Executive privilege is not a principle within The USC. Although this claim by many Presidents dating back to Washington has been made. SCOTUS during Watergate established federal legal precedent it does not apply either. What’s going on now?
Republicans want it to hide their nefarious & self-serving actions from public scrutiny. Public Gov. is the Big problem for them. The Senate will acquit Trump because he’s honestly Constitutionally dishonorable like them. Instead of by arms, like the Confederates used they disregard Law & Order by employing lawless individuals—anarchists.
I hope the House has Contempt as its first article & Fraud it’s second! Why would any Public Official hide testimony & evidence if they’re innocent? The Ukraine incident is a mere detail or distraction not the ever Bigger Picture that’s been actively unfolding by them. Going back at least to Gingrich’s “New Contract for America”.
And as usual Democratic leaders are befuddled or complacent hoping those on shore will swim to their rescue while pirates completely scuttle the Ship of State.
5
The testimony by Fiona Hill David Holmes once again confirms that the Ukrainian meddling in the 2016 election was a "fictional narrative," to quote Hill, authored by Putin and parroted by Trump and his minions. But her “indirect rebuke of the president” had no effect on the Republican members of the committee. They tried in vain to discredit her testimony.
It was disgusting to see Rep. Jim Jordan “turning Dr. Hill’s words around to accuse Democrats of advancing Russia’s interests,” as stated in this report. If he and other Trump stooges find the testimony of Hill and Holmes unreliable, why don’t they persuade the White House to send those who were on Trump's infamous July 25th call to Zelensky that started this saga?
Thanks to the testimony of these two patriots, who testified, defying orders from their bosses not to, we now know that WH Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and Secretary of Stat Mike Pompeo were on the call. On orders from their master, both have defied the committee’s subpoena to testify. The matter may end up in court.
It's a shame that we don't have a single Republican legislator now, who has the guts and integrity of the late Sen. Howard Baker, whose famous question, "What did the President know and when did he know it?" eventually brought down the Nixon presidency. In the present case, they don't have to fear incurring the wrath of their master by asking the question. They only have to act on the evidence presented to them. Do they have the spine to do it?
6
I am impressed with all of the permanent "diplomatic corp" individuals who have testified. They are altogether bright, articulate and well intentioned. My "unbiased" view of this is as follows: Trump came in with the intent to blow up the establishment overall and the permanent entrenched mass of people such as these diplomatic corps types. I can give him the doubt on his intentions ... which I believe are that the entrench bureaucracy has and causes a lot of proplems. In his situation it is clear and understandable that his approach and modus operandi is incompatible with established federal government norms. On the other hand, previous administrations while appearing to go along with the flow had in fact, a lot of dirty stuff going on take for example the Mexican gun running undercover operation (in which Americans were killed) and the mess of a fiasco Bengazi and all the dirty stuff going on there... just 2 examples under President Obama and there are many... and it is becoming clear that Obama and Obama people were doing dirty deeds even before the 2016 election (I won't mention names so this post will hopefull not be censured). I genuinely hope all of this leads to a better, cleaner, and more forthright / honest / open fedeeral government.
1
Fiona Hill's display of intellect and integrity was simply amazing. Her testimony laid bare the folly of President Trump's "drug deal" and damned the Republicans' embrace fever-dream conspiracies.
It is perhaps beside the point of the impeachment hearings, but I was impressed by the quality of many of our public servants (Hill, Holmes, Kent, Taylor, Cooper, Vindman, Hale). We are fortunate to have such people willing to work for our country.
On the flip side, when Hill said that it was not credible that Sondland did not know that Burisma meant Biden, she dropped a ton of bricks on the both Sondland and Volker. Shame on them for not being more forthright.
3
If U.S. House Speaker Pelosi and her minions are insane enough to vote articles of impeachment for President Trump (sadly...they certainly appear to be that deranged), then we move on to an impeachment trial for the President in the U.S. Senate.
Hunter Biden (and all of the other witnesses excluded by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff) will actually be forced to appear in President Trump's U.S. Senate impeachment trial...just as jurors (and U.S. Senators) Warren, Sanders, Booker, Harris, and Klobuchar will be forced to attend the trial, and vote on whether or not to remove President Trump from office.
Pelosi ought to know better (with a national election less than a year away), but if she insists that she knows better than U.S. voters, well...
It's all good, right?
The Democratic Party always reaps what it sows...that's how Trump was elected, no?
Jordan, Nunes, Castor, Elise Stefanik and all the rest know fully well that their future political destiny is finished if Trump loses the next election.
Even if they did not care a fig for Trump they care so much about their own political future that they will not stop at debasing themselves beyond any human or intellectual decency or creditibilty.
They are as morally corrupt as Trump and his White House and appointed entourage.
4
If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then guess what? It probably is a duck.
But Republicans can't bring themselves to say and think that about President Trump's actions regarding Ukraine.
There is a mountain of evidence that is now beyond dispute.
Trump expressly ordered US government officials to work with his personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, on matters related to Ukraine, a country dependent on our help to deter and fight Russian aggression. Trump pressured Ukraine to launch investigations into his political rival - Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden - relying on a discredited conspiracy theory his own advisers disputed. Both US and Ukrainian officials feared that Trump froze a much-needed package of military aid until Ukraine announced it would start those investigations.
Those facts were confirmed by a dozen witnesses, nonpartisan career government officials who served both Democratic and Republican administrations. They relied on emails, text messages and contemporaneous notes that back up their recollections about the events that took place.
Trump leveraged the office of the president to pressure a foreign government for personal political purposes.
Of course, none of the witnesses could personally attest that Trump directly conditioned the release of the $400 million in military aid on a Ukrainian announcement of investigations into former VP Joe Biden and the Democratic National Committee.
But, if it looks like a duck...
8
It is shameful and downright hypocritical that Rep. Jim Jordan, turned Dr. Hill’s words around to accuse Democrats of advancing Russia’s interests by pressing forward on the divisive process of impeachment.
During the House Intelligence Committee hearings over the past 2 weeks it has been the Republican members of the committee in their defense of Trump who have repeatedly used the terms Democratic Russian hoax, witch hunt, Democratic circus, etc.
Basically the Republicans are saying, yes, we know Trump is a crook, but he's our crook, so we're going to defend him and support him.
Pathetic. Those Republican members are violating their oath of office to our Constitution. They should be ashamed of themselves and they should be voted out of office in 2020.
7
Did you ever see the backroom? Did you know it exists? Did you know that Congress operates more than one backroom? We like to think that the backroom politicians died out with the all other dinosaurs. Alas, as Schiff has demonstrated over the last 3 years, the backroom has become the Democratic Party. It grew leaps and bounds the day after the 2016 election; " he is not my President" was often yelled from rooftops as though that simple declaration let you become a member of the backroom with an open hand to do anything and everything to derail our Republic.
The sort version is that every single Neverist and every single political- intelligentsia has committed their unpardonable sin of getting caught for saying out loud that the booboisies will never, ever see the wool being nailed to their foreheads.
1
I elect Fiona Hill for the President of the United States.
3
@Louise S. Unfortunately, Fiona Hill can never be president of the US. She's not a natural-born US citizen - she was born in England.
3
@Eugene Gorrin
Yes, I know, sadly. But she possesses all the qualities and integrities I expect from a U.S. President.
3
Representative Will Hurd of Texas, conceded that testimony had shown that the Trump administration “undermined our national security and undercut Ukraine,” but said that it was not enough to justify impeachment.
Say what? How can undermining our national security not be an impeachable offense?
10
The truth has now been laid out by credible witnesses displaying extraordinary courage, candor, and gravitas. That the President of the United States has engaged in abuses of power and even potentially treason, through actions that allow our enemy, Russia, to harm the United States, is abundantly clear.
The Republican-controlled Senate will very likely ignore all evidence and acquit the President. But it is too late for them, and for him: if our country survives this period, the judgment of history will be profoundly damning. I hope I live long enough to witness it.
7
"Our long national nightmare" will continue until further notice.
3
What politician said this?
Donald Trump displays “a quite stupefying ignorance that makes him, frankly, unfit to hold the office of president of the United States"
It was Boris Johnson, the British prime minister. According to the Republicans we saw on display yesterday, that means that Trump is legally allowed to demand that Boris Johnson smear Biden to help Trump's re-election campaign if he wants any White House meetings in the future.
The Republicans worship Trump, and disrespect the Constitution.
6
The contrast between the spectacularly articulate Dr. Hill and the President could not be more stark.
9
The witnesses showed us true heroism and integrity in their testimonies.
Republicans showed us their dereliction of duty to provide oversight of the President. They had no interest in fact finding. They stood with the President regardless of facts and not with the Constitution.
Adam Schiff maintained the dignity and seriousness of the proceedings despite the destructive juvenile comments from Republicans: "magic minutes", "Democrat hoax" "Witch hunt" "bad TV ratings". Their disrespect for the process which is directed by the Constitution only match the President's offensive rhetoric and diminishes us all.
The serious disregard for the rule of law demonstrated by the Republicans is a threat to our Democracy. I fear a rushed impeachment before witness testimony Bolton, Pompeo Mulvaney, Giuliani, and ongoing criminal investigations are complete will only encourage the Republican intentions to make a mockery of the process, and Donald Trump will be prematurely vindicated once again.
34
Really, IMHO, it's the US Democrats who are dividing America with their almost continuous insults directed at anyone they suspect of harboring conservative ideas or views.
According to leading Dems, we conservatives are evil and thus not to be tolerated - we should not be in public positions, we should be fired if we hold one, and we should be sent to the back of the US "bus" to which Barrack and Hillary had consigned us as relics of America's demographic past.
Sorry, Dems, but I am not going there. I will continue to fight against socialism and for responsible capitalism, for private healthcare (I've lived in the UK and know how bad National Health is), against identity politics and for individual freedoms for all, for limited government and lower taxes, and other conservative ideas.
I always VOTE. Indeed, I have a volunteer poll worker since 2010.
14
@James Stewart
Vote for whomever you like, but get the facts straight. Who delivers the most insults, Democrats, Republicans, or the fraud in the WH? Do you listen to what the latter says daily? Do you really believe that a president who lies almost hourly is fit for office, any office? And what do you think socialism really is? Do you know? Should we get rid of Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security in the interests of capitalism?
Conservatives are not evil, just self-serving and not concerned about the welfare of all Americans.
30
@James Stewart
This is not about the UK, this is not about Republicans and Democrats. Who cares!
The issue is survival for the US and world freedom.
Do we want the US to be led by the Russian President?
21
@ James Stweart
I don’t know who you are listening to but Demicrats do not hate conservatives. Happy for the diversity.
The impeachment hearing is about corruption at the highest level in our government.
Multiple witnesses, including Ambassador Sondland, a Conservative Republican Trump Appointed Trump Contributor. “There was a quid pro quo and everyone was in the loop.”
Corruption of our democratic election process. A personal political hit job attempted by our president and his shady-dealing minions. Against the Constitution, against their oaths, and a threat to our national security.
Do you just not care about that?
32
Trump helped Putin? Now there's a shock! LOL LOL
7
The question is whether Republicans are getting paid by Putin to push his garbage or whether they're committing treason for free.
11
Manchurian Candidate Trump,knowingly or not has.committed treasonous acts. Stupidity or.lack.of.knowledge.is not an excuse!
7
If it wasn't for the 14th amendment I say she should be the next President elect!
4
This is that Rubicon that 45 and his enablers have crossed with their lying and attacks on facts. We can see people are dying (Ukraine allies),NATO is threatened and our own American interests are weakened because of Putin info wars in the U.S. Trump's obvious lies are not just absurdist, humorous stories anymore. They have graduated to real damage.
3
God bless all the true patriots who have come forth and testified against the political atrocities of Trump and his mob. I, like them, decry the continued lying, distortion of truth and political opportunism of the Republicans who refuse to see reality.
This would-be emperor (word chosen advisedly) has no clothes. His lies now stand naked before the country and the world. I suggest that only the voluntarily blind can't see them. This frightenly large minority supporting the trumpists is as scary to me as the administration itself.
9
The ongoing US taxpayer-funded spectacle/political theater being played out in Washington aka ‘impeachment hearings’ have revealed 2 things: 1) intense political warfare between Trump and his backers vs the Democrats, intelligence/military and much of corporate media, and 2) the central importance of Ukraine to US/NATO. As often said in real estate, ‘it’s about location, location, location’. Ukraine shares a 2,000-kilometer border with Russia. Since the 2014 coup, the US/EU have provided > $20 billion in military and economic aid to Ukraine. Whether intentional or not, testimony by David Holmes, political counselor at the US embassy in Kiev, and Fiona Hill, former NSC official revealed the large efforts by US/EU imperialism to use Ukraine as a base of operations directed against Russia. Can you imagine how the US would react if the tables were turned and China/Russia spent $ billions arming anti-American forces in Canada or Mexico? Obviously, this is extremely proactive and heightening the chances of major conflict between global powers. Unfortunately, Empires in decline do not behave rationally.
See- US, EU gave over $20 billion in military and economic aid to Ukraine since 2014 By Patrick Martin
Nov 21, 2019; Link: www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/11/22/ukra-n21.html
oh, poor little Russia, the Tibet of Europe
Why do Republicans mindlessly allow Trump to determine their opinions. Of course there was Russian interference in 2016. Intell has made this abundantly clear. If the Republican goal is to retain power by denying the obvious, they are really only making a case to replace them with those who actually comprehend reality and take it seriously. Russia is not going to abide by rules as long as Republicans pretend there is no problem. They, in fact, are now the problem.
Eclectic Pragmatism — http://eclectic-pragmatist.tumblr.com/
Eclectic Pragmatist — https://medium.com/eclectic-pragmatism
3
The elephant in the room that no one is talking about is that Donald Trump has very likely either unwittingly or knowingly been acting as a foreign agent on behalf of a hostile foreign power -which is Russia. This is not only impeachable , it is treason . And while they need his tax returns to be able to elucidate this more clearly because there was not enough proof, this is precisely what the wagons are circling around. And this is why Republicans are beginning to act more and more irrationally , because they have been put in the extremely uncomfortable position of either having to inadvertently support a hostile foreign power by siding with Donald Trump or give up their careers. Many of the wiser Republicans decided to resign from Congress before it became too filthy. But that time has arrived and it will be interesting to see how these Republican Representatives and Senators handle themselves.
Nancy Pelosi would never have pointed her finger at Donald Trump a few weeks ago telling him that “...all roads with you lead to Putin”, if she had not already been briefed on this likelihood . That is what we’re dealing with, and the situation with Donald Trump and Ukraine while it is indeed an impeachable offense is not the big kahuna… And the Democrats know it. They’re just using their time wisely until the bigger bomb explodes.
10
I believe this investigation has enough material, outright economic treason, to last another year. His continuous selling-out of our Country to Russian interests should be dissected by the House and only turned over to a new Senate after Chistmas 2020. The Republican party should be forced to run away from the "Commie" label, they and the NRA have earned. If all the House can accomplish is an investigation, then burn them during their re-election attempts. Why on Syria? We will have time to investigate while the Courts determine all materials and witnesses must be supplied. Let him stew for a year!
2
I find it amazing that so many Ukranian "experts' completely missed the similar Quid Pro Quo executed by the Obama Admin. When the OBama Admin was withholding about 1 Billion Dollars from Ukaine until the Ukranian Govt fired Viktor Shokin......the prosecutor investigating corruption inside of Burisma Gas Co.
Shokin was indeed fired. Shortly there-after, the US certified Ukraine as "corruption free" and the money started flowing again.....Joe Biden bragged about this effort to the WSJ 2015......
And not a peep from the Ukraine "experts" in the Diplomatic Corps. of the State Dept.
3
Huge Difference:
A US Government Policy
with Bipartisan Support.
A Policy Supported by EU Nations, the IMF, and the anticorruption organization inside Ukraine.
Done out in the open.
Done to support a fledgling democracy under attack by Putin.
Not in secret, not conducted by bag-men, not for personal political gain.
And NOT ILLEGAL
and NOT AGAINST OUR CONSTITUTION.
7
@ Wherever
Everything you said is a distortion or outright lie.
Thanks forgiving us Putin’s talking points, again.
6
@Wherever Hugo The reason there was no 'peep' from the State Department was the United States and all of its (then) European allies wanted this prosecutor removed because of the corruption. Only the U.S., because of withholding aid, had the power to force the removal of the corrupt prosecutor. The U.S. publicly announced they were going to withhold the aid unless the corrupt prosecutor was removed.
That is what was done. That you compare that to Trump secretly withholding military aid to get an announcement of an investigation from into the Bidens from the Ukraine Government that everyone agreed had cleaned up their corruption significantly is somewhat revealing of your political leanings, facts not withstanding.
9
"Let be be the finale of seem.
The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream."
America is pitching forward into a new age; the office of the Presidency is held by an emperor who does not read - books or memos, who devours loyalty like fast food burgers, and who creates a new daily reality by tweet.
There is no longer any "seem" to the Trump era; the Republicans have introduced what shall "be" for at least another year. God help us if it is for longer than that.
1
Thank you Fiona Hill. Hope Trump and all his enablers get voted out of office in 2020. The trumpeteers are not patriots they are something else.
5
If I had daughters, I would want them to grow up to be Fiona Hill. What an intellect, what integrity, what a presence.
15
Rep Jordan's arrogance is astounding considering his checkered past.
17
Hill also testified that Christopher Steele "got played" by the Russians and his "dossier" was a "rabbit hole."
That really should be your lede, NY Times.
1
@Hula Hoop
So missing the big picture.
Our president violated his oath of office and the Constitutuion for personal political gain
He is compromised.
He is a threat to our democracy and our national security.
7
@ hula hoop
The NYT lead should be trump is being played by the Russians
6
So impressed by Dr.Hill and Mr. Homes. Says a lot for our State Department and our civil servants. Not so much for Pompeo, Trump or others in the Trump circle or Trump relatives on our payroll.
9
Trump and his Republican enabler‘s are clueless about how to deal with intelligent, hard-working and ethical people. Void of only a political agenda, these are our career government workers upholding the Constitution and our government policies concerning foreign affairs and defending democracy all around the world. Very impressive. Thank you all for testifying and lifting up the American spirit of hope for a better America.
7
Sondland's closing statement went something like this:
"I need you to forget I was ever here. Remember it was those other guys that made me do what I did.
And if you stay at one of my luxury hotels two nights....I'll give you the third night, Free! (offer good M thru Th, not valid on weekends)"
5
I am sure that Ms Hill knows/understand that every GOP Rep is aware of the fact that Russia is behind the political intrigue, and the manipulation of public opinion in the US. She probably also knows that Devin Nunez is an agent of influence for the SVR and has been for some time. Incredibly, he is the ranking member in the Intelligence Committee. In other words, Little Putin learns about GOP political strategy, before anyone else in the country.
On the Senate side, much has been said about McConnell and his admiration for Little Putin and his thugs.
The GOP is compromised, and unfortunately, those GOP members who do not sympathize with Russia, fall victim to partisan balderdash and the very efficient propaganda machine from the Kremlin.
8
Here is the problem with all this. Hill also said that the Steele dossier was a "rabbit hole" of Russian disinformation. This means that the entire Russia collusion campaign carried out by the Dems and media which severely divided and damaged our country for three years was deliberately set off by Putin. The Dems and media became Putin's puppets. I don't condone what Trump may have been up to. But pull back the perspective a bit and you will see that we have all been duped. This impeachment drama has Putin salivating and laughing. It's time for both parties to realize that they are being played by Russia and that it's time for this to stop.
The problem with debunking a lie is that you have to repeat it, which gives it energy, keeps it in the news, and the weak-minded would believe it. The architects of the lie win, unfortunately.
3
Fiona Hill, who hardly needs the honorific, clearly was the brightest person in the room yesterday. Too bad they could not think about what she had to say concerning Russia, what it seeks to do to us and how, as well as what she had to says tells us about the vagaries of chain of command from the President on down in foreign affairs, before going beyond her opening statement in their "big picture" agenda-driven proceeding. But we live in an act first, think later world now. No wonder it's so dangerous.
6
Fiona Hill and Masha Yovanovitch have been the star witnesses of these hearings while Trump's Republican defenders come across as Russian agents. We are witnessing madness here, a GOP that once championed national security morphed into a personality cult that is now doing the work of the FSB, promoting the fictions of Putin's propaganda to curry favor with an inhinged and unfit president.
7
Fiona Hill: Mona Lisa on a mission.
5
I am a little confused.
Perhaps a Ukranian "expert" can help me out.
What exactly is the difference between a "ukranian" and a "russian"?
...
I am fed up with the pompous, ridiculous self-righteousness of these so-called "witnesses'.....they are vacuous. Empty headed people filled with a false sense of their own importance.
And still, nothing impeachable.
This Show Trial has gone on long enough. Vote up or down.
Stop this Stupidity now.
I hope Adam Schiff, from the Gerrymandered Hollywood District....loses re-election.
1
@Wherever Hugo
Ukraine is an independent country the size of Texas, with a population twice the population of Texas and a language of its own, somewhere between Polish and Russian. Ukraine used to be part of the USSR. Ukraine is a direct neigbour of Russia, on Russia's west.
The power balance between Ukraine and Russia may be compared with that between Canada and the US.
3
@ Wherever Hugo
Ambassador Sondland, a Republican, a conservative, a Trump supporter, a Trump appointee said: Yes, there was a quid pro quo, asking for an investigation into Burisma and Biden, and everyone knew about it, everyone was in the loop.
You are okay with the President of the United States extorting from a vulnerable foreign leader the announcement of an investigation into his political rival?
Shame on you.
Trump is a threat to our democracy.
Trump is a threat to the integrity of our election process.
Trump is a threat to our national security.
4
Dr. Hill has testified that Ukraine fictions help Russia. That, of course, is what they were designed to do. Let us keep in mind that Trump is a Russian puppet, not a Ukraneian one.
Trump is carrying out his assignment from Putin. The rest of the party is helping him.
If you want to see a "real American," I suggest that Lt. Col. Vindman is as excellent an example as one will ever find.
Oh, I forgot. He is (gasp) an immigrant . . . one of "them."
5
I assume that the republicans on the committee thought they were going to have some wordy softie, resembling one of Downton Abbey’s staff, with Dr Hill on the stand. Little did they did they realize that she came to give evidence with her father’s coal face pick grasped firmly in her hands, and boy, did she mine and expose a rich ‘seam’.
Somewhere, a very proud father is smiling from ear to ear about his Tyneside lass ...
7
“They bet on the wrong horse.”
Indeed they did.
And so did you, Fiona.
1
Trump is the Russian version of the Manchurian candidate.
7
Dr. Hill's implied message to Trump's supporters: You're a bunch of Putin Puppets.
10
They are.
6
Yes, but it also makes a lot of money for Rupert Murdoch.
And nobody in the Grand Old USA knows how to read anymore. So who cares! Vote GOP because ONLY they understand you. Besides the game is on TV right now. So turn off all that stupid news.
1
What does Moscow hold over Donald Trump?
There IS something, but What?
14
Dr. Fiona Hill for president.
7
So I understand from these hearings and the Republican's actions and reactions, they have cleared the way to allow and enable the Russians to, once again, go to bat for Trump and help him win the 2020 election. As the Senate isn't, and seemingly, won't put in place the right measures - or any measures, to prevent meddling in the upcoming election Trump is correct in that the system is truly rigged - in his favor - once again!! What a farse...the republicans essentially are holding more then half the population prisoner to their lies and decieits.....SHAMEFUL
8
Trump and the Republican party have been infected with Putinism! Remember this word, look it up!
