abuse of power which endangered national security, what do they expect he will do with another year or five years in power? He continues to get worse and worse. What will they not condone? That having been said, Joe Biden is not an appropriate person to take him on. The very fact that he did not prevent his son from taking a job that he would not have been offered but for his father's position as VP is bad enough. The fact that administration officials failed to address this with him because they felt he would be unable to cope with it because his other son was dying is frightening. What if he is President and unable to cope because another child is dying? People that fragile are just not up to the job.
10
Why does every foreign policy decision Trump makes benefit Russia? There’s a curious pattern here.
65
Good to see a West Pointer exemplifying the values of the academy. Pompeo, take note.
58
Guess not everyone takes the honor code as seriously.
1
This has to really, really worry any republican who is running for re-election (especially in the senate) who have spoken to defend the Donald over the past 2 years.
22
Mr. Taylor, a West Point graduate, exemplifies the West Point Cadet Honor Code.
"A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do."
Mr. Pompeo, also a West Point graduate, apparently doesn’t believe his noncompliance with a subpoena from Congress has any relation to lying, cheating or stealing.
63
Mr. William Taylor, a long serving career diplomat, has shown his loyalty to the Constitution and country. His testimony, says a lot, surrounding the Ukraine story. This testimony has credibility to occupy the front page of all the evidence that is now being gathered in the Impeachment Investigations.
Yet, the Republicans will continue to turn, twist and spin and blame the Democrats, as a tactic to attack and bring down the Office of the POTUS.
15
So The Art of the Deal is nothing but extortion:
"I got something you want and need. You got something I want. You want what I got, you give me what I want!"
And what Trump has is OUR money, allocated by Congress, vital to Ukraine's security, and good for OUR National Security.
And what Zelensky had? Confirmation that there was "corruption" by a Trump political rival to help Trump get re-elected, even though there is none (but that doesn't change things)
2 nations' critical needs put at risk to obtain something for Trump's PERSONAL needs. Yeah. That's corruption, extortion, conspiracy, and DEFINITELY proof Trump is a danger to our Republic (as well as Ukraine's).
21
@Dadof2: Correct, although Zelenskyy had no confirmation of corruption, and it didn't matter to Trump whether the accusation was true or not. Trump merely wanted him to state in public that Ukraine was "investigating" the Bidens. He wanted Zelenskyy to make the accusation against Biden on the world stage. It was a PR ploy, a way to manipulate voters and sow mistrust.
1
Stop enabling President Trump and Republicans to control the wording and dialog. "No collusion" was not a legal term like "No quid pro quo" but these words are like a call to arms for their base. Use different words.
17
Out of the blue, I remembered English class in High school. We had to read Julius Caeser.
I can definitely bet that Donald never did.
And to all the posters lamenting that the GOP won't shift... Remember who did Caeser in at the end....
If Donald had ever read any Shakespeare, he would know to be more worried about the people standing close to him...
I wonder who will be his Brutus?
25
I think there are many candidates.
2
@lonnie. I love it: Brutus, destroyer of Potus!
1
The opening statement by ambassador Bill Taylor is so well written! It reads both like a reasoned yet heartfelt plea to America to support a democratic but desperate Ukraine under existential attack from Russia, as well as like a compelling geopolitical spy novel, in chronologically granular detail.
Mr. Taylor comes across as one of the true American heroes emerging before the committee, in standing up and testifying to Trump’s attempts to corrupt our next election to his own benefit. It amounts to extorting Ukraine, no less under barely veiled threats of additional peril forthcoming from Putin and Russia.
Bravo Bill Taylor! Your fight against this evil machiavellian tide would make your mentor proud I’m sure.
21
Think with this testimony, a masterful piece of coherent thinking and precise prose, a point of inflection may have been reached.
The best shall no more lack conviction, even while the passionate are full of intensity.
11
Without any doubt laws regarding the POTUS have to be changed immediately. I don't care if that's a democrat, republican, green party or independent.
The Oval Office has to abide by the laws all Americans do but be held to a much higher standard. This does not mean long draw out appeals by the POTUS using tax payer money to look at every possible loophole to get out of being impeached and prosecuted while our country is being destroyed.
16
As a Businessman, if you sell your country out to a foreign power for your own interests, it is still treason. As a Republican, I can say that all Republicans need to take the loss on this guy and move on. If my football team loses, I don't whinge and moan for months on end complaining that if that opposing cornerback hadn't made an interception, we would have won, and its just not fair. As Republicans we need to know how to lose with dignity, and abandon this POTUS. It is not hard at all to find a person with more integrity than this guy. I am ashamed. However, it's a loss and we need to move on. Any Republican who doesn't take the loss now, is not just a sore loser, but borderline delusional. Yes, he won, but we now need to move on and look elsewhere. As a Republican I will not support illegal and treasonous activity at all costs. Selling out my integrity for the short term is simply not worth it for me, or for this great country. We must cut the POTUS loose and take the loss. Stop crying about it. Regroup and move on to build for the next season.
52
Trump will get reelected because of the electoral college and gerrymandering. We are no longer a democracy.
4
@Tom McManus ...Trump won't be the Republican candidate in 2020.
6
@Tom McManus The EC & gerrymandering are not new. Big Data has made gerrymandering more effective to be sure but still, not new.
What is new is that tens of millions of our fellow citizens want a Dear Leader to keep them safe. They are incapable of playing the part of citizens in a self-governing Republic.
1
Ukraine’s per capita GDP (PPP) is ranked 110th (World Bank, 2017) and 111th (IMF, 2018). Nearby rankings in our continent include Jamaica, Dominica and Belize.
Nothing but gratitude and respect for Mr. Taylor -an honorable man doing his job.
10
Right wing Deplorables don’t care which is the problem. The impeachment inquiry and all this exposure is simply preaching to the choir. Democrats are on a surefire path to failure and probably even losing seats in the House, thanks to what amounts to government giveaway policies laid out by Warren and Sanders, and now this. Instead of focusing on winning the independents and moderates, democrats are steadfastly on the road to getting slapped at the voting booth next year. This is all a show by the Democratic Party. That trump won the first time thanks to the arrogance of Clinton has not taught democrats a lesson.
2
@Eastbackbay, have you ever heard of just doing the right thing? This is our democracy, our Constitution. Someone has to fight for it without weighing all the political optics.
7
@Eastbackbay *oh I agree. Actual criminal behavior is immaterial.
The irony of this is Trump will still be in business after this is over. The Republican Party will not.
3
Conditioning Congressionally authorized federal funds and military aid to a foreign country engaged in defending its eastern border against Russian military aggression on the leader of that country initiating domestic actions aimed at digging up dirt against the political adversary of the President of the U.S. is a crime.
8
Giuliani ought to be arrested for impersonating a US government official.
Also for marrying his first cousin, but the first charge would do.
23
Honestly? We should thank Giuliani for bringing out the "best" in "trump".
10
Wow! Really, I mean, wow.
22
Mr. Taylor’s account of a very obvious quid pro quo is eviscerating, chilling and one-hundred percent credible. This is a diplomat with a stellar reputation, unlike the president whose administration he serves. Trump should do this country a favor and resign immediately. Enough of the obfuscating, lying, colluding with Giuliani and the rest of the crime syndicate. Leave now, Trump, move to Russia, and we promise never to mention your name again.
81
@H. Clark, how quickly we forget Robert Mueller III’s impeccable integrity. That was a slam dunk too.
5
@H. Clark No I want Trump and his family and associates behind bars.
3
The implication of Trump is not surprising. What's surprising and refreshing is that diplomats have decided that our country and our foreign policy is more important than a President who is only interested in himself and his interests.
45
Finally, true American Patriots are coming forward with the facts and written notes of the wrong doing of a crooked president. You can tell the difference from these Americans and the ones who boot lick trumps shoes who fill out our Congress. trump held up Congress approved appropriation aid to a foreign country until they got dirt on Biden and his son. That happened, he should be in jail for treason. And the republicans? Get over it
33
I feel like Trumpland will just roll out another T-shirt slogan: The Constitution: just get over it....
30
@Hmmmm
They already have.
6
It appears the latin words "quid pro quo" don't exist in the Ukrainian language. Ignorance is bliss to Ukraine.
1
They don’t exist in the English language, either, nor will they be found in this ridiculous “inquiry.”
@Uly
Ha ha! They are Latin, so they can exist in any language.
2
@Edward That's right Edward. If your hero didn't actually say the magic words all is well.
Any chance you might return to sanity? Perhaps a nice long walk on the beach would help.
1
The key points highlighted by Mr. Taylor, which have been mirrored by the testimony of other State Dept. officials, need to be presented in crystal clarity to the public, on television, as the impeachment process plays out.
Not everyone receives their information from actual journalists to say the least. The Trump spin machine must not be allowed to white wash the truth any longer.
Republicans in Congress now have an oath of office responsibility to get out of the way of obstructing the truth at a bare minimum and let Americans digest the facts for themselves.
-------------------------------------------
"Ambassador Sondland told me that President Trump had told him that he wants President Zelenskyy to state publicly that Ukraine will investigate Burisma and alleged Ukrainian interference in the 2016 U.S. election."
"But President Trump did insist that President Zelenskyy go to a microphone and say he is opening investigations of Biden and 2016 election interference, and that President Zelenskyy should want to do this himself."
~ Bill Taylor ~
21
This is all so John Le Carre'.
13
Who are you going to believe — a career, nonpartisan diplomat and West Point graduate who has served his country admirably for decades, or a pathological, racist, porn-star paying liar who has clearly never read the Constitution and takes every opportunity to trash the norms of our democracy and usurp our system of checks and balances?
109
@H. Clark Republicans find this question to be very easy to answer.
So do the rest of us.
The answers are different.
4
The End is near...
13
The president has disgraced the uniform he never wore as he abandoned the field of battle and ran for cover as benidict arnold's will do. Any thinking human being realizes that he is guilty of high crimes. They should lock hum up and throw away the key
21
Game. Set. Match. Bye Donnie.
26
Tomorrow the republicans will start discrediting Taylor, a know name today. He must have voted for President O. He must be a Hillary supporter. They will start their smear campaign mark my word!
15
@Barry
Almost certainly counter productive. I'd like to see them try but I suspect even Murdoch and McConnell get it.
5
According to Graham, all of the impeachment inquiry is "un-American and dangerous." Just curious ... anyone know how his Russian lessons are going?
24
Just one question, Sen. Graham. How do you sleep at night?
51
He's John Dean and this is the smoking gun...
11
Is this really surprising?We have an absolute low life leading our Country fromDraft Dodging to racial bias in real estate to racial divisiveness,tax fraud etc,etc.This man is a stain on our country and the Republicans are the piano player at the House of I’ll Repute.
24
No quid pro quo is getting a little tiresome mr president. How about 'no ham and cheese on rye.' At least that would be truthful and makes just about as much sense as anything alse you say.
27
William Taylor is a patriot.
40
At a minimum, Rudy Giuliani should have been disbarred long ago.
30
It’s time to take to the streets. Are you with me?
88
@Paula Bonham Well unless those streets are in states represented by Republican senators I don't see the point.
My representative is going her job. My senators will as well.
You might want to think about getting a new representative.
1
Obvious from day one.
21
Obvious since trump came down the escalator in 2015.
7
How long can Mark Meadows pretend that the Emperor is wearing anything?
35
The day after Meadows is voted out by his constituents.
3
The quid pro quo in the room is to the news media, “ I’ll keep giving you stories like Ukraine, then the big story, the desertion of the Kurds, gets buried in process.
Ukraine has their funding, the Kurds have bubkiss.
3
Trump is a serial abuser of women, working people, loopholes and power. We must restore dignity to the presidency.
33
Any day the donor class will conclude that the cost of Trump in office outweighs the benefits. Sure, he's got his 30%, but since Citizens United, the big guys can make offers that Republicans who want to keep their jobs can't refuse.
Watch the cracks start in the Senate dam accelerate. Trump's Kurdish move will give them cover.
27
So the Trump defense of his behavior towards Ukraine is now down to "Get over it." And our response to the man in the Oval Office should be: "Get out of there."
30
Well there you go, Lindsey.
I assume we'll be able to count on your "guilty" vote for abuse of power in the impeachment trial, right?
Right...