PUTINISM!!!
7
GOP has sold America to Russian Oligarchs..
I am not confident that our voting system will be fair in 2020.. it's clear that GOP will win by fraud..
All these so called savior of truth; instead of bad mouthing witnesses; call you own guy on the stand starting with Barr, Pompeo, Pence and Fake President.
If GOP is not stopped now; we will loose our democracy and country.
I read some where that Trump would be the last (Fake) President of USA; as it stands and it may come true.. he may never leave office and so Barr, Pompeo, Pence, Mitch as well. They all could stay there forever..
7
The Kremlin has been feeding money to Republicans for years. They've won.
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/07/18/how-the-gop-became-the-party-of-putin-215387
7
Meanwhile the IG report is coming in December & a senate probe has been launched to investigate the Biden’s in Ukraine. You asked for it.
1
@JOSEPH
Oooh, I'm sure the Bidens are shaking in their boots, since this matter was already investigated three years ago and it was determined that there was no wrongdoing that occurred.
Here's some advice for the perpetually vengeful GOP:
"Vengeance is the act of turning anger in on yourself. On the surface it may be directed at someone else, but it is a surefire recipe for arresting emotional recovery."
Jane Goldman
3
@ Josrph
Bring it.
1
Reality Check just tip of iceberg .Real problems go untold like millions of jobs still being exported out of our beautifull country. People arn stupid we know all of this is to distract us from real problems mean something to american people jobs pay living wage to feed our familys. I doubt any one washington really cares for working men an women who pay taxs of those in congress.
What a snake in the grass Nunes is. Shakespeare couldn’t have created a more poisonous, slithering sycophant.
15
@W.H. How about Iago?Less cunning though.
2
While the President and the Republicans keep denying the obvious - i.e. the Russian election interference -- those charged with protecting us - Dr Hill et al -- continue to do their jobs responsibly and with dedication............
BUT,
The Congressional Republicans continue to mystify, continue to protect their loose cannon President - Donald Trump........
AND,
Why is the question?......
Patriotism is an honor, a duty and the highest responsibility of an elected official.......
To shirk that duty clearly breaches one's oath of office - can become treasonous if not checked......So why are the Republicans acting with such cowardliness?.....
Only they and their consciouses know.......
Pray they come to their senses before the damage done by this Presidency becomes irreparable......
7
The day after Dr. Hill's blistering testimony, www.foxnews.com leads with:
"FISA WARRANT BOMBSHELL
Horowitz reportedly finds FBI lawyer falsified FISA doc"
Even if true, it's irrelevant. Surveillance of Carter Page was an effort to determine if the Trump campaign engaged in a criminal conspiracy with Russia, a dead issue after the Mueller Report.
This is clearly an attempt by Fox to fire up the base, and cover up what is perhaps the most important forward-looking message in Dr. Hill's testimony. The message is that continued repetition of the totally debunked conspiracy theory that Ukraine, and not Russia, hacked the 2016 election is damaging to our national security. Somehow the importance of this message escapes the Republican Representatives.
If I could write the headline, it would be "Ranking Member Nunes blatantly lies about Russian election interference in his opening remarks."
12
The Republican committee members met their match in Dr, Hill. She was very articulate and specific in her statements.
How much more proof of Trumps law breaking tactics do they need? Why do they not stand and acknowledge the facts being presented?
Are they afraid Daddy will spank? What a worthless group!
8
Democrats need to pursue the line of thinking Hill laid out—this is about Trump's ongoing collusion with Russia. Biden/Burisma is a distraction. Full stop.
11
The only thing fictional in this entire narrative is that Donald Trump did something different then any other elected Democratic. Oooh! the sweet taste of fair play when a Democrat gets into office. I am already vowing to impeach any of them.
@ RS
That is your defense of the worst and highest corruption in our government, a threat to our national security?
Pathetic.
6
The whole Republican party has turned into a rude horde of useful fools working for the Russians. Trump and the Murdoch empire have lied to their worshippers so much that they no longer believe in anything. Trumpism has turned the "conservative" half of America into hollow, dead hands squeezing the neck of Democracy.
11
Nunes, Jordan and Conaway, the new Larry, Curley and Moe for the latest version of the continuously devolving republican party.
9
I can't decide if the Republicans in the highest levels of our government are actually Russian operatives, or desperate to hang on to their power and positions by any means necessary manufacturing outrage and soundbites for right wing media, or just dumb and incompetent.
13
The defense by the Republicans (most of whom who, instead of asking pertinent questions, got up on their soapboxes and ranted) was pure sophistry, and about as mature as you might expect from a hormonal thirteen-year-old.
7
So now Graham and his GOP co-conspirators are fueling the Biden/ Burisma corruption nonsense to appease the incompetent sheep in the GOP base.
The onnly issue ever discovered on Burisma by offiicials was they underpaid taxes after an audit by Ukranian tax people.
They promptly paid. Burisma is a conglomeration of American and Ukraine energy companies including a Delaware registered company. Where is Hunter from?
Oh and they were trying to get cheap natural gas to do a work around high priced Russian gas.
Yeah investigate that for sure.
6
Obviously the GOP now prefers Russia to the Democrats or any Liberals. There’s nothing they hate more. Better for the country to burn than see it in Liberal hands. Interesting how the human mind works. We are controlled by our emotions and not reason.
7
This is her political opinion and has no particular relevance
Any one helping our adversary Russia by spreading false narratives is a traitor to our country. The collection of House Republicans on the Intelligence Committee better think long and hard about that.
4
Dr. Fiona Hill for Secretary of State!
3
I hope Dr Hill will be on the Democratic nominee’s short list for a top job with the next administration.
If the professionals who testified this week are swamp creatures, then we need a bigger swamp. The alligators ate amateur Sondland’s lunch.
7
Perhaps Mr. Hurd should re-read the testimony before he draws the conclusion that there is no reason to Impeach Trump.
It is clear from the testimony of Hill, Holmes, Taylor, Kent and Yavonovitch that there are many articles of Impeachment that can be invoked, starting with Trump's vocal support of Russia, not our country's Security and Intelligence agents. Trump is working against our National interests with a declared enemy, Russia. Treason anyone?
Then there is his self serving enrichment of himself and his businesses? Enriching oneself while serving is against the Emoulents clause.
Then there is Obstruction of Justice. Interfering with the subpoenas, the DOJ investigations, the Russia Investigations, etc.
I could go on and on, but we all get the drift.
Oh yea, one more thing. Mitch McConnell should be charged with most of the same crimes as well as Nunes, Graham, Jordan and any other Republican who has forgotten what their Oath of Office compels them to do. That is to act in the interest of the voters, not their Party or Donald Trump.
14
@Jean The emoluments argument is a lot like the misunderstanding of the establishment clause. People look silly if they do not understand the context of the times when the document was written.
The emoluments clause was written during a very tenuous period when our nascent republic had almost no money, and there was fear that a high official might undermine the newly minted nation with offers of Titles or land in exchange for damaging the nation. The pocket change people crow about currently bears no resemblance to those concerns in the late 1700's
Likewise, the establishment clause was not intended to prohibit expressions of religiosity in the public square, but it explicitly forbade the government from meddling in the religious affairs of the people.
Historical perspective is essential
I understand Schiff tried to make the case that Trump acted (or at least felt) like Nixon and feels that he is above the law. But aren't there many more examples with this president that he accepts and abides by the laws and process of our government, even in situations that are under the political/public radar, compared to examples where he knowingly ignores them?
I'm pretty uninformed here because I can't watch any of these lengthy daytime proceedings. But from my general understanding about Trump, he seems to want to drain the Washington "swamp" - public and private - within the legal, political and PR constraints affecting his office. He may be a 'bull in a China shop (pre-globalization)', but he's still trying to shop without wrecking merchandise, imo.
I still don’t understand the connection between the Bidens and trump, these are two different people (families), regarding trumps improper behavior in Ukraine and Hunter Biden working for a company in Ukraine, making 50 k a month. Yes it’s possible that the Biden name got him the job, just like the trump name gets his kids favors that most of us wouldn’t get. Did I just hear that the RNC bought a bunch of Don Jr’s new book to insure it gets on the best seller list. So the RNC spent donor money to help the son of #45’s, is that even proper on there part. Sounds like the old trump charity that used donor money improperly. Now Graham is opening an investigation into Hunter Biden. If subpoenaed, Biden should decline until trump allows those also subpoenaed by the House to also appear and answer questions under oath. If forced to appear, Biden should take the 5th, saying he will answer questions when the others do. I got a traffic ticket, took defensive driving, one way or the other as a citizen I was paying money for my driving actions, ok, but these people do much worse than a class C traffic violation and there are those who think it’s not worthy of punishment.
3
As convincing as Fiona Hill was, her warning that Ukraine worked to undermine the 2016 on behalf of Hillary Clinton was a "fictional narrative" promoted by Russia was immediately ignored by the Republican ranking committee member Devin Nunes who zombie-like pursued the Putin propaganda narrative. His startling behavior and that of his counterparts and now Sen. Lindsey Graham can only mean that was is left of the Republican Party is now the Trump-Putin Party. That an entire Congressional political party is literally under the control of a foreign power is so shocking that one is stunned in realizing that what is actually playing out in the impeachment hearings is a brazen attempt to "conduct a political errand" on behalf of Russia to overthrow our Constitution and its "rule of law." There is simply no other plausible explanation of what we've been witnessing during the 2016 campaign and throughout the Trump presidency. As Nancy Pelosi has warned, with Trump "all roads lead to Putin." We can only hope and pray that America wakes up and demonstrates, as Adam Schiff concluded in quoting the late Rep. Elijah Cummings, "We're better than that!"
8
Dr. Fiona Hill's testimony was brilliant. She is smart, fierce and loyal to her country. I think she may even have intimated the Republicans as they stopped asking her questions... Well done Dr. Hill.
12
The Democrats should be careful.
If this goes to the senate, the trumpers will call the Bidens to testify even though this is an inquiry into the president, not them.
2
@Ita : If the trumpers do that, they only strengthen the charge that they are abusing the power given them in order to pursue their own political agenda.
Anyone who believes that Mr. Biden has committed a crime should be making that argument to the DoJ and Mr. Barr.
1
“An impeachable offense should be compelling, overwhelmingly clear and unambiguous,” Mr. Hurd said. “And it’s not something to be rushed or taken lightly. I have not heard evidence proving the president committed bribery or extortion.”
Do you think, Mr. Hurd (as you depart Congress) that proof may come from those refusing to appear before Congress or release documents to the Committee? Like Pompeo, Mulvaney, Pence?
Some departing congressmen feel freer to express their distaste of Trump and his enablers. But not you, Mr. Hurd.
4
Our current political environment is reminiscent of autocratic governments everywhere. I clearly recall returning to the US in 1972 from almost two years living in countries that our president would describe with expletives, while doing research for my PhD. I remarked to a family member that it was not too different, moving from one country ruled by a head of government who was a pathological liar [ in this case Idi Amin] to another. Shortly afterward Nixon resigned.
I never thought I’d relive the sense of powerlessness that comes with life under a lawless government. We can only focus on those individuals who are struggling to preserve our basic principles like Yovanovitch, Vindman, Holmes and Hill, and be grateful for their sacrifices.
12
I believe Dr. Hill is absolutely correct in saying the pushing of the debunked fictional Ukraine narrative offers aid and comfort to our enemies.
So in addition to betraying their oath of office, Trump, Jordan, Nunez, Stefanic and dozens of others in the GOP can be viewed as technically guilty of treason.
They will never be put on trial for that, of course, but when the history of this disgusting era of American politics is written, their role and crimes will be duly noted.
8
@James J : Your comment would be correct if the US was at war -- declared by the Congress -- with Russia. We are not.
It is, thankfully, VERY hard to be convicted of treason in no small part because a long list of very solid precedents restricts the term "enemy" to mean ONLY a nation that Congress has declared war against.
This restriction is one reason why we thankfully have so far been able to have such a robust range of views and political opinions without fear of jail or death.
There will be college courses one day on Putin’s skill at destabilizing the western alliance and the United States. The impeachment episode will be but one small chapter. American sovereignty must be front and center with any administration.
10
For a Russia expert Fiona Hill sure has a negative, not very insightful view of Russia. That expertise seems to see only rascally Russians under every stone. One imagines her weeping when the "wouldn't it be nice to get along with Russia" candidate was elected President, crestfallen when Hillary's Syria no fly zone, effectively a declaration of war against Russia, did not come to fruition. Naturally dismissive of the recent history of U.S. assurances to Russia upon the breakup of the Warsaw Pact of no NATO expansion. She musters all her expertise to warn us away from considering any Ukrainian activities that deviate from the standard bad Russia narrative. And don't question her either. Another attack on a faithful public servant by a Putin puppet.
Mr. Hurd was a supreme disappointment in his conclusion that he saw no evidence of impeachable offense. Stunning. My question for him is, please define for us all just what would constitute an impeachable offense. If not an obvious strong arming of a foreign government for personal gain....then what? The American people are waiting and wondering just where the line to be crossed is, because if it’s not corruption, deceit, extortion, or anything that undermines our elections.... just what is it? Your silence and complicity are deafening.
7
Definition: In Article III, Section 3 of the United States Constitution, treason is specifically limited to levying war against the US, or adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort.
Why is treason not being discussed as an article of impeachment? The actions of this president certainly give aid and comfort to Russia. And he certainly adheres to what his puppet master Putin wants him to do.
2
@Fed up : Because a very long list of precedents makes it clear that "enemy" has very well-defined meaning -- a nation that the US Congress has declared war against. By this very strict definition, Russia is not an "enemy".
Fiona Hill was very careful to refer to them as "adversary" rather than "enemy" because of this distinction.
I enthusiastically agree with the intent of your comment. Sadly, the "treason" clause is not relevant because the US is not at war with anybody at the moment (and that itself is a long a difficult discussion).
The situation we find ourselves in is why "other high crimes and misdemeanors" was added to the original draft by the founders.
Bribery is, on the other hand, quite clear and relevant. That's why Congress has been careful to be so explicit about the use of the word in this process.
Mr. Trump HAS committed bribery, that is an impeachable offense, and he should be impeached and removed -- as should Mr. Pence, Mr. Perry, and Mr. Pompeo.
Sadly, Mr. Trump's GOP Collaborators have so far loudly promised that they will refuse to do their constitutional duty.
1
You can bet he will do it again, as if he hasn't. With his own personal treasury, why shouldn't he.
I don't recall where it states in the constitution that a president's party in congress has to defend him in an impeachment inquiry. I thought it was about congress, regardless of party affiliation, doing an investigation to see if charges are warranted? All I see Republicans do is to defend Trump and act like they are his lawyers instead of members of congress doing an investigation. I don't think that's what the framers had in mind. They recognized that the executive branch could easily become powerful without any checks on it. The Republicans look foolish. The words they want to hear are from people like Giuliani, Mulvaney, etc. Yet Trump refuses to present them claiming it's a witch hunt. The Republicans are lucky that a good percentage of their base listen to fake news and mostly right-wing commentary that they conflate with news. It would be a very sad day if Trump were to win reelection in face of what Dr. hill stated that the Russians are again interfering in the 2020 election. And that could only mean they intend to see that Trump is reelected so Russia could further put this nation into more disarray. Regardless of party affiliation that would spell a loss for the nation collectively. Trump and his lying cronies will benefit personally and the American people would take years to recover from this fiasco. Apparently that is where we are heading right into the arms of the Russian bear.
7
The Civil War meets the domestic Cold War: the GOP vs the Patriots of the USA.
1
Dr. Hill chose her words very carefully. It was not "being involved in a domestic political errand," the word she chose was "errant"
Defined as: er·rant
/ˈerənt/
adjective
1.
FORMAL
erring or straying from the proper course or standards
The "3 amigos" were on the President's agenda far from the "proper course or standards."
I found her to be a MOST credible witness and the unfortunate Republican lawmakers that stay the party line will most definitely go down in history with this MOST corrupt President "OF ALL TIME."
6
Dr.Hill is an impressive person for sure. However, the continuous barrage of fictions, coup attempts, and unpatriotic attacks and devaluations of President Trump by bitter, sore-loser Democrats, an incompetent and at times destructive print, TV, and radio liberal media at NPR are and have been extremely helpful to Putin's Russian attempts to damage our country, our president and our many "Never Trump" representitives. The state department, the defense department and other career US bureaucrats need to work with our president to change the monster Washington Swamp and our often wasted foreign aid and out of control US spending.
1
@Peter
This is the fictional narrative. It's right in the article:
". . . that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 election, testifying that the claim was a fabrication by Moscow that had harmed the United States."
In case you haven't been paying attention, Putin is Trump's BFF, so your points are moot.
Do try reading the article first before expounding on it.
2
Republicans are aiding and abetting Russia, which is he'll bent on destroying everything this nation stands for and Fiona Hill made that abundantly clear. There is clearly a moral rot in this nation when over one third of our citizens support destroying this nation in this way. It's becoming hard not to consider the hypocritical right wing voters as enemies of the state when they so clearly oppose the values and ideals this nation was founded on but that is exactly what Russia wants and exactly what they're getting thanks to these citizens. The rest of us are still stronger though and we won't give up. Russia and republicans should be very careful with what they wish for.
2
I loved when Lt. Colonel Vindman corrected Rep. Nunes, the ranking Republican, when he called him "Mr.," and insisted on being called his correct military title. Americans aren't afraid to stand up.
Nunes has done nothing but peddle lies and distortions of the record and truth. He's not fit to hold the door for Lt. Col. Vindman.
4
This is another quid pro quo. Republicans push conspiracy theories that benefit Putin and he provides election assistance. When Fiona Hill says Republicans are helping Russia they appreciate the plug.
4
I thought this story was going to feature Fiona Hill but there was way too much "response" from the Republicans and the whole story even ended with a Republican response. Sometimes I think news outlets are bending over backwards because they think being "fair" means giving airtime to one party over another. This was an important witness in the impeachment hearing period. The NYT should have run with that alone.
3
The GOP cannot be technically be guilty of treason because there is no declared war between Russia and USA.
But they are guilty of treachery.
Treachery and lechery: the poetry of Trump.
2
As I listened to Fiona Hill's testimony, after that of her colleagues in the Foreign Service, then considered the reaction of the Republican members in the committee to all that they had said, and what this represented, I thought, " pearls before swine."
4
The Republicans should file a complaint somewhere protesting against witness-badgering.
I mean, the way the witness Fiona Hill badgered the Republican interrogators was just downright humiliating! Even Hillary Clinton managed stoic tolerance during the Benghazi hearings. Dr. Hill just treated them like a seasoned professor handling a bunch of unruly freshmen.
Does anyone need further proof that in supporting the Putin narrative that Ukraine was responsible for 2016 election meddling a significant element of the Republican party is dedicated to treason? The Republicans, including the most morally labile of the gang, are dedicated to promoting a narrative that the declared enemy of the US wishes our people to believe so that we will betray yet another ally (Ukraine) and facilitate several of Putin's aims, including facilitating step by step Russia's "reacquisition" of Ukraine, the readmission of Russia to the G-7, the end of sanctions, and, in general, the reduction of the US, through Trump's collusion, to serving as Putin's puppet.
1
When will they start building the Trump Tower Moscow and Trump Tower Istanbul? Don did his part.
9
It is time to stop mincing words about Mr. Trump, his staff, his cabinet, and his GOP Collaborators. There is a mountain of compelling evidence that these players are doing the bidding and advancing the agenda of Vladimir Putin. Media outlets like the New York Times must stop beating around the bush.
This behavior is not "irregular" or "erratic", it is "treasonous". We speak and write openly of RT as a "Russian propaganda outlet". The time has come to similarly speak of Mr. Trump, Mr. Nunes, Mr. Jordan, Mr. Graham, and anyone else who repeats and amplifies Russian propaganda about "Ukrainian meddling in the 2016 elections" or who uses the phrase "Russia hoax". These are traitors who betray America and our allies each and every day each and every time they repeat Russian propaganda like "the Russia hoax".
The evidence is overwhelming: Donald Trump behaves like a bought-and-paid-for Russian asset. So does his Cabinet and staff. So do his GOP Collaborators.
We are witnessing the successful takeover of the American government by Vladimir Putin, and we have so far done nothing more effective than splutter about it.
30
Come on Congress; call Trump up and tell him he's done. Tell him he better be on the next plane to Miami.
9
It is mind boggling that a country that can attract a Fiona Hill might elect a Donald Trump...
25
Yes. During the time leading up to the 2016 election I thought, & said to many people, that the same country that elected Barack Obama would not, could not possibly elect Donald Trump
3
After watching these hearings I have come to the conclusion that the whole Republican party should be tried tor Un-American activities. Starting right at the top dog right down to the lowest pooch Jim Jordan.
22
Sadly, there are many Jim Jordans in Ohio, where I live.
2
Correction. One pooch lower is Devin Nunes.
4
I predict that patriots like Fiona Hill will serve their country and try to protect us from trump and Putin. However if he is
re-elected they will leave in droves and we will be left with the likes of Giuliani types running our country.
8
Trump is owned and operated by Putin.
17
Such a multi-relational concept falls on deaf orange ears. Trump doesn't have the intellectual capacity to understand what Dr. Hill so eloquently, and frighteningly, laid out.
16
Now is NOT the time to cut the inquiry short!!! In fact, it's time to expand as far as it goes!! It should be very clear the point has yet to be reached that justice or the word of the constitution will be served!! At the present point it can not be more clear the necessity of questioning John Bolten! This should continue with every witness who has refused to testify UNTIL Republicans are compelled to do their duty!! It doesn't matter if the inquiry continues for years!!! The truth IS that important!!
8
John Bolton, where are you? This us your chance to redeem your reputation by stepping up and giving the American public the full story of the corruption you witnessed in the White House. Don't let the thought of book sales impede you because you will only lose respect in the eyes of the world. Let Fiona Hill's example guide you, and you will be lauded as she has been... and book sales will even be better.
12
@ Marie
I think people should boycott Bolton’s book. Unless he testifies, he is just as culpable for this corrupt president as the rest of trump’s mob of criminals .
4
Why are the top witnesses for the Dems “naturalized” citizens? Can “naturalized” citizens be deported?
Come on, knock it off. Naturalized citizens ARE citizens, in every sense of the word. To suggest otherwise, or worse, threaten “deportation” (citizens cannot be deported from their own countries) is unAmerican in the extreme.
7
And your point is?
Apparently many “naturalized” citizens are more patriotic than “natural” citizens.
7
@Julius My question is legit, as in are they being forced to testify/tell a story under threat of deportation?
Also, a quick perusal of several online sources suggests that Hill disliked Trump from the start. And her American Dream story doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.
All roads lead back to Russia -- or Putin really. Trump uses FSB more than he trusts FBI, if that is not treason, what is?
16
It’s amazing that the Republican party —- who lionized Reagan for ending the Cold War, who mythologized the words “Mt Gorbachev...,” and who swooned at their hero’s mockery of the Russian motto “trust, but verify,” —- are today the voluntary prisoners of Vladimir Putin.
What would their god, Reagan, say?