29
Trump is many bad things, but heading the list is the evidence that he is traitor to this country.
34
So what do you say now, Mr. Pompeo?
24
I want a paper ballot.
68
What is wrong with the GOP senators and congress members? Are they all waiting for a moving truck with a Cyrillic logo to pull up in front of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue?
These clowns like Susan Collins, Lindsay Graham, Marco Rubio, and of course, Mitch McConnell need to put their big boy pants on and do what is right. They've all made more than their "fair share" of millions at our expense.
Now, they need to do the jobs they were elected to do - or get out. And their constituents need to do their jobs as voters - vote them out.
51
It is clear that Taylor is a hawk, someone who has pushed the Ukraine war for years, and is a political enemy of the Republicans, and of anyone who would not increase the war.
He's a Hillary.
3
@Mark Thomason ….You need to think this through. We're talking about the word of a West Point officer who served in Viet Nam versus bone spurs. Now think really really hard; who is telling the truth? You have had time to read the White House transcript of the phone conversation (not the real recording) and Taylor's opening statement. Trump is gone. The train is leaving the station. Either get on or get left behind.
10
@Mark Thomason We get it. You despise Hillary Clinton.
But please try to let your hatred of her keep from opening your eyes to what Trump is doing to our country.
I don’t doubt that a Hillary Clinton presidency would have bern destructive, if for no other reason that the right would never concede an inch. But at least she could walk and chew gum. She would have a competent and stable cabinet that would have been able to manage the country despite ceaseless personal attacks.
Compare that the the adolescent who she ran against.
That is what we should expect from our president.
9
@Mark Thomason
I am trying unsuccessfully to find a polite way to say that you are brilliant but thoroughly deluded.
2
His egregious use of the word "lynching" displays his utter lack of understanding or empathy for what thousands of African Americans have suffered. It is the ultimate false equivalence. The Central Park Five instance is a closer equivalence especially with his demand for the death penalty. Trump apologist Flimsy Lindsey backs him on this victimhood; unbelievable since thee are Kurds being killed now extra-judicially. Come on somebody in the GOP; now is the time to stand up and be remembered later for doing so,
20
What more do you Congressional Republicans need? Your guy in the White House is abusing his power. Extortion, by any measure, is a criminal offense. You have edited an transcript (a full transcript accessible if you really need it) of the call with Zelensky, an public call by the president to have China investigate the Bidens and sworn testimony from multiple witnesses to the extortion scheme.
If that isn't enough to throw the man out of office, then you've had too much of the Kool-Aid and it would be best if you bowed out of office.
16
He got what he wanted, knocked Biden out of of the running, knowing that he would get away with it and create negative story on biden, done. he knows that he won't be impeached, its all back door agreement with Mitch, done. All hands on deck for the election, unfortunately we have to wait to knock him out, thats the where it will be decided . meanwhile the next candidate for the chopping block is...
13
@Brian This is not going as Trump & Rudy hoped. They may have expected some blowback but this is way more than they bargained for.
On the one hand it would be a drag we have to wait, on the other hand that might make it easier to flip the Senate.
1
What interested most about this article is the integrity of Mr. Taylor and his years of public service. Here's a great quote: “If your country asks you to do something, you do it — if you can be effective,” he recalled his mentor saying.
The belief that government is the problem totally ignores great people like Mr. Taylor and many, many others like him. These are our public servants who we should be thanking, not trashing!
BTW: check out the 5th Risk by Michael Lewis. It's a great read.
28
How long are the Republicans going to continue trying to cover this up?
20
@WeHadAllBetterPayAttentionNow Until we vote them out of office.
4
“I have dedicated my life to serving U.S. interests at home and abroad in both military and civilian roles. My background and experience are nonpartisan and I have been honored to serve under every administration, Republican and Democratic, since 1985.
For 50 years, I have served the country, starting as a cadet at West Point, then as an infantry officer for six years, including with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam; then at the Department of Energy; then as a member of a Senate staff; then at NATO; then with the State Department here and abroad — in Afghanistan, Iraq, Jerusalem, and Ukraine; and more recently, as Executive Vice President of the nonpartisan United States Institute of Peace.”
29
Poor Trump, having to work two jobs, president and hospitality maven.
He cheated to win the first time, and got away with it. He was trying to do it again.
30
He did it to pass his college courses and thought he could do it a second time for president.
4
Well, yeah, trump and his co-whatevers didn't DO any quid pro quo; but, if they Did, it's okay, everyone does it; but if everone else doesn't, they Should because we're gonna keep on don't it. So
Get Over IT.
Now, go back to doing whatever it is you Do.
And don't Bother us anymore. We're really busy!
11
OK, so he did it---but lying about it to Congress and the American people? Surely, bald-faced lying about the business of government should be an impeachable offense.
Can't this be the lie, among all of the thousands of others, that finally does Trump in?
10
Don’t impeach Trump unless he’ll be removed from the office. He’ll use it to get re-elected.
It’s a shame for democracy when almost half of the populace don’t care to vote.
Get out and vote your conscious in 2020. Bring some normalcy to Washington.
12
Trump makes the best deals. Even if they’re illegal.
11
@David
Aren't the best ones illegal?
A race between deep state and Trump expect if report soon ....narratives will change meanwhile this is going no where ...the hysteria at this point only belies the fact that Dems have the correct feeling they are headed for another loss ... this smells like desperation
5
@Koko Reese
Very unconvincing argument and conspiracy-ish. Trump got caught directly violating the constitution by withholding military funds that were authorized by Congress to have a foreign government investigate an opponent; then have PM make a false announcement about the Biden's right before the election. Ooops!
7
@Koko. No, not deep state. Just the open and honest behavior of an employee of the Dept of State.
Or even more simply put: the State, not Business . Honesty doesn't have to be 'deep.' We cheer when it's at the surface of all our lives.
2
@koko Reese. Trump and Giuliani are the deep state.
2
“When a businessman is about to sign a check to someone who owes him something, he said, the businessman asks that person to pay up before signing the check,” Mr. Taylor testified, quoting Mr. Sondland.
A, they don't owe Trump anything, and B, he's not 'signing the check' because Congress already wrote it. It's not his money, and it wasn't his decision to spend it.
Bottom line is this huckster simply cannot be trusted around money. He's always looking to personally gain from it, even if it's not coming from or going to him.
24
The question now comes down to a legal gamble on parallel with Abraham Lincoln's decision to resupply and support the federal garrison at Ft. Sumter in 1861.
That decision led to war within our own house.
It saved the country, and our constitution.
Congress has a decision to make, every bit as vital.
Impeach Mr Trump, and remove him from the office he has soiled.
Or, let the will of American voters remove Mr. Trump from any chance of a second term.
Then, the Justice department can hold Mr Trump criminally liable.
America can not survive with Mr Trump and his gang making business deals such as this.
8
Apparently nobody is a greater believer in this than Trump: that he cannot win a democratic election without unfair, illegal, and unconstitutional help from foreign nations.
28
Trump is a draft-dodging, serial bankrupt grifter, who is loved by a little less than half the American public. Reason has no bearing on anything.
The folks who want him gone need to get together and turn out a huge vote for the democrat contender. Any democrat. Before irrevocable harm is done....
17
May this nation's patriots continue to come forward to expose the corrupt presidency of Donald J. Trump.
33
Earlier i wrote a comment regarding trumps own use of the word "lynching" as a comparison of his being impeached by the house, and then support from the likes Senator Graham. I said that impeachment was the correct procedure that was offered in the constitution. I will now say this, if trump wants to descibe whats happening as a lynching, then i will counter, its not going to be necessary, as the saying goes if you give a person enough rope they will take care of the problem themself. Today we have heard more testimony from an appointee by this administration, that supported the quid pro quo. The evidence continues to mount agianst #45.
9
@Ricky Yes (though) a quid pro quo is not essential since solicitation is enough to impeach. (Though) on its face the lynching metaphor is a false equivalence as well as being insensitive and self-serving, Graham and Trump by using that term are implicitly admitting guilt. As yet it is only an inquiry. He has not yet been determined as guilty. These two gallants seem to be expecting an inevitable finding of guilt. The inquiry is within the law; a lynching is an extra judicial killing. He seems to have forgotten is role in the injustice suffered by the Central Park Five. with all its racial implications.
1
Trump, do yourself, and the rest of us, a favor: Resign.
Your resignation will go down in history as the one decent thing you did in your presidency, because it will have saved us taxpayers a ton in impeachment procedural costs.
Besides, we're not even close to being finished paying for your crimes -- considering all the felony charges that await you (and your family) after you leave office.
Meanwhile, hope you're sleeping O.K. these days...
24
I wish people like Mr. Taylor would run for President.
17
Meanwhile, JM, what a splendid thing it is that people like Mr Taylor are ruining this president.
1
If Trump is impeached, Democrats should win big in 2020. Based on what we have been told, they are likely to inherit recession. As in 2008, they are sure to enact a major bailout bill, which will be expensive. That will test the patience of most over big government spending. Whether or not the President is progressive, he or she will only be able to enact one or two programs. Health care, Infrastructure, tax cuts, student aid, climate change, gun control, minority rights and women rights are all expensive, some more then others. The quest for funding will splinter the party. Midterm elections will not go well. Too early to predict 2024.
Of course, I don’t know. Of course . It’s all a guess. But there is little doubt that Trump unites Democrats and without Trump, much less unity. Your guess is welcome. Mine is that the Dems will disintegrate into many interest groups. Blacks, women, progressives, moderates and on and on are unlikely to support Democrats whose priorities are elsewhere.
As for Republicans, they help no one. They are even less likely to survive. I think the days of the two party system are over. And what comes next is uncertain. But two parties at war will surely not survive a recession.
2
I think we all need to get away from "quid pro quo" and use English. Trump was telling the President of Ukraine that he'd need to come up with a bribe to get military aid. What was the bribe? An announcement in public that Ukraine was investigating Biden.
There was no probable cause or any cause for an investigation but if the President of a country says in public that he is launching one, that would have been terribly damaging to Biden's campaign. That damage was the payoff.
It's just that simple.
32
@Steve
The benefit was to both Trump and Putin. Putin was looking for a scapegoat (Ukraine) on which to put the blame for its interference in our 2016 election. Trump was more than willing to oblige Putin in this effort.
If proven true, this elevates the crime from federal bribery to possibly treason.
4
“I don’t know that any of us, if we are being intellectually honest, are hearing revelations that we were not aware of,” said Representative Mark Meadows, Republican of North Carolina.
Well, I certainly wasn’t aware of this at all just a couple of weeks ago. Was anyone outside of the Executive Branch?
“The bottom line is no one has yet to make the case for why the aid was withheld or even if the Ukrainians knew about it.”
Did we read/hear the same statement?
10
I think Mark Meadows bottom line will be fed back to him in his next election campaign-over and over and over again.
3
As a former, and formerly proud, North Carolinian, it gives me no pleasure to state unequivocally that Mark Meadows is an apparatchik clown.
21
Understood, but most of the members of Congress from Georgia are just as bad.
3
so according to my count this incriminates the DOJ, the State Department, Rudy, VEEP Pence, and the assorted henchmen hired to assist. Hello President Pelosi.
41
These career foreign service officers come forth to testify at risk to their careers but through sheer acts of courage and patriotism. Republicans cower in terror at the possible loss of their cushy jobs and never mind patriotism.
Color the Republican party Yellow--like the Donald's hair....and face...and backbone...
28
Note to Republican senators: Treason is a “High crime and misdemeanor”. As for Congressman Meadows, you are just stating that this is just the latest of testimonies that proves the point that Trump and his cronies are guilty.
14
This might be a tipping point, although one never knows with the GOP. Even today, after Taylor's testimony, Lindsey Graham said that this whole thing "is a sham." Seriously? How much longer are Republicans going to get away with these talking points? The amount of criminal activity coming out of the White House is staggering, and Pompeo, Pence, and Barr (and how many others?) all knew it was happening. The whole lot of them have to go. Oh, what I would give to see the look on Sean Hannity's face if Pelosi became president.
Whatever happened to the GOP? Currently, in addition to the GOP's expertise in gerrymandering, lying to the public, and stoking fear, we can now add to the list Republicans' support for a president who wants to shoot immigrants in the legs and lock up kids in cages, as well as supporting child molesters for congressional seats, paying off porn stars, quid pro quos with foreign countries in order to remain in office, trying to sell conspiracy theories to the public, tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations, and trying to remove health care for millions of citizens. Welcome to the GOP.