9
Buried (as usual):
“ Dr. Hill conceded during her testimony that Ukraine had “bet on the wrong horse” during the 2016 election, seeking to curry favor with Hillary Clinton in the belief she would win. But she added that Ukraine was hardly the only country that did so.”
5
You don't need a Phd in International Relations to see how wrong Fiona Hill is.In 2016 the Ukrainians attacked Trump as evidenced in the NYT.The irony is that Trump helped Ukraine more than Obama ever did and sanctioned Russia more than his weak predecessor.
4
@GDK
Are you kidding me? Most of the free world opposed trump. They could see what a dangerous fool he is.
That is what you call freedom of speech, freedom of the press. That us what you call democracy. Free to say what you think and feel.
The only government that supported trump was Russia.
4
Wrong about what?
interesting that in this so-called "witch hunt" some of the strongest voices speaking truth to power have been women...
3
Steel yourselves for the crackpot conspiracy theories and lies when this moves over to the Senate and GOP control. The hard won truths revealed in the Intelligence Committee hearings will be buried.
8
Has supporting a policy of military confrontation with Russia become the test of American patriotism? Your readers might be interested to know that, just as we blame Americans electing Trump on Russia, so do the Brits blame their Brexit vote on Russia and the Spanish blame the Catalonia vote on Russia too.
Those wily Slavs! Is nothing nefarious beyond them?
Trump did it. He's guilty as sin and should be impeached and removed from office. I'm no fan of Mike Pence but I don't think he will claim to be "above the law."
3
Hill's comment about how this works for Russia make sense, but then again Trump works for Putin so it's understandable.
6
I have been discouraged by most of what I read regarding our government leaders and their stupidity and inept judgment to the point that I stopped reading news. Watching Holmes and Hill give live testimony at my office--in place of work--restored my faith that there are, in fact, devoted and highly-competent people trying to protect the USA from the acts and words of those less equipped. Thank you Hill, Holmes, the Colonel and former Ukraine ambassador for your courage.
11
Now i can understand why the Republican party is so against health care, mental care and public education access. A healthy, mentally fit and basic educated society wouldn’t allow any elected official to get away with shooting someone on 5th Avenue.
16
My God! Hearsay witness after hearsay witness after hearsay witness. "Someone told me that someone told him that someone told her that..."
No one has any first hand knowledge. Including "The whistle-blower."
"Evidence" like this would be thrown out of every court in the country, including Judge Judy's.
For three years, you've been trying to prove Trump guilty of some crime, any crime. For three years Adam Schiff has regularly announced he has "stacks of evidence" proving Trump's guilt. Not one page of it has every been seen by anyone. This is all you have to show for it.
It's nothing but an embarrassment. How come you're not embarrassed?
1
@Diogenes
I bet you did not even read the Mueller Report.
Here is some for you:
"Our investigation found multiple acts by the President that were capable of exerting undue influence over law enforcement investigations, including the Russian-interference and obstruction investigations. The incidents were often carried out through one-on-one meetings in which the President sought to use his official power outside of usual channels. These actions ranged from efforts to remove the Special Counsel and to reverse the effect of the Attorney General's recusal; to the attempted use of official power to limit the scope of the investigation; to direct and indirect contacts with witnesses with the potential to influence their testimony."
Embarrassing huh? What was the unmatched very stable genius hiding?
4
@Diogenes SOndaland wasn't hearsay it was direct. Trump referenced it in the official call read out. What more evidence do you need?
4
@Diogenes
There's nothing for "us" to be embarrassed about. Trump was, is, and always will be a corrupt, self-absorbed, amoral dirtbag. The fact that the GOP and Trump supporters have deluded themselves into believing that these traits are virtues is on them.
The only people who should be embarrassed are the GOP and Trump supporters. "My God!" indeed.
3
After watch the hearing this week I am so proud that we have two great American who give testimony , both were born in other countries,and now give the loyalty to the United States Dr. Hill and Lt. col. Vindman
Only in America..This what immigrants can do for our country!!!
6
If Donald Trump wants to see & hear what "great & ummatched wisdom" sounds and looks like, he need not look at the man in the mirror but at Dr. Fiona Hill. She was like a Houston Astros batter-she knew what was coming & she hit every question out of the park.
8
Republicans are so used to dirty political tricks and white collar crimes that nothing trump has done to undermine an election or his country is seen as a crime. They have become collaborators.
11
It was her most powerful moment, yet she had no sooner paused then Jordan blurted out the very thing she had just condemned.
I've recommended this book repeatedly because it's the single most urgent treatise I've read. It's changed how I think about everything and it's central premise is especially germane to these hearings and Hill's point.
In "The Collapse of Western Civilization," Oreskes and Conway highlight the role tolerating and promulgating false narratives plays in destabilizing first nations and then species and then a planet. I read their theory with a mortal chill because even as I was reading I could see the evidence everywhere in real time of exactly what they were warning about. Interestingly, it was more evident in plain politics than the politics of climate change per se (the focus of the book).
Why, they query, have we provided podiums and loudspeakers to the handful of outliers who think climate change isn't real? We've broadcast demonstrably wrong science to billions and in doing so have sown the seeds of our own ruin. Likewise, why are we tolerating for a minute Jordan's debunked theories about Ukraine? Why are we doing the GOP's dirty work by pretending that their "side of the story" has merit and value when it does not?
The authors ask us to take a harder look at the dangerous belief that we always have to entertain two sides of everything when one version is not just wrong but wrong and dangerous. Cut the liars off. Hold them accountable.
14
I viewed this impeachment hearing so that I could hear the witness interviews and the questioners with my own eyes and ears and not through summaries on news outlets. There have been individuals who said the American public is not interested in watching or listening to the impeachment hearings. Those people are so wrong, so very very wrong. Millions and millions of us across this nation have been listening to it on radio and tv.
I am very impressed, thankful and proud of our career diplomats who appeared. Every single one of our career diplomats are well educated, dedicated and devoted employees to us, We the People, and to our Constitution. Thank you. Thank you to each and every one of our career diplomats who have We the Peoples’ backs. They are the unknowns, the people in the background who are in the trenches taking care of our Constitutional Republic, keeping it alive and safe from those who wish to destroy our democracy. In the words of Ben Franklin, thank you for working to “keep our Republic”.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all.
12
Republican committee members responded to Hill's lecture by showing her the Intelligence Committees report on Russian interference, which they had all signed. They also listed substantiated incidents of Ukrainian interference in the U.S. 2016 presidential election. She did not disagreed that Ukraine interfered in 2016, but said, in effect, their motivation was good while the Russian's motivation was bad.
The narrative that Russia did not meddle in there 2016 election may be true, but the narrative that Ukraine also meddle is also true. The allegation that U.S. embassy officials collided in the Ukrainian interference is just an allegation, but the allegation was a factor into President Trump's rational for pausing aid to Ukraine.
There is a wide chasm between colluding to destroy and destabilize our democracy and way of life, as the Russians did, and voicing their informed and well-intentioned opinion for the good of our country, as the Ukrainians did. That's what you're not understanding.
The Ukrainians yearned for democracy and a corruption free government, and therefore thought Hillary a better prospect for the job than a Putin puppet, wannabe autocrat, corrupt, crass, Trump. They know one when they see one.
5
The “allegation” that the Moon is made of “green cheese” may be true. On the other hand, the “allegation” that it is made of inert rock, dust, and various gases may also be true. Indeed, the former “allegation” was a factor in President Trump’s “rationale” for directing NASA to prepare for a return to the Moon on a mission that would conclusively settle this conundrum.
1
@William Case
Unmitigated self-serving nonsense.
2
The good news of the hearings, we have or did have career diplomats on the frontlines who are very smart and very talented in their chosen fields. The bad new of the hearings, is these "deep state" actors are now being compromised by basketful of Tony Soprano lite actors, running around foreign countries acting like Roy Cohn fixers. Putting aside the obvious political nature of the hearings, I want to believe that even the Republicans in their private moments would admit to themselves the startling distinction between the professionalism of the career diplomats and Trump's fixers.
4
@Amanda Jones - Tony Soprano was no angel, but HE wasn’t a traitor to our country. Please don’t besmirch his name by linking it with Trump and the Republicans, all enemies of our democracy.
1
Yes, the GOP parrots the "what me worry?" line, knowing the Senate will never convict.
But isn't that a less odious outcome? Do we really want Pence?
Let's just be satified with a partisan vote to impeach, and then mobilize the vote to oust in November.
1
The dreamiest, most ideal scenario would be that Pence is impeached along with Trump, since he was in on the whole thing, and that Nancy Pelosi would be installed as president. I would love that so much I can't tell you.
1
@A And every day, remind those to not split the Democratic vote, but to vote for *whoever* gets the actual nomination, rather than waste it on someone they "Like" better, as happened with before with Nader and Sanders. Republicans can only gain by a house divided as it were and that's part of their strategy. It is not about "liking" -- you don't have to like the candidate, that's irrelevant -- this is not a high school activity such as choosing the prom king or queen.
Now is the time:
Our public service people love this land, America, and are putting their careers on the line to save it. We have seen so much courage shown from these brave people. I have personally been so depressed since trump was nominated as the candidate to run. Thousand of people have died to ensure our democracy , and we are in REAL danger of losing it, another year like this year and the founding fathers who risk their lives to build our dream country, will not recognize Americans. In every branch our government, the courts, federal and state, changes are being made by people who work from their and their enablers self-ideologies, and for some that includes work with Russia to tear down this idea of democracy.
trump is not the leader driving this movement, it is the far right conservatives. This has been in the works for a long time, they have found the extreme groups (ex. White Supremacists, anti-abortion, anti-immigration, anti-government groups) to fuel the hate. They used the electoral clause as effectively as they have used the 2nd amendment to cement the different anti-groups together. trump is not smart enough to even KNOW what they are doing. He is the catalyst to pull in the rich (with the promise of tax cuts) and the disenfranchised voters (motivated by hate and self-pity), and a very willing Russia to create a revolt and provide a distraction while they are going about their dirty work to destroy democracy!
4
This is all well and good, but for what? The Senate is going to acquit Trump, and he will use that to great advantage during his re-election campaign (“I’m innocent! I was found innocent!”). The Republicans now have a whole mess of great visual clips to run over and over in tv ads, and the Trump voters have just spent two weeks soaking up a very slanted narrative courtesy of Fox and talk radio. Once the acquittal comes down, it’s game over for the Democrats in 2020. Who in their right mind thought this was a good idea?
This hasn’t even persuaded many independent voters. My husband for one is still totally not convinced that anything witnesses like Fiona Hill have proved rises to the level of an impeachable offense. Unsavory, yes. Impeachable, no. And he’s as moderate as they come, and a big fan/donor of Pete Buttigieg (hubby is a Hoosier). Such a waste of time and money, and it will do absolutely nothing but give Trump more ammunition to win a second term with. Sad.
1
The Judiciary Committee should consider hiring Fiona Hill to help draft the articles of impeachment and even the questions to be asked. She has a razor-sharp mind and also the gift of explaining convincingly connection of facts to allegations. The Democrats will be sloppy in drafting questions, inept at drawing compelling conclusions,, and too partisan to be seen as fair. They need to go well beyond their usual participants, if they want to have any hope at all of winning over the public and senators. Of course it will eliminate opportunities to grandstand, but so be it.
Jim Jordan was not only disrespectful to Mr. Holmes, he has acted like the court jester in these hearings. He rattles off the disconnected conspiracy theories of the day and treats the witnesses as subjects there for his abuse. He's a crass, crude man -- not a humble seeker of truth in defense of the Constitution.
9
The behavior of the Republicans on the committee is so shameful and despicable it is beyond words to express. I don't think I can watch any more of it in the days ahead, but I want Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Schiff and the Democrats to know I respect them for their courage and appreciate their service to our country in defense of democracy, the Constitution and our system of justice. It would have been easier for them to look the other way and make excuses for doing nothing. But then we would have never known what kind of man and what kind of country we were voting for next year. When this process is complete, we can't look the other way as American citizens. We will have to look in the mirror.
8
Thank you all speakers (excluding Volker, Sondland and Morrison). You are standing on the shoulders of patriots that came before you. But you are now among the founding mothers and fathers for what this democracy has yet to become. Equal. Just. There’s much work to do. By transcending this egregious grab-back for an era we must leave behind, and demonstrating key parts that that were right, you are showing the way. It’s an ugly iteration; the evolution we need. Keep at it. I for one am with you.
Republican senators met with White House officials to develop impeachment strategy? Seriously? Since when in America does a defendant’s legal team get to meet in advance with the jury to map out trial strategy?
6
I was raised at the headquarters of the Manhattan Project. My career has been spent educating this nation's youth to become scientists and engineers to serve this country and the world with honor and integrity. My students understand that the laws of physics govern how the universe functions and that the rule of law governs how democracy works.
Dr. Fiona Hill also understand this, as do Maria Yovanovitch, and Lt. Colonel Vindman. It is becoming painfully clear that some in our government do not and place what they see as their personal profit above that of the nation.
Will this be our finest hour? Or will we fall to defeat in the face of a coward and a bully? Can we remember 1940?
2
Yet the Democrats and MSM spent over two years pushing the ruse and condemning our President for being in collusion with Russia - proved wrong by an investigator they lauded with his team composed significantly of attorneys with a history of supporting the Clintons.
Russia loved the resulting division and upheaval that brought to our country - infinitely more so than anything about Ukraine.
2
What America and Republicans in particular fail to grasp is that Putin's Russia has already begun a war to destroy America using Trump and the Republican Party from within and clandestine cyber technology to subvert the electoral system. America has been invaded and has yet to stand up to these outrageous Russian incursions. A resulting American civil war will complete Putin's objectives.
4
“The buck stops here”. trump had to know there were two path divergent; domestic agenda and National Security. Testimony has validated that. He condoned both. Allowing national security to be compromised for self domestic political interests. “Guilty” !!
It only takes one Republican Senator to start a defection. And should the Senate not vote to impeach, then the Democrats have an arsenal of testimony and Schiff concluding talking points to turn the 2020 narrative into “Crooked Donnie” and his Swampier Republican associates.
1
I was most disgusted when Rep. Turner shouted down the witnesses. Didn’t let Dr. Hill respond. Really had no question at all.
But since the Republicans seem to have no interest in facts, I suppose it is to be expected that he would have no interest in hearing the testimony of a fact witness.
And then, when Dr. Hill did get a chance to speak and wanted to aptly address corrosive partisanship, she noted both Reps. Turner and Ratcliffe had left the hearing. They left?!!
Get them out of office. They clearly aren’t willing to fulfill their duties.
7
I hope Dr. Hill, Mr. Holmes and others can demonstrate their fiber during questioning in the Senate.
It's pretty outrageous, and maybe most compelling to Trump supporters, that Donald Trump "withheld $400 million of my tax dollars" to try getting himself reelected. Basically a mob guy, whose major deals include bankrupt casinos and ripping off university students, has got his hands in my pocket too.
Impeach the guy, throw him out of office, and charge him with racketeering, bank fraud and wire fraud.
3
Truth and reality have had zero effect on the GOP for the last seventy-five years, this will change nothing as the GOP is headed down the road of total selective-ignorance as they approach the cliff of complete political and environmental collapse.
1
Wouldn't it be wonderful if Joe Jordan was replaced in Government by Fiona Hill. Come on Ohio, do the right thing!
2
Yes, it seems to me that Russian interests are advance by the division in the United States but let’s see what the IG report informs us about the source of the bogus stories that ended up putting the country through this whole mess. I am betting on mischievous conduct by individuals including State Dept and/or CIA working on behalf of HRC. Frankly, I am not sure about Dr. Hill.
2
I hope the next president can go on to do his/her job without the kind of harassment that Trump has had to put up with. This is the worst case of work place bullying that I or anyone else has seen in the history of human kind. I just hope the president if doing ok through all or this.
2
In the video she calls herself one of the “fact witnesses,” but all I’m hearing are conjectures and opinions. The whole proceeding is a house of cards and persistent chicanery from Democratic leadership. How about digging deeper on Hunter Biden? Follow the money.
2
@Edwin — Don’t you think her and her colleagues’ experience here counts at all?
According to some of these comments, you could not prosecute for any crime unless all the witnesses saw it occur from start to finish, and the perp directly told them what they planned to do and then confessed to each witness individually. (Even, then, I’m sure, doubt would still be raised.)
Trust me — no such commenters here would be insisting on this sort of high bar if it were a Democratic president under scrutiny. Dare I say, by this time the GOP would be seriously discussing charges of treason.
Stop giving this man a pass. Take credibly the testimony of those who have been in the national security arena and diplomatic corps for years, who are risking their personal safety and professional integrity, and know what is acceptable procedure and protocol and what is not.
At the very least — the VERY least — Trump deserves censure. Even if he wins next year, he will be the lamest of lame ducks, which is all the more reason to support and vote for any Democratic challenger to any GOP House or Senate seat in 2020.
Every day, remind yourself after your morning coffee, *exactly *why would Russia have gone to all that effort on Facebook and elsewhere, to help Mr. Donald Trump be elected -- rather than that other contender and unquestionably the most-prepared one in modern times, Ms. Hilary Clinton?
1
Ooh all this drama. All this truth.
Don't get me wrong, this is wonderful. The witnesses have been deply impressive and convey a sense of honor and responsoibiulity misasing from the publicly visible up[per echelons of eitrher party.
\But I hoipe Democrats realize they are just beginning to make an impression, they have laid some near-perfect groundwork.
I fear they think their job is nearly done. If so, they will see Republicans simply ignore what has occured in the hearings thus far and move on to their protion of the show. They will never win the contest but, honjestly, they don't care.
Already committed to acquittal, even openly and enthusiastically coordinating with Trump exactly how to stage manage his miraculous delivery from the poisonous machinations of Democrats, Republicans will pay not one second of attention to all that's been said here unless some meaningful fraction of their political supporters insist they respond and not just lemming it up at the end.
This mountain is only leaning toward Democratic Mohamed. They had better not decamp for the beach just yet.
As I watch the hearings, I think of all the times Trump might have been reined in by "his" party. He was not. He was emboldened by their silence. He was emboldened by a staff who Trump-splained. He disrespected and intimidated federal witnesses. He is empowered by FOX. His exaggerations and bravado, self congratulatory remarks where he should have been humbled - all of this led to how he believed he could use taxpayer funds to have a foreign government investigate an American citizen. The Founders weep; Putin laughs.
2
Impeachment was guaranteed before the hearings began when Democrats in a 100% partisan fashion rammed down Americans’ throats this inquiry. After the Russian collusion hoax and the nasty way the Democrat’s handled the Kavanaugh hearings, it was clear the fix was in. Let’s move on to the Senate hearings now, where the Republicans will 100% ram down everyone’s throats a non-conviction. What a colossal waste of time and tax dollars all of this has been!
2
Putin must be pleased beyond his wildest dreams that, not only is Trump either his unwitting or knowing asset, the entire Republican Party and FOX now seem to be pushing Russia’s disinformation campaigns and foreign policy goals. What a tragic and possibly fatal development for the future of our democratic republic and the rule of law. Americans had better wake up fast, read FACTS not propaganda, and care about our nation more than they do their tribal loyalty to a Republican Party that is a perversion of its former self.
Why does half of the country want to undermine the Constitution? As an eighty year old visiting my children, I cannot understand why a known crook is still being supported by 40% of our country. It is horribly painful to see.
Have we come to the point where , like corporate greed, we forsake all rational thought and side with gangsters? Dr. Hill spelled it out for all to see. Isn’t there a way to alert people to the fact that FOX news is supporting the same talking points as Putin? Remember Putin announced to the world that “yes, I wanted Trump to win.” I fear for all of us.
2
Sprinkled here and there in these comments, you find someone blindly supporting this President, oblivious to all the testimony, echoing the strident and baseless attacks of Nunes and Jordan and in effect living in an alternate universe where the sworn words of the very top experts that our country has to offer are ignored and maligned. Unlike the cynical Republican leaders who must know the truth of the testimony and also must know that their actions are undermining the interests of this country and supporting those of Putin and the Russians, I do not believe that these writers actually wish to support the enemies of the United States. Yet they are locked into an idolatrous relationship with a master liar and propagandist and are willing to countenance anything he says or does, and even to willfully ignore and deny his treason. In the end when he falls, as he must, they will be left as accessories after the fact, complicit to this treason. And they will take their stubborn denial of these facts and of truth, justice and reality with them to their graves.
3
I hope that those who have supported the current administration in the past can see through the GOP's flimsy platform of disinformation on display here, and will especially note that the two NSC members lauded as patriots are immigrants.
Dr. Hill's testimony makes me proud to be English. Her clear, concise and candid honesty is an asset to her . Dr. Hill is not one to be intimidated by the counsel or Republican representatives tactics and hard line questioning.
It is also very apparent that the Republicans could not care less about any facts presented during the impeachment hearings.
6
Voters need to ask themselves when deciding in 2020:How can the Republicans effectively govern and respect their oath of office if they can't discern fact from fiction or right from wrong?
10
The decision by the Democrats to stop the impeachment hearings without talking to the main players in this impeachment drama is a mistake. History demands that they complete this process. Mr. Giuliani, Mr. Pence, Mr. Pompeo, Mr. Mulvaney and Mr. Bolton should be called to testify even if it takes us up to the 2020 election. There are significant separation of powers questions that must be answered. By impeaching the President without a conviction, the Democrats will be charged with conducting a political impeachment. It will allow Trump, if elected, to a second term to continue his destructive behavior and flaunt executive power without any controls.
3
@Robert Pryor : I agree. The Mueller report reveals large tracts of still unexplored treason, crime, and perjury. Those are unexplored because Congress has made little or no effort to compel the players to even show up, never mind tell the truth.
If Congress was serious about all this, we would see massive fines accumulating daily while these co-conspirators are frog-marched to jail until they cooperate -- all under the powers granted Congress (rather than the DoJ) under the Constitution.
Meanwhile the other offenses of this administration continue unabated -- the emoluments, bribery, and corruption that have nothing to do with these Russian connections and are nonetheless grounds for impeachment and removal.
1
As an American citizen living abroad, I don’t get to witness firsthand on a daily basis the greatness of this country. Witnessing Dr. Fiona Hill’s testimony made me feel proud to be an American, a feeling I haven’t felt since the current administration.
7
Fiona Hill is superlative.
6
I'm wondering why the Democrats are rushing to end the investigations without taking to the key figures, such as Mulvaney, Kerry, Bolton, Pence, trump, et. al.? Why aren't they holding the State Department in contempt for not turning over key documents? Does an actual transcript of trump's July 25th phone call exist? Isn't this important enough to force key players to show up and testify under oath? I realize momentum will be lost, but if the Republicans' best defense is to call all the testimony given so far "hearsay", why not force the actors in this alternate action to come forward and give testimony under oath? Do they think the American public's attention span won't suffice to connect these last days of hearings with future hearings that may not take place for months due to the plodding speed that the courts will take to rule on whether those involved can be forced to come forward?
Have I just answered my own question?
1
Aside from the (negative) devastating presentations of the facts and of the abject state of the Republican Party, the historically most important positive aspects of this process seems to me to be showcasing of extremely impressive women, placed under pressure viewers can feel. (We can all easily imagine sitting below interrogators on high-backed leather chairs, squad of cameras pointed at us.)