15
I pray that true patriots keep-and-protect William B. Taylor Jr. from Donald's henchmen who may want to eradicate him, in one way or another, for exposing, again, the White House's deep corruption.
May we spit-out the toxic Donald and his soulless GOP... ASAP.
10
Did trump say at one point “I say it like it is”. Well he was lying.
But here is a true patriot “who says it like it is”.
Mueller is nothing but an embarrassment to this country who didn’t have the courage to defend my country. Mr. Taylor is a true soldier who will be remembered in history.
And then there are the spineless republicans, who are likely gearing to tarnish Mr. Taylor’s credibility.
When are Trump, Giuliani, Sondland, Barr, Volker going to jail??? LOCK THEM UP!!
11
We all heard our president lie to us: "No quid pro quo!"
7
This gun sure smells like smoke. How much more damning
evidence remains untold? Trump's efforts at containment are failing. It is becoming increasingly untenable for anyone to defend him.
Our democracy is under assault by a wannabe dictator. He must be stopped before more irreparable harm is done. Democrats cannot stop him by themselves.
This is test of the character of the GOP. To vote against impeachment is to deny Trump's blatant criminality, put party ahead of country, & green light foreign countries corrupting our every election.
During Watergate, enough Republicans had the integrity to demand that Nixon resign. I worry that in today's hyper-polarized climate, there may not be enough statesmen left to hold Trump accountable for his misdeeds. If Trump can avoid removal from office, it will embolden future Presidents to push the envelope even further.
8
I wonder if this is enough to bring Trump down?
2
Putin and Trump had a phone call on July 31st, just six days after Trump's call with Zelensky.
In his opening statement, Ambassador Taylor notes that:
"When I first arrived in Kyiv, in June and July, the actions of both the regular and the irregular channels of foreign policy served the same goal--a strong U.S.-Ukraine partnership--but it became clear to me by August that the channels had
diverged in their objectives. As this occurred, I became increasingly concerned."
I think the impeachment inquiry should obtain the transcript of the July 31st call between Trump and Putin.
13
Recent testimonies put Mr. Trump is in position for which he is not prepared. We are witnessing a debacle. It is interesting to observe that the two apologists, Sen. O'Connell and Sen. Graham, have over-extended their political capital trying to come up with figures-of-speech that will be picked up and parroted by Trump supporters.
11
So this is what we get when we elect someone to “run government like a business?” This ought to put to rest the notion that business people are somehow superior to dedicated public servants in running the federal government. Transactional skills are not transferable in all instances, and long experience in that world may blind one to obvious ethical pitfalls.
13
I think I understand trump, he is selective regarding his understanding of quid pro quo.
One definition is "The mutual consideration that passes between two parties to a contractual agreement, thereby rendering the agreement valid and binding."
Because the aid trump was withholding was unrelated to a contract between him and President Zelensky, even though trump was twisting Z's arm to announce investigations in order to get the military aid and Oval Office meeting, no formal written contract, no quid pro quo.
Of course, when considering common usage, "quid pro quo refers to the giving of one valuable thing for another. Quid pro quo has the same meaning in the law but with varying implications in different contexts."
Among those latter contexts is sexual quid pro quo, which I suspect the potus is somewhat familiar with, and that familiarity perhaps also led him to clearly state, as to this situation, no quid pro quo.
So in trump's mind no quid pro quo was correct for at least two meanings.
That said, given the mounting evidence, and the fact that quid pro quo when asking for foreign assistance in US politics is not even required, can we start impeach hearings now?
3
Thank you Ambassador Taylor for your integrity. It was especially fitting today as later this week we will honor the memory of Elijah Cummings who fought for your rights and those of other patriots to tell the truth. May you not lose your job over this act of bravery.
11
Does anybody remember Bridgegate? That scandal in 2013 when New Jersey government officials close to Governor Chris Christie closed several lanes on the George Washington bridge, faking road construction, for political reasons related to Christie’s desire to punish a democratic town mayor for not helping his re-election campaign?
Well, it’s worth noting that several people went to prison for this abuse of authority, and it completely destroyed Christie’s political career even though it was never established that Christie had ordered the traffic closures. What we are now hearing about from the Trump administration is much, much worse than this petty scandal, that looks almost quaint by comparison.
Republicans, I know it’s hard, but maybe try to remember what you believed in back in 2013.
22
I’m not at all surprised that Trump would do something like this, but again, the thing that surprises me is that some 50 million-plus Americans think it’s no big deal.
16
@C. M. Jones
That's because of Fox News and Reagan getting rid of the Fairness Doctrine in media coverage. It's explained in the documentary about Roger Ailes, called "Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes"
4
There are similarities between Trump standing up at the Republican nominating convention and asking Russia to find Clinton’s lost emails and Trump requesting Zelensky publicly announce that the Ukraine would investigate Burisma and 2016 election corruption in their country. All three are red herrings and in both instances are meant to sow mistrust in an opponent. I don’t think Trump cares if the phone call between himself and Zelensky is made public or is evidence of wrong-doing. His supporters won’t care that this type of activity is not in the U.S. best interest and interferes with our national agreements and treaties - they’ll vote for him and believe any excuse or lie he gives. While Trump has not yet been able to throw Ukraine under the bus the way he did the Kurds, he’s not yet out of office and has an obvious liking of Hungary. Hungary would like a weakened Ukraine then they could take a slice, as has Russia. Trump is very willing to give Ukraine away. If the Republicans don’t mind, they should just keep sticking with Trump and not be the leaders they were elected to be. Maybe they can be oligarchs, too.
4
”William B. Taylor Jr., the United States’ top diplomat in Ukraine, told impeachment investigators privately on Tuesday that President Trump held up vital security aid for the country and refused a White House meeting with Ukraine’s leader until he agreed to make a public pledge to investigate Mr. Trump’s political rivals.”
So, there you have it; clear abuse of power in service to his own personal political gain. Game, set, impeachment, and conviction. Now all that’s left is to see whether the Senate Republicans will follow the law, respect the Constitution, and save our republic.
7
The legal significance of Trump's denial of a quid pro quo -- which accompanies each actual demand for quid pro quo -- is that it evidences the element of intent in the charge of intentional abuse of power. It is time to stop disparaging and disproving Trump's claim of no quid pro quo and recognize that it is an extremely helpful element of proof in the impeachment proceeding.
5
I was in the hospital for the past 5 days for "minor" heart surgery. One of the things (besides the love of my family and excellent medical care) that kept me going was the promise I have made myself to live to see the day that Trump is dragged from the White House in handcuffs.
37
Best wishes for a speedy recovery and hope you get your wish and Trump is finally held accountable!
8
AG Barr pulled the same stunt on whistle-blower reports as he did with the Mueller report with his contrived "nothing here" charades. Now it turns out there is a lot there! ... and AG Barr has lots to answer for . We're also reminded there are two other key items hanging out there:
> he still has not released to Congress the 'real' Mueller report (clean of redactions) now long overdue.
> he's quietly closed down pending court cases left by the Mueller investigation without explanation.
It appears that AG Barr is deliberately shirking the responsibilities of his office to deliberately provide cover for trump.
12
Biden is also receiving lots of publicity form this also, perhaps it is helping him, 180 degrees from Trumps alleged intent. Biden does not align with the mainstream opinion of the democratic party, and lags in funding but most polls show him continuing to lead the democratic party presidential nominee race. Perhaps the real outcome of this is Trump is getting himself in trouble while Biden benefits
1
Okay Sen Graham... this opening statement lays out what you said you needed to see. The Republican firewall fails when you break ranks, sir. As your former constituent. Someone who voted for you, I’m asking that you reward my faith in you now.
6
This reminds me of the old horror movies featuring the mummy. Slow but steady, as everyone runs around like crazy, trying to avoid it, the mummy lurches forward until all of its victims have been neutralized. In this case the mummy equals facts, and as we know, “facts are stubborn things”.
4
Sondheim needs to be recalled to 're-testify' it appears. Having to change testimony before Congress has become an art form for Republicans.
It's time Congress started throwing the book at these guys. It's a crime.
7
Sadly, he's too busy working on a new musical.
9
Any republican senator that reads the opening remarks of William Taylor and does not vote to impeach trump should be voted out of office to live in shame for the rest of their lives, albeit with gold plated medical insurance paid for by our taxes.
9
"Republicans accused Democrats of exaggerating, but they declined to share details of the testimony."
Are they allowed to share details of the testimony? It was said to be a secret hearing and only Democrats were permitted to provide details.
Okay, okay, so there was a quid pro quo. Guess what? Trump’s supporters don’t care, and this is not going to turn 20 Republican Senators against him. The Dems better hope there is more to come if there’s gonna be any chance of the Senate convicting Trump.
1
History directly contradicts your premise. Richard Nixon had the solid support of the Republican Senate, until one day he didn’t. The exact same process is playing out today in plain sight and sooner than you think will produce the same result.
14
There is a code of honor and honest men and women still serving our country who are willing to sacrifice for the truth.
5
Contrary to the lame defenses of Trump by Republican politicians, I have trouble imagining a more impeachable abuse of power than what the President apparently engaged in. And I don't say that rhetorically. Extorting a foreign country to cover the tracks of Russian intervention in the 2016 election, and to fabricate a smear of his most probable 2020 election opponent. And using military aid legally appropriated by Congress as his leverage. And holding that leverage over a European country that has been invaded by Russia, with all of the strategic and historical ramifications that carries.
What truly surprises me, though, is the total cowardice of Republican senators and representatives. Granted, I never considered the Republican congressional delegation a bastion of courage. Nevertheless, it is astonishing that not one has condemned Trump's high crime, even in the hypothetical ("if proven true," etc.). I would hope and expect that any randomly selected group of 254 Americans would show more courage and patriotism than what we have seen from Republican elected officials.
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There were two sets of people who made the difference for Trump-Pence in the key Electoral College states.
The 1% who wanted giant tax cuts and lassiez faire judges.
The more-than-1% who don't know whether Ukraine is a fruit or a vegetable and who, given its proper category, couldn't place it in its proper hemispheres. What they don't know is deplorable and they elected The Grand Ignoramus.
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Well done Mr Taylor.
Thank God for these State Department professionals.
10
Perfectly clear , trump subverted the American Constitution for political gain .
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Now we know why the State Department of the United Stares wanted to silence Taylor. Mike Pompeo, who has been disgraced, needs to resign immediately.
12
I don't think we appreciate the extent to which the Trump era has ushered in a completely different approach to politics and, yes, foreign policy. He has unleashed the id in his base and reason will almost certainly be irrelevant in convincing them that Trump is a dangerous, self-absorbed megalomaniac no matter what William Taylor may reveal in his testimony about Ukraine.
The problem, though, is that appealing to the id works. So the Dems better get a whole lot better at it than the current crop of poll-tested, mealy-mouthed, pandering, Ivy-educated (or in at least one case doddering) candidates if they expect to remove the current barbarian from the Oval Office. In other words, sadly, we need our own barbarian.
Americans have become so uneducated that telling them the truth about what is really happening is impossible.
The Espionage Act, like the patriot act, has to go. They're arbitrary and threaten citizen's rights.
For a long time, prosecutors were reportedly averse to bringing charges under the 1917 Espionage Act because they knew it was overly broad and almost certainly unconstitutional. It was the proverbial glass hammer-- if you use it, it will break. But our courts have gone so far to the right that the Obama administration wasn't worried, and neither is Trump.
3
the quid pro quo is obvious to me, but if mitch doesn't hear "proof" the ukrainians knew about it at the time since Zelensky affirms trumps line they didn't know about it, and soon after the money eventually went thru to them, how can QPQ be proven in a senate trail context?
What I find very disturbing are the senior officials who chose not to tell anyone about Trump's unethical or illegal behavior. For example, Bolton just quit, and never told a soul about this quid pro quo, even though he knew about it.
6
Can we make this as simple as possible? At this point any Republican Congressperson or Senator who does not condemn the actions of Donald Trump needs to be considered an accessory after the fact to treason and obstruction of justice.