Happy to see people round the world getting a sense of their characters, sense of duty, intelligence, composure and articulate representations, at time when USA seems to've lost its compass.
4
"Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 election"
Is that really the idea, that Russia and only Russia tried in 2016 to interfere in our election? Russia is the only threat that our elections faced or will face?
My understanding is that more than one country or foreign group can try (have tried) to interfere with elections here and elsewhere, that we and Russia have tried to impact each other's policies and elections at least since the Cold War - I still remember Radio Free Europe. Anything new?
I would be surprised if there have been any elections in the last few decades that were free of any foreign efforts. I also know we have tried very hard to promote our views around the world, through nation building. A pushback can reasonably expected and must be countered.
Furthermore, if I understood all the career people who testified, the very same was their major goal and push ... to weigh in on and support the elections in Ukraine.
It is a geopolitical reality around the world that will be repeated. We defend our interest and others will try to defend theirs. Best we be aware of and able to counter all future negative attempts rather than focus only on one threat. No?
In my humble opinion, complacency and/or tunnel vision might be our biggest enemy. Transparency and information are the best weapons/disinfectants.
Divisive, partisan battles could have an opposite effect.
1
One glaring consistency is the investigation by Mueller stating that Russia did in fact interfere with the 2016 US presidential election.
The evidence is collaborated and compelling.
Mr Trump in the meantime has been all over the rhetorical road. Mr Trump has wavered from total denial to totally absurd conspiracy theories, trying to run over the truth.
3
I've noticed on FB that comments that support the actions regarding Ukraine by DT and conspiracy fantasy are getting fewer. People are now wondering if, after hearing testimony by Dr. Hill and others, the supportive comments for DT are in fact Russian operatives. If anything else does come from these hearings, that alone is progress in taking our democracy back from those like DT who would destroy it.
2
The Justice Department indicted 13 Russian nationals, including 3 Russian companies for the scheme to interfere with the U.S. elections. There is Manafort who is in prison, there is Flynn, who will be sentenced in December, both with Russian ties. Tillerson's Exxon/Mobile ties with Russia are also problematic. All three men played their role in the Trump Administration.
Trump's denial of Russian interference in our 2016 elections, his publicly taking Putin's word for it against our Intelligence Community and that of our Allies, and his still refusal to do anything about the 2020 election and its vulnerability is problematic. Our security is at stake, as well as our democracy's election process that has always been the envy of many nations.
There is something deeply wrong and nefarious with Trump and his Administration with many in the Republican Party still not standing up and calling him out. These impeachment inquires should make every American sit up and take notice as to what is happening to our country under Trump's leadership. We must stand up and call him out.
4
It's hard to know to what part of the Republicans' collective psyche Dr. Hill was trying to appeal when she urged them not to traffic in bogus conspiracy theories that exonerate Russian and serve the political interests of both Trump and Putin. Was it to their patriotism? They don't have any. Ethics? They don't have any of those, either. Their regard for the truth? Nope - that's absent, also. Dr. Hill might as usefully been pleading with Putin himself not to try to damage the United States of America.
Trump and his supporters are not facilitating the problem. They ARE the problem.
6
"compelling, overwhelmingly clear and unambiguous" is not the standard in any functioning court anywhere on the planet and never has been at any time anywhere on the planet.
There are at least 100 words in the English dictionary that could be "cut & paste" to highlight the events at large. Many of our co-readers might have already done it. I want to add: 1) The 'transcript' by itself is extremely derogatory for National Security, 1) Important people with exemplary service record have amply resonated the same in their depositions, and 3) Dr Hill's one is more than marvelous & courageous too. What else we need to do the needful. Whatever be the consequence, the whole thing is pathetic...
These hearings expose and are insightful for our enemies. Rep. Adam Schiff aspires to his role as Chairman, he plays his part to the cameras and his grand pronouncements. There is no better exemplification of what, how and who runs a kangaroo court in our Democratic society with this hearing. Let the proceeding lead to judgements based on clear political bias, insinuation, fourth hand information and assumptions of witnesses. Wipe away the few facts and run with the circus hype and get on with a meaningless vote to what end? We the citizens are being robbed by the politics of our representative who do nothing to advance our society. Demand term limits of our Congress and the Senate!
1
@Voter - You really shouldn't vote until you can face facts.
btw, if you want first hand information insist that Bolton, Pompeo et al testify.
3
@Voter - "Demand term limits of our Congress..."
Why, so voters can simply vote into office the same type that leaves due to term limits? Might work for destroying the seniority setup but for little else i imagine. By the way, i presume you mean term limits for both house and senate, not congress and senate.
The castle citadel for the GOP seems to be: "it's too close to an election. Let the voters decide." That seems to ignore the whole purpose of these crimes: to undermine the election.
3
So Ukraine's involvement in our 2016 presidential election is a fiction? I remember when NYT readers were outraged at the idea of foreign interference in that very same presidential election. It was a threat to our very democracy, they cried.
And now? Meh. What a difference it makes when the subject isn't Trump. They will be on whatever side he isn't.
1
Dr. Fiona Hill was authoritative and credible. She did not lose her memory and fail to understand that Burisma meant Biden as Volker and Sondland did. One fascinating exemplar of cynicism and self-dealing: the investigation into Biden did not have to be real. In fact, it couldn't be since the whole Ukraine is the enemy is a hoax to confuse voters.Trump wanted Zelensky to announce an investigation to smear Biden, his political rival. It didn't matter if the Ukrainians ever investigated anything. Trump just wanted a Fox News headline to trumpet and put on hats and shirts. Trump deeply understands media psychology. Too bad he knows nothing about either the rule of law or running a country.
2
We have 17 venerable intelligence agencies in MY United States.
Trump has denigrated them all, thousands of dedicated employees who have pledged their loyalty to the US.
Trump has no idea of loyalty, beyond to himself.
1
Why can’t the Republicans respond to the clear evidence in front of them? Why can’t they listen to reason? Because there is no principle involved with those that side with Trump. Like Russia, this is all about corruption.
2
I watched some true American PATRIOTS in these hearings. Some risked future employment retaliation, acts of revenge which any sane person knows Trump is both capable of and actually enjoys. I watched Republicans prove that they only are capable of some serious groveling at Trump's feet and have given up love of country for obedience to him.
I watched Dr. Hill warn us all of our future with clear, concise, educated, fact based testimony. Watching the GOP minions attempt to bring her down was the best part of days of their verbal abuse and insulting behavior to others who came to testify. She shredded them and it gave many of us real joy to watch them crumble.
I am done pretending that it is okay for our President to use his personal attorney, with ZERO classified clearance, to meddle in my country's foreign interactions with a country battling a war with Russia. And to blackmail them for his political future.
If he walks away from this, since he began it the day after the Mueller hearings, be aware, this is only the beginning of his trek to expand his corruption of our Democracy.
Call your Senators. Make a fuss. Let them know we love our country as much as those who risked a lot to stand and deliver for us and for our Democracy. We only get the government we deserve. Time to scream we deserve better.
2
I still don't understand why when the world knew about the Russian interference and promotion of Brexit the Russians were allowed to interfere in the USA Presidential election.
Ukraine "not" Russia? And if it's both? Don't democrats want to know?
They were certainly interested when they could attribute that interference to Trump. Now that he's the victim and not the culprit, they want to deny that foreign interference is a problem.
1
Didn't pay much attention to this courageous woman before, that changed yesterday. I'll now follow her every move and thoughts. These are the kinds of people I'm willing to risk my life for!
3
The presidents of Russia and Ukraine will meet Dec. 9 in Paris and attempt to forge an agreement that will end fighting in Eastern Ukraine and resolve the Crimea issue. The diplomats who testified during the hearings all agreed that U.S. support for Ukraine was much stronger under the Trump administration than the Obama administration. If Putin and Zelensky reach an agreement, theTrump’s administration policy toward Ukraine will be validated.
2
@William Case— And of course we can absolutely trust Vladmir Putin to abide by whatever agreement is reached.
As Americans our governmental structure allows us to people our government with elected officials whose primary duty is the welfare of the nation. But to accomplish it one has to be ready to make an informed vote and encouraging others to do so. We have come to this worrying stage in our history because voting as a tool is dismissed or made to difficult.
If we want well managed government, voting as a civil responsibility either becomes a priority or the Republic is lost.
27
Our Russian Affairs expert Ms. Fiona Hill read her opening statement, in which she categorically denounced the Republican fictional conspiracy theory that it was Ukraine, not Russia, that interfered in the 2016 election.
As soon as he was able to speak, Devin Nunes, who is a Trump lickspittle, immediately responed by again reiterating the fictional conspiracy theory. Nunes is an extremely stupid individual. Nunes being part of an Intelligence Committee is an oxymoron.
155
It is possible to be amoral, or even outright unethical, and still be intelligent. And the fact is that someone who is intelligent and unethical is the greater danger. Nunes fits more in this category, albeit his unethical leanings are far stronger than his intelligence. One insightful way of looking at this is to ask this question: Given a choice between having Dr. Hill or Nunes be your children’s ethics teacher, who would you pick?
2
@Joe Miksis Nunes Immediately produced the 420 page report that was by Pardison that said Russia did it. You’re missing the point, that Mr. Trump was paranoid because there were Ukrainians out to get him under the corrupt prior regime.
@Joe Miksis if you noticed republicans had zero defense of Trump. Instead they simply attacked by bringing up old conspiracy theories. Also they attacked witnesses themselves. Also they repeated the same whine about democrats are after trump since the day he was elected and after so many hearings they are still at it..etc etc. I usually put the TV on mute every time Nunes and Jordan spoke because they were so predictable in their dark bunker basement unfair hearings etc when they fully participated in those basement hearings. LOL
1
Amoral and indifferent. There’s a growing cancer on the presidency.
58
Uh...no, that’s how Trump normally looks.
Would you rather have Fiona Hill or Donald Trump running this country? Would you vote for her over any of the rest of the crowd? It would bring back some of our dignity.
I don't even know if see belongs to a party.
44
@Jose Pieste
He lost the 2018 midterms by a record 9 million votes. The GOP apologists just have not accepted the results of the mid terms when America elected the current Congress to put a check on the lawless wannabe tyrant.
1
British-born Fiona Hill have a lesson in American patriotism to American-born GOP House member.
I wish we could revoke American citizenship from these GOP clowns.
66
@BWCA
Fiona Hill's only claim to being an expert in anything is her declaration, that she is.
1
@BWCA
Is it childish to admit a certain quiet pride that Fiona Hill was born and brought up a Brit?
Guilty as charged, then...
Thank you Dr Hill, for the timely reminder. The facts have been presented. Trump is clearly guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors. But the Russians are coming. Big Oil, Big Insurance and Big Pharma like Trump's 1910 style policies on the environment and consumer protection, and the Republican party is in Vladimir Putin's pocket. Americans who prefer democracy over Mafia rule are going to have to make a lot more effort in 2020 than they have in any previous election in their lifetimes to keep their country free.
54
I wish to make clear that I do not support Manchurian President Trump.
43
If John Bolton is so patriotic and hawkish against American enemies - Russia, Iran and others, he should show courage and answer to Congress. He longer works for the Administration. He owes nothing to Trump. He claims he resigned. Trump claims he was fired. Mr. Bolton, unless you testify in Congress, I will actually believe you were fired by Trump as you would have shown you have no integrity and nothing you say will be believable.
52
Aesop put it well: United, we stand. Divided, we fall.
18
Donald Trump is a lion and the oxen must defend democracy.
I must say one thing with all of the comments here to this article. everyone here is very knowledgeable about how narrow the articles should be. It reminds me of civics class in grammer school.
at the high school I went to I was in accelerated history class. we had to memorize the bill of rights. I was especially interested in Fiona. she didn't take any guff from the nunes (cow )camp.
I don't know how it is that some people don't believe there was something wrong here from the start. and trump still hasn't had zelensky to the white house. baffles my mind.
20
@jennifer t. schultz
If you really went to high school, you should know that persons' names are always capitalised. And when you begin a new sentence, ditto.
That's what baffles my mind; how can you - and others, like you - claim your understanding of things and do it with a straight face.
It's all about Republicans' party over country obsession.
Yet the President and his Republican supporters want to continue to peddle these fictions as a means to defend him and confuse the public. They are shameless and as Hill reveals in her testimony are ironically doing the work that Russia wants them to do. They have no interest in the truth and the Constitution since that would lead to impeachment and conviction of Trump and indictment of much of his corrupt administration. It is always winning and party over country, the Constitution, and the truth.
44
Of course these fictions help RUSSIA. The GOP is now the party of Russia and its President is a Russian Asset. Why is anyone surprised?
56
How much more evidence is needed before you understand America cannot handle the truth. It seemed to me that America was exposed to the truth and only America's citizens will determine whether facts really matter.
Diogenes the Cynic was born somewhere near the Black Sea Crimea? 2400 years ago. Diogenes could or couldn't handle the truth that is why they named a syndrome after him.
I don't know if Trump should or shouldn't be impeached. I don't know whether he should be impeached if he believes what he says or doesn't believe what he says. I am still trying to figure out whether Donald Trump believes Donald Trump and whether if Donald Trump believes Donald Trump is it a High Crime or misdemeanor. A Donald Trump that doesn't believe Donald Trump is the one that America elected. Isn't he?
7
Call me crazy, but I seriously do not know how Ukraine even came into these discussions.
Trump cannot even find it on a map.
27
You’re right, but Putin has the map of Ukraine memorized.
49
If nothing else, let these hearings serve to remind us or, for Trump supporters, shed light on the fact that, against all odds given the incompetence of the current administration, the US civil service toils with dedication, patriotism, and great competence. We are very grateful.
This fact is certainly highlighted when contrasted with some of the buffoons we have elected to office. We really need to do better in 2020.
41
I watched every minute of the impeachment and found how frequently the rule of law was ignored and violated, and disturbs me greatly. It is for this reason the decision to end this part of the impeachment process now would weaken the importance of our constitution, the Rule of law and the moral integrity of our nation. Action must be taken to assure those who failed to appear must be forced to appear. If it takes until the next election, so be it.
30
The whole Republican Party are selling out America to the Russians . What are they good for? Don’t pay taxes , don’t fight in the wars they start are supporting coal and fossil fuels which is destroying our air and water. Won’t support affordable health care or affordable housing. Who are they kidding they want less government we will need to build more jails for all of the GOP. Lock them all up.
We must end the Electoral college now. I won’t ever trust another GOP in charge.
39
Most importantly, eradicate the Electoral College. Tear it out by the roots!
1
Finally, liars' pants are on fire, thanks to the testifying responsible adults: I suggest Fiona Hill for POTUS & Alexander Vindman for VPOTUS !
37
I totally agree. Alas , since neither are American born, they cannot be President or VP. Ironic since Trump who was born in the United States is very unpatriotic- bone spur draft dodger , and Putin lackey.
@Evren sadly only natural born citizens can be POTUS.
@Evren Not born in US - you'll have to change the Constitution first
1
For a long time, I've feared that the US govt would eventually no longer show any respect for individual rights.
However, up until very recently, I believed that it would result from leftists taking us further and further away from the idea that decisions are best made by those who will benefit if the net result is more value and suffer if the net result is less value. I primarily feared a tyranny of the majority.
Now, the consistent and instant intentional misrepresentation of witness testimony shown by the Republican Party (Donald Trump version) members of the committee, lead me to suspect that individual rights in the US will disappear as a result of voters ignoring corruption in their own party, and the US will become similar to a mafia-run-like, single-party country like Russia. - RIP USA; You WERE a great country.
18
As voters, we can’t give in or give up!
This is OUR country; the least we can do is fight along side these career foreign service agents who have fought and served for us!
21
Republican Party=Russian Party. Period.
29
Just checked out five thirty eight polling on impeachment. Unfortunately it seems the republican strategy of obfuscation, distraction, lying, conspiracy theory pursuing, Putin argument using is working for the GOP. They will betray our country and our principles to remain in power. I am not sure if our country will hold. It may be that as we become more diverse, and segmented, we can not hold the country together. Where do I find middle ground with people who observe no middle ground.
13
1. Trump and his campaign colluded with Russia, no question.
2. Trump is aware the Steele dossier is genuine and it's existence looms ominously even more than the Mueller investigation.
3. Trump will continue to lie and assess blame on Obama long after Mueller has uncovered collusion and obstruction.
There are two crimes here. One, the deliberate manipulation of the electoral process and second, the deliberate cover up of the manipulation.
30
The left wing media is making Ukraine the headline story everyday but I think the general public is tired of this by now.
We had 2 years of Russia collusion which was proven to be a hoax. No one has the energy to care about Ukraine anymore except for the most leftist radicals. The Dems aren’t convincing anyone and are probably hurting themselves with these boring hearings of bureaucrats. This is what Yang has been saying and I agree.
6
Let’s be clear Mueller said the report, “does not exonerate they President”. In fact it cites 10 cases of obstruction. The people may tire of it. But impeaching him is the right thing. He has committed the most impeachable offense ever. Using our money to bribe, more like extort, complicity in his crooked campaign.
54
Jay, all the witnesses and evidence so far dispute the essence of your statement. The White House which might have counter evidence, but are AFRAID to allow anyone to speak. The Russian talking points seem to be identical to what the GOP is trying to push. This only places the blame away from Russia and on a small country that is the buffer between Russia and Europe.
So why does Trump and his subordinates continue to refuse to speak to Congress? Don’t they want to tell their side of the story? Or are they too Weak and Afraid?
33
@Jay Lincoln It is not about Ukraine, it is about abuse of power, corruption, and most heinously, pathological lying, on the part of Trump.
You might not realise, but most @GOP can not stand Donald Trump, but they have hitched their horses to his wagon, and are more than willing to see where this takes them.
Integrity, honesty, and doing the right thing, have gone the way of populism, and it is best that Trump is removed, one way or another.
The rest of the world is waiting and hopeful, that the USA tips the scales back to 'normality'. NOT the hero worship of a criminal.
By the way, if this 'impeachment' was happening in a criminal court, Trump would right now, be indicted, like his mates, Stone, Manafort, Cohen etc. All the President's men are petty little wannabe mobsters, like Trump.
1
So sad to see that the the Republican caucus still seems to think that their primary job here is to defend Trump and destroy the reputation of anyone who comes forward with the truth. Hill did a terrific job underscoring the harm inflicted on our national interest by this shabby partisanship.
45
Dr. Hill exceeded the impressive testimony of her colleagues that went before her. She informed us, elevated us and inspired us. She and her band of brother and sister professionals and experts demonstrated that they and thus the United States of America has the "right stuff" even if it is too often hidden .
35
St. Reagan died believing that he won the cold war.
Little did he know that the Republican Party is now Putin’s propaganda arm within the US.
71
Future generations of historians will not look kindly on Republicans for their part in shielding Donald Trump and his actions to get dirt on the Bidens from Ukrainian officials. Republican misrepresentations and personal attacks on democrats (in particular Adam Schiff and witnesses) is embarrassing to say the least. Republicans in the House may feel (clearly misplaced) loyalty to the president, but they will forever be remembered as the group that betrayed their oath to their country by siding with Russia. What a sorry day for America. The party of Lincoln has turned into the party of Putin and Russian.
39
Listening to the live stream, I heard references to reps leaving before it was over. The only names I heard mentioned were GOP reps, but, honestly, I'm not sure who all left early. It would have been nice if the Times mentioned which reps had simply walked out. Especially the Republican reps. I know it was the day before their break, so maybe some were not fleeing the rout, but rather simply ducking out early to get a jump on the holiday. Still, it would be nice to know who - after hearing so much moaning about the inability to participate in secret star chambers and whatnot - couldn't be bothered to actually be present through the entire thing.
24
Some decades ago, it was a value of this society to be a "vibrant democracy". That meant a nation of communities, ideally with town meetings, and more realistically, intense, occasional angry and invective-filled debates in the press, on the street, in schools, and in other media.
We projected this vision of a healthy, animated resolution of differences, even angrily held ones, as proof of the superiority of our system to the grey uniformity of Communism.
Well, so much for that one.
We used to celebrate dissent. Not only was dissent tolerated here, it was one proud face of America.
Here's a secret. Let's whisper it.......you can't have dissent without divisiveness.
All of the worthies of the last weeks and years who have viewed with alarm the spread of divisiveness among our people are enemies of the democratic tradition of the US.
All of the liberals who are concerned to frustrate some Russian plot to divide us are betrayers of the left struggle for the right to dissent.
Go off with all your friends and enjoy your unity. Finish one another's sentences. Agree on everything. Take a moment to appreciate your homogeneity.
Then, when you are bored sick, c'mon over to have some fun; c'mon over to be on opposite sides; c'mon over with an attitude and ARGUE.
Moral. Police States demand an end to divisiveness.
True democrats thrive on divisiveness.
5
I disagree.
1
@alyosha - "All of the liberals who are concerned to frustrate some Russian plot to divide us are betrayers of the left struggle for the right to dissent."
Perhaps but if the russians win and trump extends his control, making us more and more like russia, followed by his chosen successor only when he, trump, passes to the great beyond, guess what. You'll no longer have the right to dissent. Join the fight or stay on the sidelines, just don't get in the way if you don't think it's your fight.
As for divisiveness, true democrats are a very diverse group, unlike only the 2 widely diverse monoliths which comprise the right wing today. True democrats always argue amongst themselves, then join to put up a united front composed of input from all, That's my observation as an outsider. I'm an independent. And a former registered republican.
1
@alyosha. If it isn’t evident by now, miss conflict, you can’t fix stupid. Republicans and voters who still support our criminal president — indeed, administration — are no more than a cult, denying the truth in the face of overwhelming evidence. Why waste time fighting with the likes of Nunes?
1
“At the White House, Republican senators loyal to Mr. Trump huddled with senior presidential aides and the White House’s top lawyer to begin charting out a Senate trial.”
Only in the upside-down that is the Trump administration and today’s Republican party does the accused get to direct the proceedings of his own trial. The only thing that would surprise me more would be videos of Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts sitting at the same table. On second thought, i guess i wouldn’t be surprised at all. There is zero expectation that Trump will get a fair hearing in the Senate as the acquittal notices are already being printed.
The Republicans correctly state that Trump’s impeachment inquiry and trial are a sham. Unfortunately for the American people, the sham is being perpetrated by the Republican’s themselves. Their disdain for the U.S. constitution and American people is sickening.
22
As impeachment proceedings unfold, my take on how Ukrainegate coverage proves media has utterly failed to learn from 2016 & is playing into hands of Trump/Putin again, failing to fully explain or properly emphasize Ukraine scheme IS central to Trump-Russia https://realcontextnews.com/ukrainegate-proves-the-media-has-learned-almost-nothing-from-2016/
10
So Republicans are willing to divide the country by pushing Russian Propaganda so that filthy rich people can keep getting tax cuts? So they can appoint judges who will side with corporations over individuals? So insurance companies can keep denying people health care? So their buddies can poison the air and water and face no consequences? Why would ANY working class person vote for Republicans?
36
Fiona Hill for President! That woman is IMPRESSIVE!
28
Hill made an obvious point not made before. Most world leaders ridiculed Trunp as the nominee ( and continued to do so during the campaign. Boris Johnson, who Trump now lauds, said he was unfit to be President.
21
Boris Johnson, when he is off guard, or doesn't think through the full implications, sometimes tells the truth. Invariably, when he thinks it through, or judges the personal impact on himself, he lies.