4
While Donnie was nursing his bone spurs, Taylor was in country with the 101st Airborne. Seems like a mismatch to me.
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@Frank
Yep. Honorable v dishonorable. Airborne, all the way!!
1
@Frank Haven't you heard that Taylor is a no-good Democrat Deep State operative out to take down the sainted Donald?
Well you will.
Yes this is satire. Shouldn't have to say it but the Trump cultists are so self-satirical...
3
By defending Trump, Republicans will never again be the party of the rule of law and moral behavior.
10
This is the same Mr. Donald Trump who was saved from bankruptcy by Mr. Vladimir Putin. Whenever Trump and Putin encounter one another, they leave the meeting/party/dinner/whatever and have personal, private talks; does anyone doubt that Mr. Putin, who arranged to get Mr. Trump elected, is telling him what to do next?
11
Can you imagine if Barack Obama had done 1/10th of what Trump has done? The Republicans would be apoplectic about removing him from office.
15
So Trump wanted to know what happened in the 2016 election (ancient history but suspect) and Burisma which was being investigated at one time until former VP Biden threatened to withhold $billions unless prosecutor was fired (also ancient history).
If the press, the media, and the Democratic controlled House will not ask about those two very serious events, then I guess the POTUS has the right, legal or not.
1
Everyone KNOWS what happened in 2016 election. Russia interfered in Donald Trump’s behalf.
That’s what OUR intelligence community said. That’s what the Mueller team discovered.
There is absolutely ZERO evidence that Ukraine or the Biden’s had anything with the election. And although there is no doubt that Hunter Biden got his job because of his father (as the Trump boys are doing business all over the world because of their Dad), there is (again) absolutely ZERO evidence that VP Biden did anything because of his son.
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@old sarge: Nope, the Bidens did nothing illegal or unethical. Trump broke the law, tried to cover it up and lied about it.
2
@old sarge
But why wait until Biden was leading in the polls? Republicans held House and Senate for two years did little other than pass tax cuts.
2
Wow, this seems like what impeachment was made for!
9
Just a quick not to all those women yesterday saying women were the only ones appearing to testify and give the unvarnished truth. Today we have a case where men are capable of doing the same. Both the men and women coming forward on this are patriots and deserve our gratitude for being brave enough to do so. It takes all of us united to see this through to a just conclusion.
7
These revelations hit the Republicans right in the face, and still they deny. They have lost all sense of probity, dignity, and decency in their foolish defense of Trump.
20
It is time for the Democrats to stop keeping this private. They need no longer hide behind closed doors and they must bring this out publicly to avoid any further cover for Republicans who will keep saying it is a secret cover up, in spite of the fact that there are Republicans in the room behind the closed doors.
Trump is a crook, and worse, he is an incompetent crook who will carry Nixon's coat tails in the dust bin of history.
6
@Chris Clark
This process has been explained many, many times before, but Republicans keep bringing it up even though they know better.
This is an impeachment inquiry. It is not a trial. It in in the investigatory stage. Witness testimony is heard by the bipartisan intelligence committee members (Repubs & Dems) behind closed doors, just as it is done during a grand jury investigation. This is Standard Operating Procedure.
It is done this way so that potential witnesses don’t hear each other’s testimonies and “synch” them up. As in “Let’s get our stories straight.” It helps to encourage truthful testimony.
If this goes to an impeachment trial, everything is out in the wide open. Very public.
1
@Chris Clark …"It is time for the Democrats to stop keeping this private."....Taylor's opening statement wasn't private.
1
I am absolutely sickened with what Trump is doing to this vulnerable country. Sickened and outraged. It is every American's responsibility to read the opening statement of Mr. Taylor. I am, unequivocably, horrified and outraged.
16
Well, it's all there in black and white for everyone to see.
Donald Trump, the President of the United States, refused to release $391,000,000 in congressionally approved, tax-payer funded military aid to a foreign nation unless it's leader agreed to publicly announce an investigation into a campaign rival.
"Mr. Taylor recounted Mr. Sondland saying that, 'When a businessman is about to sign a check to someone who owes him something', he said, 'the businessman asks that person to pay up before signing the check.'”
Next we'll be hearing from Giuliani that, "Extortion isn't illegal! Never has been! It's never been illegal!"
Impeach Trump Now!
(And if we want to prevent this from happening again in the near future we had better send the right message this time i.e. by sending him and his accomplices to jail, preferably for life)
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To be fair, trumpet wouldn't be the first president to use this type of persuasion?
1
To meddle in a US election? No. No precedent.
9
@Philip
As recounted in another article in this paper this week, he is the first and only modern era president to use this type of persuasion (withholding military aid in order to extort private political gain).
7
@Philip
Holding back urgently-needed funding that was approved by Congress until the rightful intended recipient of said funding does something that will benefit NOT the US government, but YOU personally? And not telling either Congress or the American people what you are intending to do with this public money? These are classic examples of extortion and malfeasance.
This "personal gain" distinction is that part that is completely LOST on the supporters of Trump. And I am not aware of any other president who used extortion using public monies for his personal gain.
4
It is a good thing that Trump doesn't have a pet dog. Otherwise, Mr. Taylor's notes would disappear into a gullet.
2
How much generalizable evidence was needed to consensualize 1 1=2?
How much trustable evidence will be needed for the committed willfully
blind,
deaf,
indifferent, and
ignorant of available and accessible generalizable FACTs to...?
Question....if Ukrain did not know the aide was held up for a specific reason is it a quid pro quo?
@Deborah Camp
You are obviously not a crook; otherwise, you would understand what Trump was doing. Holding back the funding was part of the extortion set-up called "leverage." You don't tell your intended victim about it unless the victim is uncooperative. THEN you spring it on him...!
The only thing necessary to push the envelope is to allow Mick Mulvaney to continue responding to questions about these testimonies.
6
How can the Republicans on that committee not see the forest?
7
Mitch McConnell "I don't recall..."
Not too credible
9
Remember when Trump kept insisting “no collusion” re: the Russia investigation?
Now he openly admits to collusion with Ukraine, but declares he is innocent of a “quid pro quo.”
Lucy and her football had nothing on Trump!
9
It's high crimes and federal bribery. Reading Ambassador Taylor's opening statement left me feeling that this President is treasonous not only based on his actions but based also on the fact that he listens to and follows the advice of scoundrels like Putin over his own government and intelligence.
That is seriously dangerous to our national security and he needs to be removed as soon as possible. He's done too much irreversible damage already in just over 1000 days. We can't afford another 450 days of this.
11
In my mind, Trump's traitorous statement yesterday about "the phony Emoluments clause" is far more than enough justification, by itself, to impeach him, convict him, and eject him from the White House. What's next in this 'wannabe dictator's anti-Constitutional rantings ? "The phony Bill of Rights" ? This unprincipled con-artist is doing irreparable harm to the office he pretends to legitimately occupy, to the peaceful coexistence of our people, to the national security of our country and to the very U.S. Constitution itself.
16
It's terribly damaging that Trump disagreed with the bureaucracy's recommendations. Just awful.
Advice of bureaucrats? Perhaps he should have consulted a lawyer who would have told him what he was doing was illegal. Or perhaps he did.
8
@Michael Livingston’s
Nothing to do with the career diplomats. Trump broke the law and violated the Constitution.
8
Missing the big point here, trying to deflect. Not working.
8
One word sums up this administration and its enablers: “AGITPROP.”
Agitprop is a Russian communist strategy using AGITation (inciting hatred and reactionary behavior) through skillful use of PROPaganda. In other words, lying to divide people and provoke class warfare. It is also the ethos of “Fox News.”
32
If Trump really cared about the United States of America, he would candidly explain to the nation (more importantly, explain to his base) what he has done and resign the presidency immediately. Instead, this dangerous narcissistic sociopath is putting us all through this agonizing horror show that is very damaging to our nation. Now the House is forced to impeach a sitting president who is incapable of understanding the rule of law and believes that clauses of the Constitution are "phony." The Senate must not hesitate to remove this criminal menace. It is almost surreal that this man is the chief executive of the most powerful nation on earth.
14
A key question is why Taylor was concerned that Trump would not release the aid to Ukraine even if Zelensky went on CNN and announced he was investigating Burisma, Biden and the 2016 election? Was it because Taylor understood that an even bigger reason for withholding aid was to gift Ukraine to Putin?
Ukraine to Putin, Syria to Putin, as Pelosi so pithily said, all roads with Trump lead to Putin. It's beyond obvious. How long is Mitch McConnell going to allow this Manchurian candidate to stay in office?
20
What won't kill him will make him stronger. This testimony will change no minds. Impeachment will fail, Trump will become stronger. Democrats need to field a viable candidate for whom people will vote. And people need to vote. Its the only way to get this fellow out.
5
The corruption here is staggering. Trump is as bad as any white collar criminal out there. This is clearly a shakedown of another country for personal political purposes. What the press has not focused enough on is how congress allocated funds to help Ukraine and how Trump circumvented Congress.
17
Read Taylor’s opening statement and, for a moment set aside the atrocities taking place, and just note how utterly incompetent the administration appears to foreign leaders. It seems as if they have no clue whatsoever what they are doing. This is probably evident in the administration’s treatment of every foreign country.
12
Mr. Trump has foisted so many lies on the public that he was convinced this lie would fly, too. Fortunately we are not all equally gullible. Perhaps someone on his staff should explain to him the meaning of quid pro quo.
14
In reading the Ambassador’s full letter to the committee it is clear to me that the corruption that needs attention lies right here in the White House. What a clear and (reasonably) easy to follow trail he spelled out in the letter. I feel for the Ukrainian people almost as much as I feel for the America people. We are all caught up in this administration’s lies and deceitful behavior, and someone needs to act to end this nightmare.
14
There is an assumption lurking under all this effort by #45 to rig the 2020 election: "I can't win without foreign help." Perhaps he truly realized that without help from his buddy Putin's Russian Internet Research Agency, he would not have won the 2016 election. He knows Putin will do it again, so that's a plus, in his calculus. But he knows he needs even more help, so he sought yet more foreign gaming of the American election, from the Ukraine. Only a person utterly desperate not to lose an election would think like this and do this. His ego is so fragile, he will go to any lengths not to be a loser.
It is unclear which is worse— that he knows that getting foreign help is illegal and corrupt but doesn't care, or that he is so ignorant he doesn't even know it's illegal and corrupt.
11
I see very little mention of the OTHER side of this ‘quid’. If Zelensky refused, We starve an ally in the midst of an invasion giving huge benefit to Russia. This is actually a plausible goal of Trump. The smear side of the quid was the pretense to invigorate Russia’s invasion. The grand reveal will be when Trump successfully eases sacntions against Russia for “brokering” the Syrian “Peace”.
16
Kinda takes the original whistleblower off the hook now that people at a higher level are publicly ratifying what he said was going on. I hope that affords him some degree of security.
I have also been wondering if the Ukrainian people knew they were electing an American patsy when they voted for him.
7
Trump's expanding reign of corruption is like a cancer that will continue to eat away at our Republic until he is removed from office. He has demonstrated, time and again, that he cannot be controlled by advisors, laws or codes of common decency.
Congress, do the right thing and do it now, before Trump manufactures some emergency to call for war or martial law.
23
Trump just went from maybe to yes on impeachment by Congress. A dream come true.
10
It will just make them cheer louder at Trump's next Nuremberg rally. Remember when conservatives didn't like crybabies? But seriously. Using the United States Justice Dept. to investigate your political opponents is unprecedented in our history. Even Nixon hired hired his thugs; the "Plumbers" for his dirty work. Watch Rachel Maddow - first ten minutes; Oct. 21, 2019.
14
@Surfrank
Yes. Rachel should get a prize for journalism. Day after day she finds (with evidence and credible citations) something that goes to the very core of current issues; I love her work but dread what horror she and her team will find next. She was the first to be onto Manafort before it fully surfaced. I am Australian but if I were American she would make me proud to be one.
6
@Surfrank Well Nixon did try to use the IRS. The enemies list. I can't remember if anyone at the IRS played ball.
1
Finally straight talk. Taylor is a profile in courage. It is outrageous that wealthy amateurs can buy an ambassadorship, elbow ethical professionals aside, and disgrace our nation. They are carpetbaggers and grifters of the worst kind and should do time. Diplomacy is not a hobby.
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