12
My thought is that senate Republicans will stoop to reason and vote their consciences, convicting Mr. Trump. This will also allow them to gain back some measure of self-respect and put a stop to their continued emasculation and humiliation by the president. We can only stand back and wonder how the elected Republicans desert their soon-to-be former comrades once the president puts one of them in his sights. When the history of this era is written, historians will flock to their Roget's to find synonyms for cowardice.
11
All of these public servants, excluding Sondland, make me proud of this country.
All of the Republicans and what they are doing to this country make me ashamed.
22
This is the true America. Checks and balances are in the public domain for the people to see. This is beautiful America, and this is why the USA is the greatest country in the world, even though they elected the most corrupt and inept person to have ever existed. Weeeeeeeeeird.
12
Your comment implies that you follow the democratic processes on every other country of the world. If so, that is impressive and I commend you.
But remind me, didn't Mrs Clinton garner 3 million more votes than Trump?
7
G Rayns. Electoral college. Look it up know it all.
The nation needs to know what's going on between trump and Putin going back to Helsinki.There’s absolutely no doubt that trump is effectively a russian operative who is being manipulated directly by Putin, regularly confers with him and is surreptitiously following orders.
18
I predict that in a year or two we will see a bump in the number of newborn American girls named Fiona.
32
@Mford
The name Fiona means fair.
1
"On another front, Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, signaled his intent to use the Judiciary Committee to mount an aggressive defense of Mr. Trump by focusing on Mr. Biden."
This is what we've seen already during hearings. In what world does an investigation of Trumps political opponent justify what he has done? Trump has told us that he saw nothing wrong with involving a foreign country. Remember FBI director Christopher Wray clearly pronouncing this to be wrong? Get ready for an all-out attack of Biden, where every new speck of dirt found, true or false, will be used to justify, excuse and even praise every impeachable act by Trump.
11
@CJFl - I almost wish he would focus on biden. Maybe then somebody can finally logically explain to me why they think joe biden was involved in corruption when
1-ukraine had a corrupt prosecutor who wasn't doing his job, wasn't investigating those, including burisma (hint:biden)
2-Biden was appointed by obama as i understand it to get the corrupt prosecutor out of there so maybe ukraine would finally get up a true fight against corruption and spending our money as it was supposed to be spent. Getting the corrupt prosecutor out was a focus point for a number of our allied countries
3-If biden was sent to get the prosecutor fired, paving the way for ukraine to engage a prosecutor that would take on an active investigation of corruption, which includes the likely high chance of targeting burisma, seems to me joe was instrumental in clearing a path for his son's company to get probe, not providing obstacles along that path.
No?
Fiona Hill makes me proud to be an American, which may seem ironic given her accent, but so be it. Good people abound in this country; they just don't garner headlines every day.
28
The last time I saw someone with Ms Hill's intelligence, stature, and courage on network television was in a bygone era when Edward R Murrow confronted the menace of McCarthyism on CBS. It has been a long time since the truth has been spoken so clearly and so well. There will be no fake news or tweets that can diminish her message.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/edward-murrow-joseph-mccarthy-60-years-later_n_4936308
21
Good for Dr. Hill, good for Mr. Holmes, good for Ambassador Taylor, Lt. Col. Vidman, and for all good patriots and citizens of valor, you lend us the hope, the strength, and the courage to continue . . . in the face of the GOP bully cowards, each and every one of them, too numerous to name and too odious to elevate in that way, who demean, degrade, and seek to oversee, overturn, and destroy our country, our heritage, our Constitution, Our UNITED STATES of AMERICA.
24
@BobK
Please pardon the omission of Ambassador Yovanovitch, Mr. George Kent, and all the other unsung heroes who will forever outshine the cowardly bully no good GOP shirks that only seek to denigrate them.
8
I have yet to hear one fact that rises to the level of an impeachable offense. We get it. The Dems hate Trump. You can line up “witnesses” until doomsday who give an opinion based on hearsay that orange man bad. But, nothing is accomplished other than weaponizing opinion. The next Dem POTUS will now face the same, and the exact same people who fill the opinion page letters to NYT supporting Trump’s impeachment will decry the fact that a duly elected POTUS is being derailed by opinion, hearsay and hate. I don’t support or respect Schiff’s folly. He had his chance and delivered hot air.
7
@ John
Trump asked a foreign country to interfere in our elections. Again.
Unconstitutional.
A violation of his oath of office.
Impeachable offenses.
37
@Semper fi
No, he didn’t. He asked them to look into 2016, and nobody testified about anything else. Those are the actual facts that have been established after 3 years and tens of millions of dollars and countless hours of investigations. The accolades of bravery bestowed upon those with like-minded opinions with the Left are not facts. They are not evidence. They are merely team support.
2
@John If the next Dem president does 1/100th of what individual 1 the thief from his own charity and fake university tax dodging current president has done, she/he would have to be impeached. 1/100th? Perhaps 1/500th
24
If there's another Bond movie she's got to be in it.
18
Republicans knew they were wrong to ram Brett Kavanaugh through the Senate without due vetting and consideration. They knew it was wrong to vote down ANY gun control after the Sandy Hook massacre. And they know that Trump is unfit, immoral, relentlessly mendacious, and a scoundrel for extorting a bribe from the Ukrainians to help his 2020 election.
What don’t congressional Republicans know? How to act honorably and in accordance with their oaths of office.
33
Dr. Fiona Hill is what a real patriotic hero looks like.
A powerful woman in power exposing an out of control, corrupt President, bent on undermining the national security of the USA for political purposes. A president who will go in history as a Russian collaborator.
36
My god, this nation has crossed the threshold. When one of two parties simply doesn’t care about utter corruption like this, and instead stands behind it as not a problem because it benefits them rather than standing for a bigger principle, that no President no matter what party is accountable to certain standards, then the ongoing struggle of nationhood is over and the inevitable decline has certainly begun. The future of America is bleak. It is up to the younger generation to get off their apps and decide their future and their country’s future deserves their attention and their exercising the sacred right to vote. That is our only hope.
30
In these hearings and in this era we are getting to see what the GOP is really, truly about. Criticism of the GOP that I once dismissed as hyperbolic has all proven to be true, and then some. It's quite an education, one that will serve me well in my decision making going forward, including when they are back out of power and yammering on about "fiscal prudence" and "family values," and wrapping themselves in the flag supposing themselves to be patriotic.
23
And the problem persists. Head on over to the comments on Faux News and be assaulted with the insane dribble that permeates its sycophantic walls.
These guys are digging in even more, and more, and more. It's like upside-down world that they can't see why Trump's bribery is a national security threat of the most extreme level.
I just don't understand it. Well, I do. Trump satisfies their basest desires which includes racism, xenophobia, and sexism. The civil war never ended.
20
It is just a pity she wasn't born here and cannot run for President.
She is amazing.
17
What do Russian disinformation campaigns look like, and how can we protect our elections? [Brookings]
--Russian goal, using information warfare, create a society that that confuse fact and fiction.
--Using digital; bots, trolls, micro-targeting disinformation.
--Old Strategies w/new, digital tools.
-- More disinformation; fake websites working together as a network; fake personalities using Twitter, Facebook, Google, YouTube etc. We’re not paying enough attention to algorithmic manipulation.
--More frightening use of artificial intelligence to enhance the tools of political warfare where AI driven attacks harder to detect.
--AI driven disinformation will better target specific audiences and will predict/manipulate human responses; Soon, we won’t be able to tell the difference between automated vs human entities.
--Convincing real deep fake video/audio appears convincingly real being used to mislead/deceive us. Debunking this content will be like playing whack-a-mole.
--We can inoculate the US against political warfare, disinformation, and cyber-attacks.
--Step one; develop a strategy to deter political warfare.
--Currently we don’t have a strategy, because we dissolved our capabilities we had during the Cold War.
--Step two be more critical consumers of information and recognizing that the information we consume is not neutral but often manipulated by malicious actors. As citizens, we have a responsibility to be more discerning and aware.
11
Putin owns Trump, even Jr. said so....all their money comes from Russia he said. Only Russia would loan them money. Putin must have told Trump in the Helsinki meeting where what they exchanged remains a mystery, that trump must not challenge him directly in exchange for keeping his loan alive or whatever it is. This is why he keeps up with the Ukraine election narrative meddling not Russia story and other falsehoods. We need to see and grasp the bigger picture about trump. Its all about Russia and its treason.
20
With Trump it is all about money and appearances.
Yes much of his laundered money comes from
Russia and he is beholden to Putin. What a corrupt traitor he is and an incorrigible criminal, attempting to bribe a vulnerable ally to again get a political favor in another election. If that isn’t impeachable what is?
3
The enemy of our enemy is within ourselves:
The current Republican Party enabling Russian propaganda!
16
15 minutes up.
The circus has moved on.
4
Even though I cannot offer evidence or proof that I used the toilet in the last 24 hours, you can be pretty sure I did!
7
Sen. Lindsay Graham is now a national security threat and promoting an investigation into the false Burisma/Biden narrative. He is playing into the hands of Russia. What do the Russians have on Trump and Sen. Graham? They’re obviously scared of Russia.
27
wake me when it’s over - and trump has won the 2020 election - MAGA
6
Maybe Donald Trump’s supporters should wake up now and realize that the time for celebrating themselves is soon coming to an end.
25
@Sam
Make Russia Great Again.
You are going to have to get another hat.
16
@Sam - Very intelligent, cogent depiction of the facts. Just what one would expect of the type. With some awakening of dormant morals and patriotism in enough additional of the electorate because of these hearings the sleep could be endless.
6
How big of mistake were these hearings?
Let's just say, the Republicans have seen the latest poll and won't even think about accepting censure.
Pelosi was right. Why don't the Democrats listen to her?
Instead, they listen to their Freshman.
The Gang of Four.
5
In the end Jordan could have asked Fiona Hill some questions and learned something from somebody who knows what she is talking about. But he was too craven to ask anything. He just made the poor woman sit there as he made a speech packed full of distortions and straight out misrepresentations. You could see by her face what she thought of him.
31
Will Hurd, the "good" Republican, tells America everything we need to know about how utterly corrupt he and the entire Republican party have become.
Today, Will Hurd insisted that he needed to hear from the whistle blower. Not Mike Mulvaney. Not John Eisenberg, who was informed of this not once, but two separate times weeks apart. Not Rudy Giuliani who was involved in drafting the statement that Trump wanted Zelensky to say smearing Biden.
Nope, Will Hurd, the "good" Republican, does NOT want to hear from any people who can provide information about this and who have refused to testify with Will Hurd's approval and delight. Instead, Hurd wants to hear from the whistle blower because somehow knowing what the whistle blower believes will inform Will Hurd as to whether what Trump did was okay.
There is nothing so sad as watching Will Hurd abandon any pretense of having any real moral core. Hurd wants to talk to the guy who reported that he heard something happened instead of all the people who were witnesses to what happened that Hurd refuses to question.
34
I’m so tired of this. I wish just one of these State Dept officials would begin their opening statements by reminding the Foreign Intelligence Committee that the State Department employees, many of whom were appointed and reappointed by Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama and Trump provide, in conjunction with the peer level appointees in the Defense Dept and CIA, the front line intel that informs the US Congress and soldiers on the ground what to do next.
For Rep. Johnson to undermine, thwart and otherwise dismiss their contribution and sacrifice to the country is an act of treason beyond the pale. Thank heavens we are not in modern day revolutionary France, or we’d march him right up to the front of the line ahead of Ms. Antoinette. Mr. Johnson, you are not only a traitor to your nation, but to yourself.
24
@Rich r
And the real kicker is that Mr. Johnson signed (along with other republicans) the same U.S. recommendation to Ukraine that they needed to fire the corrupt Prosecutor General Shokin. Yes the same Prosecutor General that the Republicans are now saying was fired through a corrupt action by Biden. Disgusting double standard.
4
Today's hearings were, indeed, powerful! Why did it take so long to bring to the fore discussions of theories regarding a "Deep State" and the Russian vs Ukranine interference in the 2016 election?
Are these recent disclosures impossible to receive more validation and to reach the Fox News audience for consideration?
With the Attorney General traveling the world, seemingly, to reach a predetermined conclusion regarding the above who is winning: Always Russia!
It might be a Republican (no idea) who said to let the House Impeach but ask that the voters decide. Do not ask for removal.
Perhaps if the testimony garnered during these hearings were used wisely the division in this country could begin to heal.
Forgive myself for allowing no real thought regarding this suggestion; exhaustion has settled in. When I hear how Russian intentions have begun to mesh into acceptable norms it seems there must be some possible and positive ideas.
There is a potential underlying tsunami in all of this!
2
After Dr. Fiona Hill's testimony, one must wonder what defense the Republicans will put up to justify their steadfastness to stay with the lie. The whole world watched us this past week. It has to wonder about us. What happened to our morals, our values, and our readiness to set the example for the world to follow. If this is what the Republicans and the POTUS mean by nationalism, then it doe not bode well for us. We should all be thankful for all who came forward to testify and showed the right side of America to the world.
23
Schiff and Hill reminded me of Charlie Brown and Peppermint Patty.
5
@JQGALT Jordan and Trump remind me of two villains in an animation.
19
Nunes & Jordan = the Katzenjammer Kids.
Sorry, dating myself
13
@JQGALT Great game! Nunes & Jordan remind me of J. McCarthy & Huey Long!
5
The level of competence, skill, and intelligence displayed by every witness before the Intelligence Committee was a comfort to watch. That we have such dedicated, brilliant public servants is a blessing to this country and points out how "good"our citizens can be.
On the other hand, most of our elected officials demonstrated none of those attributes.
20
It's not the GOP, it's the American Falange.
2
It was a pleasure to hear Dr. Hill speak with intelligent and professional behavior. What a difference than those that are selling out our Country by defending Trump and his gang.
22
It was very painful to watch the Republican representatives today. So foolish. So disrespectful.
31
This situation with Trump and his cronies reminds me of dealing with any type of narcissistic personality disorder . It’s all about them and they don’t care about anyone but themselves. They rarely if ever have any sincere form of introspection to guide their self centered decisions. The decisions are usually made only based on their personal gains and their personal distorted standards which are often far from reality . As we have seen and witnessed , they are more concerned with being caught in their actions...for which they will protest, project and become abusive, vs taking responsibility for the cause and side effects of those choices and actions to themselves and others.
Trump and his group have lied, admitted then defended their actions, then accused everyone they can, in the nastiest possible terms , of abuse. Unfortunately for our country, Trump and the cronies in his administration are in positions of power and are abusing that power, and doing a disservice to the citizens that they are supposed to serve.
13
Thanks to Trump and his lackeys we give Russia and the world televised viewing of some of our assets. Similar to inviting the Russians into the Oval Office, or tweeting and giving away intel methods. Thanks, guy. Great job.
5
Dr. Fiona Hill came across as a person with integrity, honesty & high moral standards; a refreshing breath of fresh air in today's toxic political environment. She was well prepared; keen, clear & concise, and her opening statement was a cannon shot across the bow of the GOP compulsive-conspiracy theorists ship of fools-enough is enough. Wake up! Truth matters, facts matter. Furthermore, after listening to all the testimonies, it's clear that President Donald J. Trump is & has been using the power of the presidency to advance his own personal & financial interests & is endangering our national security. Moreover, I'll bet that there's probably a boatload of nefarious & illegal activity that we don't yet know about committed by the very same people who most likely had/have the full authority of the WH. However, sadly, it seems that this kind of blatant criminality is ok & is condoned by the "law & order party". They'd be wise to heed the words of their former GOP member, Trey Gowdy, who, during the Bengazi hearings once said, "The notion that you can withhold information and documents from Congress no matter whether you are the party in power or not in power is wrong. Respect for the rule of law must mean something, irrespective of the vicissitudes of political cycles." Good luck with that.
28
Given the content and weight of the testimony throughout the entire impeachment investigation hearing, particularly today's testimonies, the onus is now on trump supporters to prove they are not always trumpers, they are always America. They don't have to switch sides to prove this. All they have to do is demand the intimates of the oval office, those who can provide the most insight to the true reasons behind the machinations of the administration which promulgated this investigation, honor their subpoenas and provide their individual testimonies. If not to the house members then to the senate members should impeachment be sent on to the senate for trial. Demand the release of the equivalent of the secret white house tapes or forfeit righteous claim to being an American patriot.
17
I think the real star of these hearings was Adam Schiff. He did a masterful job handling Republicans in their many attempts Republicans to distract, stall and disrupt the hearings.
Schiff also did a masterful job in his presentations and creating a narrative about the charges that was clear, concise compelling and easily understood by the public.
46
Truth to power. But when this reaches the Senate ( assuming it does), the republicans will all join together, intimidated by a man who would be dictator for life, and dismiss all the charges with a vote of no impeachment. This will be how it all ends. However, there is 2020 on the horizon. Be prepared people!
16
Hope enough Trump supporters that voted for Obama change their minds. Hope enough foreign policy and good governance Republicans regain their sanity.
There won’t be impeachment because Inner Party Members in the Senate will protect Bog Brother while their Outer Party Mobs in the countryside wear their red hats and cheat loudly.
6
It's hard to stomach Nunes and Jordan's responses to these credible witnesses. It's similar to high school debate where parties try to make the most extreme articles in the loudest possible manner.
I thank the dedicated public servants such as Dr. Hill, Ms. Yovanovich, Mr. Holmwes, and Lt. Colonial Vindman. These people are truly heroes who care about this country.
37
Please. High school debaters are better than these guys.
10
@BR Add Steve Miller to that high school (or maybe middle school) debate list. Fiona Hill would take him apart in a heart-beat.
4
Plain and simple:
The current Republican Party are guilty of enabling Russian propaganda aimed against the United States of America and have been for a while now. I did my homework prior to the 2016 Presidential election and knew that Donald J. Trump was connected to our enemy Russia with their frequent bailouts of his failed businesses when our own U.S. banks wouldn’t lend to him or his family anymore since he was considered a financial risk, and thus was compromised and certainly the wrong person to be elected to lead our nation. It seams that it’s all about greed and the almighty dollar to this bunch. Kudos to former Trump Russian expert Dr. Fiona Hill for calling them out that it was Russia and not Ukraine who had meddle in our 2016 election. It appears as if the GOP will do anything to remain in power including protecting the most corrupt President in our history and in the process selling out our great country. It’s apparent that the GOP majority led Senate will not convict Donald J. Trump despite all the indisputable evidence that he abused his presidential powers and violated his oath of office, and for it they will pay a heavy price up and down the 2020 ballot. With fellow citizens like this who needs enemies!
24
Dr. Hill and David Holmes as well as the other dedicated Diplomats are the epitome of competence, high ethics and grace. We are lucky to have them. Sondland is not fit for his current position but I suppose that is what a $1M donation gets you and we the American people have to deal with the outcome. Sondland, although appeared to be honest to cover himself, acted like a sophomoric college student who has never been out of his bubble.
18
I would like Dr Hill or Officer Holmes with me; before, during and after the lights go out and the shooting starts. The superiority of intellect, integrity, toughness of these Patriots is obvious even to the barbarians who rant.
29
It’s crystal clear after the past few days. The Trump/Putin/GOP alliance is still intact, still wields tremendous power.
Republicans weren’t even shy this week about embracing Russian narratives and talking points. And of course they have no interest in defending our 2020 elections from Russian interference, they want this.
Putin is ecstatic tonight.
24
Dr. Hill, Lt Col Vindman, Ambassador Taylor, Deputy Secretary Kent , Mr. Holmes, have become household names for honesty, integrity, professionalism, deep knowledge of American foreign policy, and true patriots. They stand in striking contrast to the craven Republicans who enable Putin and Russia through their lackey, the President.
If we follow how, for the last 2 decades American banks have refused to loan money to the Trumps, and how Putin, Russia and its oligarchs bankroll the Trump family, we will understand why he is so beholden to Putin.
22
‘Could I respond?’
I just loved that line. Dr. Hill’s temperament, demeanor, clarity, poise and grace were compelling and riveting. She was clearly the star witness.
45
Fictions, fantasies, or lies, whatever you want to call them. For Republicans these are politically useful fictions, which is why they are peddling them. They work to a considerable extent because many Republican voters don’t have the time, ability, or inclination to critically weigh evidence and see that 2 + 2 really does equal 4.
I agree with Dr. Hill that these totally debunked narratives about the Ukrainians interfering in our 2016 elections (and not the Russians) are deeply damaging to our democracy and national security. They deflect attention from Putin’s role, undermine Ukraine and help Russia achieve their own territorial and political goals there. It’s beyond description to witness a president and an entire political party undermining the country they took an oath to protect.
At the end of the day I find myself wishing Trump, Pence, Pompeo, Barr, Jordan, Nunes, Graham, McConnell and the whole rotten bunch will be voted out of office and then brought to justice.
16
The performances of the republicans on the Intelligence Committee clearly demonstrate their slavish toadying of Mr. Trump because they fear their political neutering should their performance not measure up. Pursuit of truth, finding of fact — these aims are not their concern. In fact, they couldn’t care less. More sad than that, though, is the willingness of so many Americans to swallow the bizarre narratives these republicans are peddling to avoid acknowledging what’s right in front of their face. That is deeply unsettling.
10
The success of the impeachment hearings has to go to Rep. Schiff who’s calm, focused and well prepared interviews allowed the entire committee to enlighten the country to crimes committed by Trump, Giuliani, Sondland , Perry, Volker and lots other corrupt people in his support system - Mulvaney and Pompeo among others.
24
Dr. Hill mentioned that there were those in Ukraine who had said unflattering things about Mr. Trump during the 2016 election cycle.
Could this possibly be because at the Republican Convention in 2016, Mr. Trump and Mr. Manafort (now convicted for being a foreign agent for the former government of Ukraine) had the plank removed from the G.O.P. Platform that supported Ukraine’s independence and condemned Russia’s annexation of the Crimea?
I’m not even Ukrainian and it made me displeased.
24
One of the things the trump GOP will be historically remembered for is their vitriolic siding with Putin against vaunted American institutions like the intelligence community. That will unfortunately leave the party in tatters for a generation.
20
Watching these hearings, and listening to C-Span callers, it feels like the Republicans are either ignoring how this President and his administration enable Russian active measures, or are complicit and brainwashed with some neutral, even benevolent perspective towards Putin.
I don’t get it.
20
Trump still has a 90% approval rating with Republicans, and many of them have internalized Guliani's and Trump's lies, which have been allowed to spread on national television, often in front of uninformed, clueless journalists and tv newsmen, to a degree that makes it near impossible to let the actual facts sink in and be admitted. Trump reading from his notes an imaginary testimony by Sondland was a thing to behold. And closing with "It's all over now. We won", before dashing to his waiting helicopter. If the Dems want to win in 2020 anjd rid the nation of the menace that is Trump and his clan, the media must hold lying politicians to account. In real time. Tell the world that these grifters are lying, are misleading, and some are themselves stubborn victims of ruinous conspiracy theories. In real time, they must reject bald faced lies. They must come prepared to interviews of Republicans, run chyrons at the bottom of the screens that indicate that we are being brazenly deceived. Trump & Co. will storm into the election race with a tsunami of misinformation and slick videos. And they will repeat their mantra "fake news, enemy of the people", etc. over and over again. They have nothing else, and they know that really big lies work best. With even Linday Graham now opening an investigation of the Bidens, we can be sure that the impeachment hearings were useless for Trump's allies and his fans.
12
Dr. Hill should be conducting the investigations!
10
I will never forget the statements Trump made in Helsinki, for those he needed to be impeached. I thank Anita Hill for addressing the damage the false Republican narrative has done. There is a marked contrast between Pompeo, Trump, Mulvaney, Guiliani, Perry, Pence, Senate and Congressional Republicans and the men and women who testified from the State Department and other agencies all diligent, intelligent professionals with character and ethics. It is a national disgrace egotistical unqualified inferior people hold positions of such power in our country. All men who participated in this travesty need to be publically interviewed to expose their lies and ineptness.
15
It's good that America has accomplished people like Dr. Hill and Col. Vindman to offset losers like Nunes and Jordan.
47
How can the Repubs in Congress continue this charade? When do we as citizens start rioting in the streets? I’m sick and frustrated.
35
@Meg Riley Organize. Mobilize. Resist. Donate. Vote.
18
Will Hurd represents how much the Republican Party has truly embraced fascism.
Hurd acknowledges what the evidence clearly shows -- that Trump "undermined our national security and undercut Ukraine". Hurd acknowledges that was done for one purpose only -- to advance Trump's political interests and not this country's interests.
But Hurd, willing to throw American interests under the bus for Trump, says "An impeachable offense should be compelling, overwhelmingly clear and unambiguous.”
Since Hurd believes that Trump using his office to advance his political interests over the country is not "unambiguous", why should any American believe that Hurd would object if Trump shot someone on Fifth Avenue?
Reporters allow Republicans like Hurd to say these things with no follow up questions. What is "ambiguous" about what Trump did? I wish a reporter would ask him.
27
@RJ It is really frustrating to see so many reporters confront Trump's allies unprepared for their brazen lying. They will need to study the facts. Otherwise Trump's poisonous propaganda goes unchallenged, and listened to by millions of even more clueless people.
13
@Herr Fischer - On site reporters report, they're not there to challenge other than to ask questions, to challenge statements, but not to confront in "debate". I realize your frustration myself, i often wish the reporters would get up and turn their backs to the white house spokespeople of this administration when they give, used to give, press conferences, but i recognize what the reporter's job is.
How is Brooklyn, country of my birth, these days?
4
@rivvir They can ask the right questions. Brooklyn is wonderful, thank you!
1
Fiona Hill 2020
16
Thank you Dr Hill, you are MY HERO. We need more people like you in the US government. Keep speaking truth to power, may God bless you and keep you safe!
34
Raise your hands if you believe that the Fake President’s tax returns reveal some provocative nexuses to Russian interests? Is the Supreme Court listening??
30
Dr Hill doesn’t write with Sharpies. She speaks. In contrast, Donald wrote with the infamous Sharpies.
13
Where, and how, did government employees become the focus of jokes about competence or quality of effort? Dr. Hill, in her testimony, laid to rest the attitudes "good enough for government work" forever. As did her predecessors this week, Dr. Hill has made it clear to me that the fine qualities and the intelligence of career government teams is second to none. Dr. Hill was just mesmerizing!
28
The Republicans are trying to discredit government. Without strong and competent government, the powerful can the run with impunity over the rule of law.
10
Dr. Hill eviscerated the GOP today. As a white man who, by all accounts, seems like a very conservative guy, I could NOT have been happier to see her trounce those angry white men ( Stefanik ) who simply couldn’t handle her strength, truth and power.
48
I’m the same way—a white guy (with a bit of a southern accent to boot!) who comes across as a typical Trump supporter to those who don’t know me. Really, my family is multicultural and I hate Trump as much as anyone. He embodies all that is bad and stupid about the USA and none of its good qualities. Please impeach!
34
Same!
18
Fiona Hill if you are reading this comment section. YOU are a HERO! In every sense of the word. I am a 58 year old white male and I have sent your testimony to all three of my 20 year old young adult kids so they cam see firsthand what honesty and integrity look like (I consider myself honest and with integrity but if you have kids you how that goes).
Thank you.
29
Is she married to Shrek?
1
@BT: No, Melania is.
6
We need more Americans like Dr. Hill, and fewer like Wenstrup. Immigrants like her serve their adopted nation better than pols like Wenstrup, who serve themselves.
If she and other such civil servants are the 'Deep State,' then the GOP is the 'Shallow State,' and I'll take Deep over Shallow.
17
Trump came up in the grittier days of NYC. His father apparently taught him that corruption was an acceptable part of the real estate business. No big deal, provided you came out ahead (and, presumably, no one was killed). This is not the value system Americans want in a president. We'll take (retroactively) a little bit of backroom negotiations (think Lincoln) and some character flaws (think Clinton. Or for me, Kavanaugh who I don't take, actually). But we still hold onto the dream of "this great nation" and in that regard, Trump et al truly deeply misread the powers of the presidency. It isn't an office that belongs to one person or one party; it's a living representation of the hopes of all of us. That's why this impeachment inquiry won't go his way, because the country can't accept corruption. If we do, we are nothing. The US presidency was absolutely the wrong place Trump to have landed.
9
So why are Evangelical Christians so in the tank for such a corrupt person?
All the last guy wanted to do was get poor people health care. They hated him.
18
@Practical Thoughts
Two excellent points, PT.
Kudos!
Trumpism, like alcoholism, is a family illness.
I’ve struggled with both of the fine questions you raise with various relatives. From my liberal Democratic point of view, my comments had NO effect. None.
I find this curious. I’m a senior citizen. Communication between left and right wasn’t always like it is now.
I hope that providing Mr. Trump with a government voucher for a one-way bus ticket to his home of record will help.
7
There is much left to be discovered ... no reason to be in a hurry with all voices to be heard ... let's find out what the white is hiding ... it only benefits the GOP to rush this into the Senate ... plus all Senators that have lunch with the person to be impeached must recuse themselves ...
8
Bolton Goes Into History A Coward
Dr Hill Provides a close up of the origins of John Bolton's contribution to American history endowing icon status to the Phrase "Drug Deal". Good work Bolton, now you and your stupid mustache can go down in American history a coward. Bolton's "Hawk Swagger" is all a put on. He is just another "Coward Hawk" who failed to do his duty as an American
citizen.
19
“Representative Jim Jordan turned Dr. Hill’s words around to accuse Democrats of advancing Russia’s interests by pressing forward on the divisive process of impeachment.”
The Republicans are descending into hysteria in their desperation to divert attention in any other possible direction than proven wrongdoing by President Trump.
It’s pathetic.
24
Unbelievable that Republicans quoted "fake news" sources such as NY Times and Washington Post in their defense. Why didn't they quote their home turf Fox News? Watching all this junk about people call for impeachment at day one, I recall the same for Obama, and probably for Bush, certainly for Clinton. Before that things were more civil. I miss the days of mutually assured destruction. Wait a sec, we might be close now.
2
I agree that the testimony today was highly important. But I think there is a bigger picture here. Political parties need to tone down their spats when it comes to Russia and China our two biggest opponents in the world. They are playing into Putins hand and the Russians get what they want via a disinformation campaign. Trump and the Republicans are at fault this time around, But to be fair about this the DEMs during the Mueller investigation were clearly in the wrong as well. Claiming Trump was a Russian agent is crazy. Today MSNBC host Joe Scarborough asserted that many Americans think that President Donald Trump is either a Russian agent or a "useful idiot" working for Vladimir Putin. Not sure how this is any different than what Republicans are doing with Ukraine. Time for the adults to enter the room. Vote Bloomberg!
He’s not smart enough to be a Russian agent. He’s just a Russian useful idiot
6
Part of Trump’s Ukraine nonsense is directly related to the Mueller report. In addition to wanting an investigation of Burisma/Biden, Trump also wanted the Ukrainians to announce an investigation of whether or not they (Ukraine) have the DNC server from the 2016 election, in order to indicate that they, the Ukraine, did the election meddling, not Russia. In addition to letting Russia off the hook, even the suggestion that there was anything there to investigate makes Ukraine look like a foe rather than an ally. A double win for Putin. Not shocking that Zelensky was slow to agree to do that, and thank goodness that particular fiction did not get announced before the whistleblower’s report put a halt to the treasonous Trump shenanigans.
3
@Louise Cavanaugh
Agree. But you missed my point. The Dems played the same game during the Mueller investigation. Pure conspiracy theory that Trump was a Russian agent. Findings....nada. We need better leaders!
Unfortunately the russpublican senate will not convict - they would do nothing to stop the flow of dirty russian money into their coffers. All of trumps supporters are my deadly enemy.
14
Seriously... who thinks that ANYONE does this kind of freelancing, especially in the shadow of Failed 45?
If Failed 45 did not order these clowns to do what they did, he'd have fired them long ago for bringing this kind of pain down on him.
9
If you’d like to worry for-real, here’s a thought.
Today’s testimony, and the last week’s, came from the best this good country can do. It was attacked by our worst, AKA Jim Jordan, whose every gesture says he’s a bully and a fool. And a coward.
You want that, or you want America?
23
It's reassuring to see we still have sharp, professional people in government. Not everyone is a Fox News commentator given an important position in exchange for saying nice things about Trump.
The Republicans have come to a fork in the road. Either they craft a ridiculous conspiracy story that makes Trump not guilty of doing what he has done, or they acknowledge that ths time he got caught, but it's not a big deal.
I'd go with option #2 because impassioned cries for fairness by the likes of Nunes are not selling. Histrionics about Hunter Biden, the Steele Dossier, Hillary Clinton, etc. are unrelated to the matter at hand.
4
@JR
Do 21st century Republicans ever come to a fork in the road where the choices are;
A. Lying
B. Telling the truth?
JR, you’ve got them picking one lie or another.
4
Today, we heard in direct and powerful testimony the truth about just which country has attempted to interfere in our political life. It is not Ukraine but Russia. And yet, the Republicans keep insisting that it is the Ukrainians who are hacking our democratic system.
The real question is: why do they do this? Why do they keep repeating the same absurd stories and rumors, over and over again?
14
@Bevan Davies
Because they live in a fictitious world of "alternative facts," which they have cultivated along with Fox News.
Because, as demonstrated by Mitch McConnell, they are willing to lie and cheat to retain power at all costs.
Because they are hypocrites.
And because they have sold their collective souls to the devil.
12
Additionally, they apparently don’t care that they are aiding and abetting Russia’s attacks on our country.
2
I’ve watched it all. I believe that anyone who is honest must conclude that what the president did was an abuse of power. Unfortunately, the appearance of impropriety of Hunter Biden’s employment in Ukraine has muddied the waters so badly that Trumps crimes will likely go unpunished. Here’s an idea though, what say we investigate and publicize the nepotistic and politically convenient hiring of all government leaders’ family members, and expose the hypocrisy across the board. Let the chips fall where they may.
6
@Robert Goodman
The false equivalence is huge.
Hunter Biden in a silly corporate board position is not a threat to the integrity of our election process or a threat to our national security.
4
@Semper fi Not saying they’re equivalent. Just pointing out that THIS is EXACTLY why appearance of impropriety rightly raises red flags, and should be scrupulously avoided
2
It was like watching the wind up of the cinematic version of a John LeCarre novel, and the director was portraying the GOP as comatose.
5
You better provide heavy protection for Trump and exercise serious seclusion. He knows a lot and talks a lot.
2
The hearings have produced convincing evidence that many of those who refused to testify "were in the loop". If they had agreed to testify, then we would have expected many to retreat behind the Fifth Amendment to protect themselves from self-incrimination. Refusing-to-testify and pleading-the-Fifth-Amendment appear to be two-sides-of-the-same-coin.
Besides suspicious Executive Branch actors, one can postulate that some Congressmen and Senators were also in the loop and fully aware of the quid pro quo in July and August? And this could conceiveably explain the strategy of the Republican leadership. It is uncomfortable to think these thoughts.
7
Competent, honor bound testimony was in glaring evidence today, embodied by these two thoughtful and concerned public servants of an America that is being threatened by subversive domestic and foreign actors on the highest of levels. Quite the gripping drama for television viewers, the reality of the danger to our established democracy and to Ukraine's fledgling democracy, explained so eloquently by the witnesses as the Republicans squirmed and sputtered. Let everyone's conscience be their guide as this pivotal chapter in world history plays out.
13
Honestly this inquiry is a massive waste of time and is unfair to the President -- the only thing he did 'wrong' was win the election.
From that moment onward, the d's / left lost their collective-mind because the 'corronation' of hrc didn't happen.
For 2 years it was the rm-investigation. 24/7 attacks on the President, all focused on the hyped-up 'russian-collusion-delusion.'
No sooner had the rm-investigation been closed, when...presto!...now America is headed for a recission! Weeks of (manufactured, again,) hype, designed to discredit the President, his policies, his achievements and his administration. Remember? The 'recession' hype was just that -- hype! As if the d's / leftists / msm were intentionally trying to sabotage the real, great economic-achievements the PRESIDENT delivered: de-reg, tax-cuts, manufacturing, respect for America again, lowest-unemployment EVER, record stock-prices --> $11 TRILLION in new wealth created for America!
So now they gin-up the anonymous-whistleblower and the ukraine fone-call inquiry and hearings --- with, 'witnesses' who a) never met the President, b) never confirmed anything actually wrong happened, and c) can only testify about how 'he' makes them FEEL.
It seems the majority of the d's time-&-resources have been focused on trying to bring down the President, rather than cooperating on bipartisan issues that HELP & SERVE THE PEOPLE.
These past few years will reflect horribly on d's through the lens of history.
4
How many in his campaign were indicted, convicted or plead guilty? How is his foundation faring? Does the emoluments clause have any meaning? Lastly, you are telling me it’s ok for any president to put a hold on congressionally approved foreign aide for personal political favors. Got it.
38
This is specious. Using political office to extort an ally as a means to investigate a political rival is a clear abuse of power. Not one GOP is arguing the substance. Also, any one from the administration could clarify what happened by testifying. But they aren’t.
It’s ridiculously obvious. Self-evident.
7
Trump spat on the Constitution and played the American people for suckers. That is what history will show.
7
Only one question matters:
Are you going to vote?
16
All Americans should be proud and honored that we have such a smart, strong, dedicated foreign service officer as Dr. Hill. She ran rings around the hack GOP Congress members trying to trip her up and promote their idiotic excuses for Trump's treasonous abuse of power. Thank you, Dr. Hill, you were smashing!
29
Where can I get a Fiona Hill t-shirt?
25
This is Politics 123. Folks we now have 2 sets of diplomats who is running our country. One who represents the Americans people and the other who represents The POTUS interest. As you can see in the enquiry, the people who represent us was honest and straightforward, The president men fumbles in their answers, going back and forth. They flipped and they flopped. The bottom line is “We the people” have to look at our own needs and consider our own situation. If your current situation is getting better in this administration or it’s worst, vote for who you think will make it better. As the saying goes, “Married who you love and vote for who you think will make your life better”
7
@Peanut
How about voting for the party that respects and defends the Constitution? How about voting for the party that does not condone asking foreign governments to interfere in our elections? How about voting for a candidate that places the country’s well-being, interests, and national security before personal political and financial gain?
4
"...The Russians, she said, “deploy millions of dollars to weaponize our own political opposition research and false narratives. When we are consumed by partisan rancor, we cannot combat these external forces as they seek to divide us against each another, degrade our institutions, and destroy the faith of the American people in our democracy.”
A priori, American society is fractured along many different fault lines. Russians do not have to dig deep or spend much money to turn Americans against one another.
OK, we know it is in Russia's interest to drive a wedge betw US and Ukraine and we know Trump, and by extension the GOP, wants to smear VP Biden.
Trump made a bold assumption that VP Biden is the Dem nominee presumptive, but there's no certainty in that, esp with Mayor Bloomberg as centrist candidate. That said, blacks are more inclined to vote for Trump or not at all than for Bloomberg.
To risk a blowback of this magnitude seems like a very high stake re-election gambit for the GOP. Then again, even if House impeach Trump, Senate and by extension GOP, would exonerate him. McConnell has allegedly secured promises from Republicans that that will vote against firing Trump whatever the findings of the House Impeachment.
Trump might just be the 1st president to go into a re-election after being impeached. That would make the US a laughing joke amount its western allies.
4
The most delicious part of today’s hearing was that the witness who drove the final nail in Donald Trump’s coffin was a woman and an immigrant.
45
Absolutely incredible testimony! The Democrats are the flawed Party of the Rule of Law. The Republicans are the insane Party of the Rule of Man (Trump). Nothing is more disgusting than listening to Congressmen Jordan and Nunes.
27
@William I
"Nothing is more disgusting than listening to Congressmen Jordan and Nunes."
Sorry, but I disagree. I think that listening to Trump is even worse than Nunes or Jordan. His heavy NY accent really irritates me.
But then again, Jordan just screams and whines.
OK, it's a toss-up.
9
So when will the Russians release all the dirt they have on the GOP? It must be pretty juicy, especially whatever it is they are blackmailing Jim Jordan with.
20
I look at the big picture exposed here and over the last three years -Trump’s ineptitude even in his attempts at corruption; the way he is played by the “strong men” he adores and aspires to be - Putin, Kim Jong un, Tayyip Erdogan, etc.; the fear his bluster covers; his daddy issues. There’s only one conclusion: Trump is Fredo.
Kiss him, Congress.
11
@ Citizen
“You broke my heart, Donno! You broke the whole country’s heart!”
4
I never thought I would see the day when the Republican Party would become a mouthpiece for Russian lies and misinformation. Vladimir Putin must be smiling. Where is Joseph McCarthy now that we really need him?
21
It’s amazing that trump Republicans would rather side with Russian interests than protect American security. Dr Hill has more sense than the entire WH staff combined.
35
And she has more integrity than the entire Republican party.
23
Well... it can't be any more clear than after today's testimony's. The Republicans are painted into their own corner and are simply put...the errand boys for the President. Nice job mr Nunes...
20
President Putin
Mr. Trump
How telling.....
7
Fiona Hill and Elise Stefanik both attended the same highly selective and world renowned university committed to Veritas. How could one of them have gotten it so right, and the other so wrong? In this regard, where does the university have an obligation to stand by its "products"?
12
I’m now watching a recording of today’s testimony on PBS.
Did you notice today how Mr. Holmes and Dr. Hill almost never responded to questions with answers of the nature:
“I have no recollection of that.”
“I don’t recall.”
“That may have occurred, I can’t be sure.”
Now imagine how these hearings might go if Trump, Pence or all those who defied congressional subpoenas were testifying under oath.
I’m guessing Donald Trump, under oath, would appear to have amnesia.
(Only a guess. There’s always the chance Mr. Trump would be candid and forthcoming.)
19
@Tom W Seriously?
Trump candid and forthcoming?
Not who he is. Not a chance.
7
It is simply not to believe, that anyone still believes Trump and his gang of enablers after what was expressed today and during the other days of testimony. Hats off to all those that spoke out in an attempt to save this country from this madness.
19
A "fictional narrative." That is exactly how the Ukraine interference nonsense should be framed. Thank you, Dr Hill. Why hadn't we been framing it that way all along, instead of as "unsubstantiated," or whatever?
21
Try to image the world today if only the “deep state” had called out GW, and Cheney prior to the Iraq war, or Kennedy, LBJ, and McNamara on the the Vietnam war. Bravo to Hill and Holmes for their honesty!
21
Grateful to Dr.Hill, Mr. Holmes and all the career diplomats and service personnel who have dedicated their lives and without whom we would be lost. Thank you for helping this country live up to our greatest ideals.
25
Dr. Hill presented an unshakable account of what she saw, which was akin to a finely honed katana of tempered steel that sliced repeatedly through the lies and smears from the Republican members of this committee. She was a portrait of steely courage in the face of repeated dishonest diatribes from these craven Republicans, who are shameless in their false narratives to legitimize this criminal attempt by Trump and his sycophant supporters to subvert the 2020 election. It was so telling that by the end of her testimony, these cowards didn't want to confront her with a direct question.
Ambassador Taylor and Dr. Hill should be at the top of the A-list of candidates for Secretary of State in an incoming administration that will replace this disgraceful and criminal crew that are a complete disgrace to our Republic.
All patriotic Americans must vote in November 2020 to remove this criminal syndicate that is destroying our Republic. If we don't win this 2020 election, then our Republic is finished. It is that stark of a choice to make.
37
I’m beginning to wonder what is motivating all of these Republicans to protect Russia and Russian interests in American politics. Maybe we should start referring to all Republicans as “Comrade”. Maybe I’ll start by writing to Comrade Portman (R) of Ohio to get his take on why he is defending this obviously corrupt President so fiercely....
33
@David
They are on a sinking garbage scow and are afraid to jump ship and swim to shore. Shore will take a stroke or two of integrity to reach, and they don't have it in them.
6
@David
I would be most grateful for your service to our country if you did contact your representative and senator and asked them that question.
5
Three cheers for Adam Schiff!
And heartfelt gratitude.
41
Seemed like Jim Jordan was off the rails today. Does he think yelling louder than anyone is effective?
31
Rep Jordan is a bafoon with no decorum and poor sartorial habits. Oh yeah and he’s a deplorable!
How does he keep getting re-elected?
14
Oh Ohio!
6
What have we all learned from these impeachment hearings. We've learned that we've been lied to for all these years. Our government has given away foreign aid in the billions, no matter how we complained, and then blamed it all on local corruption when that money simply evaporated. These hearings have shown us the truth, and that these third world countries have been nothing more than money laundering machines.
Our bureaucrats have been using them as massive scams. They give countries like Ukraine aid money and then a percentage of it is kicked back to the American bureaucrats themselves. Through various schemes like paying their children massive amounts of money for no show jobs. The corruption is unimaginable.
1
That’s what you got out of the impeachment hearings?!?! You’ve got to be kidding.
7
I'll never cease to be amazed by Nunes, who has basically made the same closing statement for this entire process. It goes something like this: "....since his election the democrats have been trying to unseat a president and subvert the will of 'the people' ... "
Reminds me of a line from 'King of Pain' by The Police:
"There's a blind man looking for a shadow of doubt ... "
perfect !
18
@Petros Kourtakis
Thanks ... 35% of the country buys it ... as the song says: "King of Pain"
4
@Petros Kourtakis - Spends a lot of time pontificating rather than asking real questions designed to find truths, doesn't he. Then cries when he thinks he may not get the same portion of time taken when schiff runs over.
Speaking of schiff, i guess it's under his direction it seems to me the dems have laid down a great case, building block by block.
Must've been a quite successful prosecutor in his day. Looked like he got real emotional at the end of his closing remark today. Not only angry but near tears. I know just how he felt. I wrote something last week following the death of my dog, watching him die, knowing i could do nothing to help him, and compared it to the feeling i've had watching the death of my country taking place for some time now.
Fiona Hill Has more integrity in her pinkie than Nunes, Jones & all of trump’s lackeys put together.
Lordy she’s something, as wise & articulate as she is steely & composed.
Love her, and all she stands for.
34
And this is just Ukraine. I wonder how our administration is conducting themselves in other countries?
29
I echo what another contributor wrote about today’s “breath of fresh air” today’s witnesses brought to the hearing. Their honesty, credibility and command of the facts were so clearly contrasted against Trump toadies and loyalists in Congress. The executive branch under Trump has been like watching a 3 year national nightmare of incompetence, ineptitude and now criminality.
I bet you all Washington DC will want to hold a big parade once DJT and family leaves office. There will be a Lysol party to disinfect the whole executive branch!!
20
We all know Trump has been scamming us. Most of us, at least those of us from NY & NJ, (or grew up there like I did) know he's a punk con-man. Game over, Donny.
22
I too was impressed with David Holmes, and Fiona Hill is a hero. Unbelievably brilliant witness. The Republicans were clearly out of their depth.
I would also like to commend Adam Schiff for his masterful handling of the hearings. He brooked no nonsense from the Republicans, and gave eloquent summaries of each day's testimony, clarifying the main takeaways and reminding us why they are important. He maintained a steady, steely hand over proceedings, despite disrespect from the Republicans and worse by the President and Twitterverse. He put himself wholly out there on the floor, leaving his blood, sweat, and - when he closed with the words of the late great Elijah Cummings - tears. Bravo Chairman Schiff. You earned yourself a place in history.
50
Russia has exploited the social fissures in society.
What Republican intransigence has told me is that they are willing to burn down the country to maintain their rigid positions on judges, abortion, guns and immigration.
The left leaning part of the country has to determine how far they are willing to push on this because the opposition is prepared to destroy democracy to get their way.
How else can one justify Republican actions to defend the indefensible and put up with the rank corruption and baffoonery? Justify a President that shows such deference to Putin and fascist Russia?
19
# practical thoughts - two words...term limits. GOP seems to be more intent on keeping their office than living up to their oath of office
Sad
4
Thanks to the New York Times for headlining this story as one of the most important facets of this entire debacle. Afterall, the Republic is strong enough to survive a greedy, piggish thug like Trump, but what is the real concern is that a major political party, embodying an enormously powerful constituency, seems ready to abandon all democratic principles and throw in with Russia, a mobster state that wants nothing more than to see us fail. This is what should frighten us all, and drive us to the polls to send the Republican party to a defeat it richly deserves.
21
Dr. Fiona Hill destroyed the Republicans. Just crushed them. They were afraid to ask questions by the end. laughable fools to a man.
21
I am very grateful for public servants like David Holmes and Fiona Hill, Marie Yavonvich, Vindeman and the rest of them and thank them wholeheartedly for their courage and integrity. Republicans have been so insidious in demeaning public service and the federal government in particular. Now we see what it looks like when you have convictions, courage and put them before your own career and and financial gain. They are the ones who make the government function and keep us safe. Republican politicians, look look on them and weep!
28
Someone should be asking if the Republicans are willing to deny the obvious truth - that Trump extorted a foreign power to fabricate dirt on a political opponent despite the death of untold Ukrainians - for Supreme Court seats and the for the success of Anti-Abortion radicals? Nothing else makes sense because the facts are overwhelming.
15
If Fiona Hill is so valuable and talented why did she toil at that level?
Could she not get a better job?
Why didn’t she work where her so called talent would be leveraged?
Why?
We know why.
Another bureaucrat who gets to think they are smart and important
The reality is the voters elected the President to spotlight these kinds of people getting paid for nothing
1
Celebrity is not a measure of intelligence
43
Hard for Trumpers to understand money is not everything, she may not be leveraging her talent for the highest bidder but serving her adoptive country, duty to your country
29
Please provide proof of F. Hills incompetence. Otherwise your comments are just more useless blind partisan rhetoric.
14
Why are those who come to testify so elegant and eloquent while Trump and the GOP committee members so crude and rude? (With the exception of that hotelier, but even he had the sense to be discussed by his erstwhile boss.)
20
I don't understand why Don Jr's tweet has a place in this article. He's irrelevant to this story. What he thinks about Dr. Hill's testimony is irrelevant. By including his tweeted opinion about her testimony, the Times is elevating him to a position of relevance he does not deserve. He's the president's son, a private citizen. Please don't give oxygen to his political ambitions and self-important rants.
41
Russian interference has apparently captivated the whole of the Republican Party. As this Is my extended family’s party, I am horrified. How could any Republican authentically defend a president who is flagrantly spewing out Russian talking points?
Doctor Hill and Mr. Holmes are the true example of American grit and determination. Both told the truth, but Dr. Hill, with precision and intelligence, decomposed the Republican talking points with regard to “The Russian Hoax” and stripped those pretenders of their armor.
America has a terrible sin to correct and it has little to do with Trump. Women are the birthers and truth tellers in this democracy and Dr. Hill showed why we need more of them in office. We are Third World when it comes to women in power and she just might have corrected that wrong today, in front of a Congress made up of mostly white men advanced in age.
30
The American public is indeed the final arbiter and jury in November 2020. Sure the Senate will acquit him but the case being so slam dunk, the Senate GOP members will I think, pay a heavy price for just ignoring the overwhelming evidence; thus showing the GOP to be the party of lawlessness and disorder.
21
If he gets away with this, how many other other countries will he ask to interfere in our elections so that he can win again in 2020? that's the thing. He can't win without cheating.
12
Every morning America wakes up to the across the board corruption of Donald Trump and his Cabinet cohorts.
So it was wonderful this week, to be able to watch as patriotic, ethical long term career employees of our Military, Intelligence Services and State Department came before the House Intelligence Committee and described, in detail, the "high crimes and misdemeanors" Trump and his colleagues Mulvaney, Pompeo, Perry and Giuliani are committing.
Special thanks are owed to these 12 witnesses that came to Washington this week. You were all ethical, moral and competent. You are what America used to be about. America owes you our gratitude, for speaking truth to power, and describing in detail the extreme evil that currently emanates from our White House.
24
@Joe Miksis
Because US foreign policy for the last 75 years has been so faultless and beneficial to the world at large. How quickly "liberals" are convinced to throw out their convictions.
@Daphne
And how quickly Republicans throw out our Constitution.
4
@Semper fi
Throw away line with nothing to back it. The truth is just the opposite. Read Barr's Federalist speech for a starter.
The “Three Amigos” what a slight on Mexico! How about the “Three Bagmen”. And Nunes is complicit in the attempted coverup of their transgressions. Nunes continues to act the bully refusing to properly address the witnesses. He seems to refute the finding of 17 US intelligence agencies that Russia interfered in the 2016 election. Nunes was the one who made the midnight run to give the White House classified information!
19
@Barbara Nunes is totally complicit. His lackey Kash Patel supplies info.
1
What is wrong with Jim Jordan? He's not a stupid man, I suspect, but he seems to believe that he can bully and bulldoze his way through life, telling and defending lies and still holding his head up in public. It's a very strange phenomenon, when you think about it. Same with Nunes, of course.
17
I am not confident as to whether Mr. Jordan is smart, as you posit. Mr. Nunes sues Facebook cows. I have a hard time believing that could come from a person with a brain larger than a oea.
2
I was struck by the precision and clarity of Hill's testimony. One is not accustomed to hearing either quality from the political and diplomatic class.
17
Dr Hill may indeed be an expert on Russia and Ukraine but her opinion on U.S. policy choices by Mr Trump have nothing to do with impeachment.
By authorization in the Constitution, for better or worse, Trump gets to decide what U.S. policy is.
I found nothing in her testimony to be relevant to an impeachment inquiry.
The Foreign Relations Committee has every right to question our foreign policy officials about what this administration is doing with Ukraine but where is the meat about impeachment ?
The Democrats are blowing this pretty badly.
2
@G
That is because they never had anything to begin with. Russia phobes and Neo Cons in the state department disagree with Trump policy, and find the very fact that he os the President unacceptable. That about sums it up.
1
Let’s not confuse preference to policy. Policy is agreed upon by a group. Preference is stated by an individual.
Which policy states trumps position towards cooperation between Ukraine and US to investigate Biden?
3
How hard did you try to follow what was going on? Because the entire point escaped you. This has NOTHING to do with policy choices made by the president. Hill said, as other witnesses did, that the president decides foreign policy, end of story. There is a problem, however, when he has a clear public policy that He Himself is working to subvert privately. There is a reason we are helping Ukraine resist a Russian takeover. It is in our National Interest. It is a clear policy, one that our allies in Europe and the rest of the Western world are depending on us to uphold. Demonstrating weak support, like not attending inaugurations, delaying meetings, and withholding military equipment (!!) is contrary to our foreign policy/national interest goals! Every indication for delaying aid for 55 days points to Trump arm-twisting Ukrainian President Zelenski for “favors” That benefit Trump PERSONALLY. Until he had assurance that Zelenski would public ally state that there would be an investigation of Hunter Biden, there would be no meeting and no military aid. That is what these witnesses have revealed, and why Trump is being impeached. Abuse of power matters. Trying to fabricate a lie to remain in power, and utilizing the power of position to accomplish it are what dictators do. If Trump had a leg to stand on, he would be making a case in court. He would be eager for Mulvaney, Pompeo, and Giuliani to testify. He’s hiding behind the power of his office for a reason.
9
Watching each Republican dismiss witness after witness as either left leaning or just not credible I am left deeply worried about your country’s democracy. This all seems to be coming straight from Putin's playbook, playing out just as he wants. A political divide is one thing, but having a puppet of Putin's in the Oval Office is quite another.
28
@Holly
Not only that, but the highly qualified are leaving, like Ms. Hill resigning last July.
What will be left representing us around the globe? Trump cronies, toadies and donors.
Our allies will have to conduct "diplomacy" with a Trump mafia.
15
"In 2017, American intelligence officials released a report concluding that Mr. Putin ordered a state-sponsored campaign to try to influence the 2016 presidential election. No evidence has emerged that there was a similar effort by Ukraine."
Republicans like Nunes are not saying that there was a "similar" effort. They're saying that there were also efforts by Ukrainian officials to interfere (on Hillary's behalf), in addition to the Russian hacking. These efforts have been documented. Hill, the Dems and now the Times are trying to conflate the two issues (Russian hacking versus the efforts by Ukrainian officials to interfere on behalf of Hillary, to make it sound like it is all one big conspiracy theory by Republicans. This is shameful.
3
You are actually conflating two very different things. The only “documented evidence” of Ukraine “interference” are comments by Ukrainian politicians overheard saying they favored Hillary Clinton, who was a Russia hawk, over candidate Trump, who seemed very pro-Russia. They have free speech in Ukraine, people can say what they think. Absolutely NO evidence has surfaced, from C.I.A. investigations or any other credible reporting, that they interfered with the 2016 U.S.election. Russia has promoted that idea, Putin made the claim on Russian television, it serves Russian interests to deflect. The systematic, pervasive Russian disinformation campaigns and actual hacking of voting machines is an existential threat to our 2020 election. That we know for a fact. Ukraine hasn’t even been able to protect itself from Russia disinformation and fake “news” stories. If you have evidence of interference from Ukraine, the C.I.A., an the rest of us, would like to know.
4
@R.P. Nope, that is untrue. Not your pinpointing the word "similar," and especially not your statement that "These facts have been documented." Where? On the Fox News site? Please click on https://www.factcheck.org/issue/ukraine/
The real issue, however, is, why do you need and want to believe these lies? Because they are lies; they are not matters of opinion. And the persistent insistence by Republican voters that Trump hasn't sold out his electorate is understandable, if also shameful and truly disturbing.
2
Fiona! I love you! You are my hero!
8
The craftiness of Putin is remarkable. He has gotten exactly what he wanted; disruption, division and chaos. He realized that in Trump, he had a golden opportunity to fire up those who like to call themselves "real Americans", appeal to their pride, stubbornness and hubris, and lead them happily to destruction, all the while clutching the flag to their hearts.
14
" Anything to help Moscow" is the title of the playbook being followed by Trump. The Russian asset is trying several different plays to please his boss Putin.
12
We still have trustworthy people working for our country. Thank God for that!
11
At this shameless, morally vacant nadir in the history of the Republican Party, I believe that the party’s House membership, in toto, should simply go on a legislative sabbatical and swap places with members of the Russian State Duma. Really, other than some strong accents would these two groups be distinguishable? Make Russia/America Great Again!
6
Ok!
No need to continue. The amount of evidence is overwhelming.
Impeach him now!
And afterwards.... LOCK HIM UP!
10
‘Fictions’ on Russia Help Russia
3
After watching the hearings all week there is just one overwhelming thought and emotion for me. I have never been so proud to be a lifelong Democrat. Kudos to our brave, thoughtful and persevering foreign service personnel. To Adam Schiff , a handshake for a well thought out series of hearings conducted with dignity and order. If Republicans have a problem then produce the subpoenaed witnesses and documents. A remarkable effort in the face of a shutdown on cooperation to obtain supporting facts.
24
Wow. Fiona Hill for President. We could be so lucky.
14
...and still the Republican propagandists and conspiracy theorists ignore this FACT. The stuff that comes out of their mouths is as though they hear nothing and invent the fake facts that demonize everyone that is not in lock step with their corrupt political agenda.
Trump is certainly not listening. He would like to control everything that this cult hears, just like Kim in North Korea, Xi in China, MBS ion Saudi Arabia and, of course, PUTIN IN RUSSIA.
TRUMP ABHORS THE TRUTH. God forbid it might expose him for what he is - a delusional narcissistic sociopath who can only tell lies and destroy; a weak, insecure bully (like all bullies) whose words sow hatred and division; an egocentric maniac who craves center stage 24/7 and cannot form a grammatically correct or complete sentence.
What a perfect example of a non-leader and an abomination for our children.
No, I do not like him at all. From my point of view he belongs in a cage in the middle of ISIS territory. Even that might be too good for him considering what he has done to humanity.
12
Dr. Hill for 2020.
7
Sadly, not a native born American so she doesn’t qualify but there are plenty of cabinet-level jobs that she would be perfect for.
8
I was deeply impressed with Dr. Hill -- clearly brilliant, extremely articulate, tough as nails, confident and nonpartisan. She owned the room today. All the career diplomats that have testified in the impeachment hearing have been truly inspiring in their patriotism, intellect, and articulation. They give me hope.
25
The contrast between individuals like Marie Yovanovitch, Fiona Hill, William Taylor, and Alexander Vindman with Devin Nunes and Jim Jordan couldn't be more stark. The latter two are just a pair of snarling Dobermans brought in to discredit the witnesses and sow confusion concerning behavior that even a third-grader could tell was deeply wrong. Here's hoping that's the way they are portrayed on an upcoming version of SNL.
42
I believe Trump’s tax returns will reveal that most of his income is from Russia. Come on, Republicans, when are you going to see that he’s under the spell of Putin? Your president! He and Mitch McConnell are tossing elections for Russia.
15
So, so tired of all this Russia narrative, which the Democrats only push because they can't face the reality that the country is rejecting their status quo message. And it is about to get much, much worse. These impeachment hearings aren't moving the needle the way the Democrats had hoped -- to the contrary, there is been a movement in the polls of 10-points AGAINST impeachment among independents, the very group the DNC seems so eager to pander to. The latest one-on-one polls in Wisconsin show Trump beating all four frontrunners (Bernie is closest, a single point behind). Democrats are not winning in 2020 without Wisconsin, period.
Instead of focusing on Trump, instead of dismissing voters who voted for Obama twice and then switched to Trump in 2016 as "deplorables," Democrats need to talk to them about their economic stagnation and offer real, bona fide progressive alternatives to the Republicans' xenophonia and racism. Bernie is the ONLY candidate running who can do that. Those who point to the polls currently showing Biden leading in Iowa as evidence to the contrary need to be reminded of Dick Gephardt in 2004 and Newt Gingrich in 2012 -- both had big leads in the polls the November before Iowa, and both wound up finishing miserably there. Wake up Democrats! I don't think this country can survive a Trump second term.
6
@Boris Jones You might consider ceasing to whine and actually listen to the candidates' proposals. I do need to warn you ahead of time that requires you talking less and listening more. Sorry.
49
@Boris Jones
FYI: the entire US intelligence community agrees with what you call "the Russia narrative".
So why would we believe a president who can't even tell the truth about his own inauguration crowd instead ... ?
Any ideas?
As to "economic stagnation": Obama and the Democrats turned a -8% GDP into a +2% GDP.
Trump and the GOP just maintained a +2% GDP (contrary to Trump's promise to turn that into a +4%).
And can you please explain how Warren or Biden's agenda would NOT help the fight against racism ... ??
Finally, impeachment is NOT a political procedure, it's Congress' constitutional job, EVEN when it hurts lawmakers politically.
Conclusion: imho it's people like you who have to wake up. If you continue the way you seem to think right now, you'll end up actively contributing to a corrupt GOP DC once again ...
47
"Boris" says it all.
You don't want to admit that you put a common crook in the White House, and that, wittingly or not, he is destroying our society and prepared to decimate our democracy in order to stroke his own personal ego.
Democrats and sane Republicans and others? We like the "status quo" called a free, fair, and just democracy very much, thank you.
You don't care for it? You are welcome to move to North Korea, Syria, China, other such countries including, even, Russia, where you won't have to make any choices and can relax under the care of a worshiped dictator and his pawns.
34
I lived and worked throughout the Former Soviet Union for US telecom, consulting and technology firms. I speak fluent Russian. This particular Harvard Ph.D wrote her thesis under the notorious Richard Pipes, a foreign special interest provocateur and ideologue. Ms. Hill barely speaks Russian at a business level or even State Department, or FSI level 2. She was always considered by business executives I knew as a government busybody, with no experience. She is not a "Russia expert." She is a foreign college student that got a job in government. Trump will not be impeached because there is so survivable evidence in federal rules which will be invoked and enforced, among others. I say that as an Independent who did not vote for Trump in 2016 and will not do so in 2020. Surely the DNC has a better plan?
4
@Matt Andersson With all do respect your comment doesn't even rise to the level of she said he said, it sounds at best as something my cleaning lady would gossip about.
Ms Hill testimony was as impressive as she was, I noticed Nunes was nearly intimidated while questioning her.
45
@Matt Andersson
Sure, but what does any of that have to do with Trump withholding aid for help with his political rival?
43
@Matt Andersson: I hate to burst whatever bubble of relaity you reside in, but Trump will be impeached by the House. It's his removal from office by the Senate that will more than likely not happen.
15
If Trump tangles with Dr. Hill, there will be another visit to Walter Reed.
48
Qualified kudos for Devin Nunes, who continued to stick to his absurd falsehoods after Ms Hill mopped up the floor with him and his kind for those very sad efforts. Devin is a hack supreme. One for the ages.
20
President Trump has been doing Putin's work for him with regard to Ukraine. How much more evidence will be needed before Treason is added to the articles for impeachment!
10
I've been reading here for some time, but here are simply too many comments to navigate here.
Allow me to inject the following given the trend of the comments here and elsewhere.
The Murdoch empire's success and fortune are based on "eyeballs" – without scruple or mercy.
Can we expect some editorial shifts?
4
Next Secretary of State or VP: Fiona Hill
9
I know I only heard it once, but I thought I heard Holmes say that Sondland needed to "clarify" with Trump that Sondland was indeed calling him from the Ukraine AFTER telling Trump that he was calling from Kiev. Did anyone else get that impression?
17
@Mr. Buck
YES!! I heard that too. I was hoping someone, ANYONE would please replay that tape every five minutes between now and next election.
Utterly pitiful.
10
Will someone tell me why Jim Jordan refuses to wear a suit jacket? What is it with shirt tails, even in winter? This guy is clearly confused.
6
Thank you NYT for such riveting live coverage today!!!
Fiona Hill was breathtaking as she brilliantly dissected the weak, erroneous and flat out absurd arguments embraced by Trump and his pathetic cronies.
BRAVO, Dr. Hill! In the words of a younger generation, you rock!
12
I must admit that I’m not reading any of the Times impeachment coverage, though the Pearl Harbor attack-sized headlines would imply the nation is in crisis. Seems to me it’s just Thursday. Back to the Science and Food sections. Much more interesting and meaningful news there.
1
@Dave M
If you're more interested in the Food section than on the future health of our democracy, then save your money, and drop your subscription to the NYTimes; just look up recipes online.
Really, the quality of the NYTimes reporting of truthful information seems to be a bit beyond what you're capable of handling.
19
Trump and his Trumplicans are Russian assets by willfully lying and conjuring up conspiracy theories. They put their petty political connivings ahead of national security and the constitution. How much more treasonous does this get?
7
Let it not go unnoticed. Devin Nunes is an embarrassment to all Azorean-Americans! The Azores has smart, decent people! Nunes is not among them.
8
Fiona Hill's ID badge should read....
Name: Pro
Address: Dover
2
Nice call, Hawkeye.
1
Republican senators and representatives that fail to impeach and convict should have that bow of lead tied around their necks as they swim in their elections races.
5
What a relief to know that Dr. Hill and other career diplomats have had our backs all along, doing their jobs with intelligence, integrity, and good will. What a contrast to the stupidity, ignorance, and outright malice and of so many elected officials.
10
I am truly curious to find out, how Hill became a ‘Russian expert’?
1
@waldo
Perhaps by reading and going to college. And maybe by years of working in the real world. That's just my guess....
16
The Republicans don’t seem to care about this country. They are willing to fall on their swords for President Trump and that’s a crazy thought. If put in the same position as the president, on a call with Ukraine, Devin Nunes, Jim Jordan, John Cornyn and just about any other Republican with any kind of ethics and morality would never have behaved the way the president did on that call. (Or insulting John McCain, or bragging about grabbing a woman’s vagina or making fun of a disabled person. All things President Trump did). He’s a bully and an embarrassment to our country. It’s time for the Republicans to stop being afraid of the president and do what’s right for the country. He is not going to stop making their jobs harder. Nothing is getting done because they keep having to bail him out. He is going to continue to say dumb things and make boneheaded decisions that don’t help anyone but himself. He is not Republican or an American. He is just a greedy capitalist. Devin Nunes and all the other Republicans are Putin’s pawns. Nothing will happen to trump either. But our safety and security has been jeopardized because Republicans are too wimpy to stand up to trump.
13
Are you tired of all the winning yet ?
8
The least articulate, the most ignorant, the clearly most corrupt person in the country is Trump. He’s still lying claiming the call, transcript still not released, was PERFECT - while what was released it is perfect evidence of his underlying ineptitude, narcissism, and stupidity .
12
The White House’s former top Europe and Russia expert sharply denounced what she called a “fictional narrative” embraced by President Trump and his Republican allies that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 elections,
Wait a minute! Democrats were so convinced that Trump colluded with some foreign country to steal the election, at least give credit to Trump to know who it was he colluded with!
I’d be taking impeachment serious now if not for the first dry hole. If anything Trump is due his dirt on Joe after the hell Democrats have already put him through.
This is an incredible moment - testimonies from Hill and Vindman have literally restored my faith in the underlying goodness of this country.
They appear motivated by something that the modern Republican party seems utterly perplexed by - rock solid integrity and dedication to the truth. Nunes, Trump, and all the GOP loyalists seem to literally be unable to understand how someone could be incorruptible. Literally unable to even understand it. “They must be never Trumpers!” “They’re loyal to Biden!”
No, they’re loyal to integrity, truth, and getting things right. What a contrast to our elected officials.
16
Hill did not characterize the Republicans correctly. Their position actually was that more than one country tried to influence the 2016 election.
Republicans pointed to anti-Trump op ed and social media posts by Ukraine top government officials as evidence of Ukraine's attempts.
They also pointed out that their own Republican run House committee concluded in 2017 that Russia tried to influence election.
Hill had no reasonable response that I heard when Republicans pointed this out to her.
1
@Dan
I think that the reason that you "didn't hear" Ms. Hill's very informed and articulate response was that you had your fingers in your ears.
14
@ Dan
Ms Hill also mentioned that many countries around the world published anti-trump editorials and opinion pieces in their free press during our presidential campaign. Trump is not asking those countries to be investigated. Only the country that has a Biden involved.
2
I wish the congressmen/women ask questions under oath so that they speak the truth rather than promote unprecedent level of disinformation, deflection, distraction including outright lies. Given each of these congressmen/women can use their time to ask questions, lecture or promote anything, it is important that they do this under oath with legal consequences like witnesses. The interviewers should be truthful like any witnesses.
There are countless examples where representatives like Nunes and Jordan are untruthful, promoting misleading information and conspiracy theories.
It is hard to fathom the attack on facts, and live killing of truth on the floor of Congress, supposed to be one of the sacrosanct institutions of our government.
13
Our constitution and our nation ought ALWAYS come before party . . . it may be too late for this, though.
I do fear that a republic, with just two parties will be deemed a failure.
4
Its not like this is mysterious, whatsoever. There are multiple published pieces from 2016 and 2017 describing in detail exactly how the Ukrainians intervened in the election. The famous Politico piece is stuffed with details provided by the Democrats themselves....for some reason they were very confessional about their schemes in the piece.
But now, in an incredibly Orwellian development...we try to erase basic history entirely. Just deny deny deny, which is what Ms. Chalupa probably should have considered from the start....if she had known at the time the media would cover for her to this extent, no doubt she would have.
1
As Pelosi said “with Trump all roads lead to Russia”. Here it is again. Trump spreading the Russian line that it was Ukraine interfering with the US election in 2016. It seems essential that Congress complete the investigation where Mueller left off.
7
Labeling people the president's "political rivals" neither narrows the population does not it immunize them from corruption investigations.
Labeling the President's actions as "inappropriate" without referencing a statute, regulation or court ruling violation is merely amusing.
Thus far, whiling viewing the testimony in the light most favorable to the Democrats, the accusations still fail to reveal that our President demanded anything other than an honest investigation from the Ukrainian government into possible Biden corruption.
1
@David DeFazio
You seem to have forgotten that the Ukrainians had indeed investigated, and never found any wrong-doing by either of the Bidens.
7
I don't think Ukraine meddled, I think democrats colluded and conspired with them to do what they accuse Trump of doing.
Unless we investigate and conclude Ukraine didn't meddle in our elections, how do we know it is fiction?
It doesn't take a Russia expert, much less one afflicted with TDS, to tell us that.
1
@Bhaskar
Because 11 of our Intelligence Agencies investigated ALL the info, and concluded that it was Russia, not Ukraine, that had interfered.
Your opinion might be more meaningful if it was actually based on credible information.
12
@Bhaskar
We already know that Trump is using Ukraine in an attempt to meddle in the 2020 election.
And Republicans are ok with it.
So, speaking hypothetically, if Democrats did use Ukraine in the 2016 election, so what?
If it’s ok for Trump to enlist the resources of a foreign country in a US election, it’s also ok for the Democrats to do the same.
4
@Paul-A
You do realize that an investigation is needed for us to know if the information is credible or fiction, right?
Fiona Hill is smarter and more articulate than all Republican members of Congress combined.
So much hate from the right for Chairman Schiff. But let me ask this: what specifically did he have factually wrong in his summation? You may be a Republican partisan, but you know he’s right.
Finally, I just heard a news report that charges have been filed against someone in the FBI for doctoring evidence against Trump in the Russia/ 2016 election case. If true, I think this person should be prosecuted, and if found guilty, should be punished and suffer the full consequences allowed by law.
Am I wrong to think that laws should apply to all, regardless of party or position? Republicans, do you agree?
10
It should be said over and over again that the Republicans are doing Putin's work by sowing confusion, disinformation and misinformation. Trump serves Putin, and so does Nunes and Jordan every time they repeat the nonsense of Ukrainian meddling. And holding up the military aid to bribe the Ukrainians to investigate Biden does Putin's work, too, by weakening Ukraine militarily during a shooting war. Republicans have turned into the party of Putin. We must find out why.
9
The political damage to Joe Biden is an indelible stain.
Not many Americans knew that Hunter Biden was 'working' at a Ukrainian company while his father was Vice President.
By failing to declare, disclose and divest his personal assets into a blind trust you can't tell where Trump Organization Mar-a-Lago ends and Trump Administration White House begins. Don, Jr., Ivanka and Eric Trump are thus profiting from their father being President of the United States.
But the ill- advised Hunter Biden escapade had more than the appearance of impropriety since it involved a foreign company and country. A convient difference and distinction to distract away from Trump's own ' kids' antics.
3
@Blackmamba - You might want to check out all of the various countries that the Trump spawn has been doing business in, traveling at tax payer expense.
11
Even if trump is not impeached and/or convicted the hearings have proven that the deep state is filled with intelligent, admirable and brave heroines and heroes who make America great despite the trump taint suffocating the nation.
9
Finally, a superb orator. Ms. Hill, unlike her colleagues, made points succinctly and bluntly. Certainly, she has a command of the English language that others do not. Such a shame that our nation be toppled by our inability to effectively communicate ideas. Full STEAM ahead, academia! Language and history are obviously useless frivolity!
10
@RN Yes you are absolutely correct. She is an intelligent, credible, dignified speaker compared to the morons elected to protect this land. She could eat them up like crumpets!
7
May the manner in which Dr. Hill conducted herself today as well as when she served on the NSC be an example to us all.
10
Trump will never change. I guess the GOP won't either.
8
WOW Dr. Hill the academic assassin was eloquent, knowledgeable so incredibly forthright and tough the Republicans quickly gave up questioning her and simply rambled. Even their little bull dog Jim Jordan refused to take her on. She completely kicked into touch Trump’s crackpot conspiracy theories and warned everyone the Russians are busy at work 24/7 in expanding their aggression, attacking the United States democratic institutions and way of life.
And who has bought into Russian meddling and misinformation? Yep The President.
5
Impeach. Lose in the senate force 30 plus new congressmen, Joe Manchin and Doug Jones vote.
This is the culmination of three years of hysteria brought on by Clinton’s dishonest dossier.
This is what defeat in 2020 looks like.
2
Not only do "fictions" help Russia, but so does having an American President in their pocket.
4
I found Dr. Fiona Hill's testimony today to be profoundly gripping and authentic. When the Republicans in the chamber stopped asking her questions and started grandstanding, it was absolutely clear that their flimsy defenses of the President's misdeeds have failed. Even their staff lawyer, Steve Castor, looked chagrinned and gave up the mike.
We saw truth today in Congress. Will we see courage?
1084
Will we see courage from the Republicans? Nope.
116
@Rust Belt Progressive
I assume you mean a vote for impeachment when you ask if we will see courage. However, true courage would be sending law enforcement or military personnel to arrest everyone who has defied a subpoena to provide documents or testify in Congress. True courage would be to arrest the President for ordering staff to defy subpoenas, and to charge him with Obstruction of Justice. But we won't see that, just as 11 acts of Obstruction documented in the Mueller Report went without consequence. We have ceded the country to Trump and Republicans to do whatever they want. Trump's moronic base either believes his ridiculous denials, or they don't care that they voted in this 3 year crime spree. It will continue until they are stopped. Wishing it would stop will not get the job done.
179
@Rust Belt Progressive No. And there will be no such thing as a free and fair election in 2020 with Trump in office.
94
Like many other commenters to this heartening news article, I am delighted by the courage, honesty and patriotism exhibited by many of those giving testimony at the congressional impeachment hearings.
Of particular note was the testimony of Maria Yovanovitch, Lt. Colonel Vindman, Fiona Hill and David Holmes.
For three years the principle voices of our federal government — Donald Trump, Mike Pence, Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, Lindsey Graham, etc. — have provided the American people a steady flow of lies, excuses and nonsense. How like a fresh cleansing breeze seem the honest statements we have been treated to over the past two weeks. Representative Schiff’s competence and clarity in managing the hearings is equally refreshing.
Let Nunes and Jordan twist the truth as they may. The efforts of these two naysayers, detract very little from the virtue displayed by men and women of finer character present. Those of us who regularly follow the national news have become numb to the devious pronouncements of men like Jordan and Trump and Graham. By the nature of the statements they make, their words have lost all meaning.
The honesty and courage I have heard from the consequential American voices in these hearings not only inspire me, they make me long to hear more.
I am committed to doing whatever I can to silence the liars, and to encourage the speakers of TRUTH!
742
@Tom W
start with the Helsinki gesture of brotherly love between Trump and Putin. Trace that trajectory, all the mind-boggling fireworks and assaults on our national beliefs. Arrive at the here and now procedural impeachment stuff, which we know will die in the Senate. Yes: we can salute the courage, the honesty, the enlightenment of Hill, of Sondland, and
everyone testifying.
Will it make a difference? Will we have free elections within the next 12 months? We, the American people, have Zero control over Russian electoral influence. Our own media, Facebook foremost, allow anyone to put "fake news" labels wherever.
Wherever we turn, we face individuals, friends, and the quiet question: which fake news are You tuned to?
36
@Tom W interesting that Hill and the Democrats are so dismissive of investigating the possible corruption involving Biden while he was VP. But I am sure the senate will give due attention to this issue when impeachment gets there to get a full accounting of the threats to our democracy and Trump’s duty to investigate this fully. I hope Pelosi doesn’t back of with just a censure thus depriving a chance for Trump to tell his story.
3
@Bliss
Even as we're dismayed and appalled at the Republicans' disingenuous counterattacks, think of the millions who believe in and approve of them. Who cheer on Trump and worship (!) him.
They are not an American or a 21st century phenomenon. They call themselves "conservatives" or "Republicans" but they really represent the persistent human cohort who lean toward authoritarianism and fascism.
You can look back through history and see them and what they have wrought very clearly: the millions who embraced, fought for and abetted tyranny,.
Every time the Left fragments and turns on itself in the doctrinal disputes we're so fond of, the right gathers strength like a relapse.
This isn't even so much about politics as it is an expression of a human craving for authoritarian rule.
When I read Democrats locking horns rather than uniting in a common front, I feel a sense of despair --- and deja vu. If we weaken and fragment; if we stay home in a snit over who became the candidate, we are essentially voting for authoritarian rule.
While we dispute the details of our vision, the fascists unite into a seamless bloc behind Trump.
10
The investigation was through and airtight.
Trump used his position as President, along with $400 million of funds appropriated by Congress, to bribe the leader of a foreign government to produce, or pretend to produce dirt, on a political opponent in an attempt to rig the 2020 presidential election.
We now know this for a fact.
We also know that the Republican Senate, which has already signed off on Russian election meddling with its laissez faire approach to election security, will cover for this President’s reprehensible actions rather than defend the sovereignty of our country.
For all intents and purposes, we can now consider the entire Republican Party as an agent of America’s enemies.
It is what it is.
720
@Chickpea
I agree, and by extension, almost half the citizens in this country, those who voted for those Republicans, are also agents of America's enemies. In an ironic twist, 40 years in the making, America has become its own most dangerous enemy. Given the absolute defiance of this Administration to respect and follow the law, it appears the only remedy is for America to go to war with itself, a second civil war, and hope that Democracy survives. Without civil war, our Democracy is dead.
31
@Chickpea well if that is fact thenTrump will lose in 2020.
Now, if he wins then what you state is not True.
Deal. November 2020
6
@Flyingoffthehandle
False equivalence. Trump and GOP are traitors regardless of who wins the Presidential election.
Critical thinking eluded you again.
88
The Trump presidency will forever be linked to Russian interference in U.S. political system.
The virus has been become imbedded already, tainting any appointment made at the federal level.
The Department of State has been gutted.
Our alliances have been put into jeopardy.
This is too much.
397
@Carmeliggy well can’t you go play another round at Pebble or Spyglass to feel better about your situation?
2
@Carmeliggy Don't buy into the Russian strategy. They want us to think the system is tainted. I didn't vote for him but Trump was elected. Russia did try to interfere in the election; how successfully cannot be proven. Please don't use this interference as an excuse to smear all of his appointees. Don't become that which you assail.
2
@Carmeliggy The intelligence report by the CIA suggests that the Russian interference was not to help Trump but to cause discord among us.They also said that votes were not affected to a meaningful degree.Of course Putin would have loved corrupt HRC who would probably continue Obama policy of no Javelins missiles, sale more Uranium to him.
1
As people watch Fiona Hill explain how Trump's personal and political agenda overran our own national security, remember that the entire world is watching. If Trump gets away with these unlawful actions and breaks the oath of office ( and is protected by his allies) we will never be trusted again as a powerful democracy who carries out the rule of law. We will just be thrown into the pile of other corrupt and broken world governments. Trump's actions and the actions of the GOP to protect him and put party over country have huge repercussions.
591
@SueTen As Australians watching live from Sydney this morning with my husband, we applauded the honorable Dr. Hill, Mr. Holmes and particularly Chairman Schiff. We were both teary-eyed as he closed with "We're better than that."
Because we remember a time that you were.
Here's hoping you can get past this as a nation and regain the faith you've lost.
77
@SueTen
A very very good point and you are (unfortunately) absolutely right! I travel a lot around the world and the same is the sense I get from a lot of foreigners even before the hearings. All big empires, Greek, Mongolian, Egyptian, Roman, British etc, all to a point where corruption led to their downfall, I fear we are on the slippery slope.....
43
@SueTen: You write: " We will just be thrown into the pile of other corrupt and broken world governments". Sorry but that is not the future, this is exactly the place where you are now. What is at stake is the ability of the system of check and balances to function under the powerful manipulation of a corrupt Executive Power, with the partisan complicity of a GOP turned into a gang of profiteers working for themselves and not for the American people.
13
Everything adds up.
Trump never criticizes Russia.
Trump always believes Putin.
Trump believes Putin did not interfere in our election.
Trump has deliberately helped Putin fracture our country.
Trump never revealed his private conversations with Putin.
Ukraine was invaded by Russia when it tried joining the EU.
Trump tried to throw Ukraine under the bus, helping Russia.
Trump needs to stay in office to avoid prosecution.
Desperate to stay in power, Trump continues to lie everyday.
Add up Trump's 14,000 lies.
Final conclusion.
Trump finally got caught.
Trump has led us to the brink of chaos, which Putin wants.
Today, we learned from Fiona Hill that Putin is winning, and,
Trump is helping him succeed.
We are now sick. We must remove the governing cancer.
686
@Paul I agree with everything you said, except that Trump believes that Putin did not interfere in our elections. He absolutely knows they interfered and did so on his behalf. He welcomed it in 2016 and I'm sure he is welcoming it now.
73
@Natalie Is it possible that all those secret conversations that DJT had with PUTIN, that PUTIN put in his mind that the Ukraines were the election interferers? We don't have the transcript of their meetings. And DJT has never said what they discussed. I honestly believe that DJT is the manchurian candidate.
49
@Paul
Sooo, the Dems must be removed?
2
At a time in US politics when professionalism and expertise are ridiculed as being tools of "the deep state", how wonderful to watch and listen to Dr. Hill today. Clear, concise, honest, and candid...no wonder the Republicans didn't know how to handle her.
509
@CritterDoc just a couple of mid-level bureaucrats who are well spoken whose job is to execute Presidential policies and not make policies. They found themselves irrelevant under the Trump doctrine so took the opportunity to testify with sophomoric leading questions to get back at Trump. In the end nothing impeachable was revealed. Nevertheless the Democrats will impeach and the Senate will exonerate. What a waste of time and money.
1
@Qcell Wow. Thanks for the recap, almost word for word, from Fox news. (You gave it away with 'mid level bureaucrats.) I, for one, sleep better at night knowing genuine, smart patriots, like Hill, are on our team.
54
@CritterDoc
"Facts are stubborn things" aren't they?
3
''Fiona Hill Testifies ‘Fictions’ on Ukraine Pushed by Trump Help Russia''
All roads lead to Putin.
7
I will say that I have a new appreciation for exactly what career diplomats do for the US. They are truly the unsung heroes, and how they manage to deal with all the political nonsense is nothing short of astonishing. I was impressed by their sharpness and conviction to the rules of law and diplomacy. Their restraint under stupid questioning was brilliant. Having their loyalties and knowledge called into question by Nunes and his pathetic posse was shameful. But the expressions on the witnesses faces told volumes.
At the same time, I was embarrassed for those elected members of Congress allegedly serving the people of the US. I fear that Jim Jordan and his ilk couldn't locate Ukraine -- or Russia -- on a map with GPS and a world atlas in hand. These opportunistic congressmen will end up making a bundle of money when they leave office (and take along breathtaking pensions and health insurance) and start raking in the big bucks by lobbying, and they will never understand true service to the country as some of these witness have clearly shown and proven. What a disgrace. All to protect a corrupt president. Pity.
549
@Desert Rat Just to be clear, Hill and Holmes are mid-level bureaucrats whose job is to analyze and implement foreign policies determined by the the elected President. Their testimonies are lacking of new material and full of cliches about immigrants and their love of nation. They managed to get out all their frustration about having their ineffective work they banked their career on being rendered irrelevant by Trump and then seeing their colleagues and themselves out a job. In the end, with sophomoric leading questions they tried to take Trump down but failed to do so.
@Qcell Given that Pompeo had accepted the assignment to compel Zelensky to aid Trump then the people working for him including Volker, Holmes, Taylor, Yovanovitch, and Sondland would have had clear instructions to implement U.S. policy as put forth by Pompeo. However, U.S. official policy was to support Ukraine against Russian aggression and to achieve a stable democracy. The foreign service officials were in process of fulfilling official U.S. policy. Then appeared Giuliani with no authorization from Pompeo to do something radically different. Giuliani claimed he was acting under authority of Trump but he was a private citizen without any standing in the U.S. government. Sondland, appointed directly by Trump to fulfil a diplomatic role responded and involved others, but Sondland also had no authority to act in Ukraine. The National Security Council under John Bolton viewed Giuliani's role as highly inappropriate and the NSC staff had no marching orders from Bolton to help Giuliani. Bolton may have been fired in part for his opposition to the 'drug deal" involving Giuliani. The fact that two of Giuliani's associates also involved in the deal in Ukraine speaks very loudly that bribing the president of Ukraine was not U.S. government policy but rather more like a "drug deal" that no government employee should be involved in.
17
@Desert Rat I am very happy that you have a better appreciation for the Foreign Service. I would add that there are thousands of career federal officials in other agencies who share their commitment to the Constitution of the United States.
7
What I've learned after watching and listening to two weeks' of hearings: It's very, very difficult for any political or career appointee of this administration or the US State Department to effectively communicate on substantive matters with President Trump. Forget what was or wasn't intended and the partisan nature of these hearings.
Advisers looking to communicate with this President from any perspective has clearly talked about the same challenges in getting through to our President.
Is this OK?
9
I for one have been very impressed with the intelligence and professionalism of the witnesses the last week. They were articulate, prepared and on point, in stark contrast to the republican members. Gives me hope that at least part of the government is trying to do the right thing.
16
This is the moment when a country chooses whether it respects its own Democracy,and defends it, or would prefer the dictatorship of the strong man rule.
Ultimately we have a choice, hopefully one that is accurately counted, the 2020 election. Any sane and decent person should without question vote each and every Republican out of office until they show they have regained their honor and honesty.
Trump is a clear and present danger to our country, followed at his boot heels closely by the GOP. The answer is clear. They have no rightful place in any office in this country. Vote them all out, especially the Senate Republicans who defend him after he is impeached.
There is no other answer. There is no better answer. This should be the end of the Republicant party, or could be, conversely the end of America.
44
@bluecairn 3.0: As far as I'm concerned, every elected official who identifies as a Republican or a Democrat should be voted out of office.
Dr. Hill rocked the spotlight. Her detailed answers to questions, delivered directly into the microphones with supreme confidence, gave her great credibility. She did it all without the benefit of notes, in contrast to other witnesses (and questioners) who relied heavily on notes. The Republicans trying to push Sondland under the bus yesterday made a point of this saying that he relied heavily on notes as opposed to his memory, implying his need for notes was a crutch that called his testimony into question. What a difference between the two. .
Hill's use of the phrase "domestic political errand" was priceless; disarming in its cold-eyed appraisal of the shabbiness of the thing while devastating in its disdain for the treachery behind it.
What a performance. I vote for Dr. Fiona Hill as the MVW of these hearings.
50
@Karl Glotzbach
I agree. Great performance, but that’s all.
Real life however requires a lot more.
Exactly!
What exactly was the claim of Ukrainian involvement Trump wanted investigated? I've never heard anyone claim it was all Ukraine and no Russia in the hack of the DNC.
I think Ms Hill is attacking a straw man here. Russia was the main culprit but perhaps Ukraine also was guilty of some interference?
I prefer to question the CIA, FBI, and IC and that doesn't make me a less patriotic American.
1
The intelligence agencies have already refuted the claim the Ukrainians were whatsoever involved. The Cloud Strike conspiracy theory has been discredited, and not by the Dems, but by Trumps own and appointed security officials. By even given any sort of credit to this debunked deflection put out by the administration and republicans in Congress, play into Russia’s hands. You might be a patriot but you unwittingly doing the job the Russians want.
7
@Bob K. : Nope. No interference by Ukraine. That’s Russian agitprop.
4
Even many Trump supporters may come to see that he pushed for an investigation for the purpose of damaging Biden and that he withheld aid as ransom for that “favor”. But just as Democrats we’re willing to overlook Clinton’s transgressions (though they didn’t rise to the treasonous level of Trump’s), they will happily look the other way in 2020. Yes, he’s guilty; no, we don’t care.
4
@MikeG Clinton lied about an affair. That's why he was impeached. Trump has abused his power and put our national security at risk in the process. Why exactly do you not care?
3
YES COLLUSION.
Looks like there is collusion after all. 2 years of No Collusion re Russia needs to be revisited?
8
Dr Hill - A stalwart American civil servant - against opportunistic GOP lawmakers - who won with a gerrymandered district.. and could never win with an honest election..
NO comparison.
If you're an American and still support GOP after Dr Hill's testimony - we as an America is doomed.. sorry - but it's a reality and it looks like that Putin won after 30 years once the fall of Berlin wall
18
Nunez and company are all PUTIN Republicans, helping to MAKE RUSSIA GREAT AGAIN! Today's witnesses make it clear that Vladimir Putin is writing the Trump and Republican talking points of Russian disinformation about the 2016 election. Trump, Fox News and the complicit Putin Republicans are Putin's puppets which sow discord and divisions among Americans. America needs to wake up and recognize this danger to our democratic institutions. Where are the REAL Republicans?
20
I wonder if Republicans are questioning Dr Hill's loyalties since she was not born in the US.
10
@Frank Lopez I am an Australian citizen and am more loyal to America than the GOP. Many GOP congressmen have not bothered to read the Mueller report. Couldn't be bothered. I did bother. Here is more Latin: QED.
"Quod Erat Demonstrandum" which loosely translated means "that which was to be demonstrated". It is usually placed at the end of a mathematical proof to indicate that the proof is complete. Latin is making a comeback. Who knew?
3
When will they subpoena Trump’s shadow Secretary of State, Vladimir Putin?
20
Simply put...Dr.Hill is an American hero and spoke truth to power which is long overdue in this corrupt administration headed by a man, I use that term loosely, who is totally unfit in every respect to be president of this country.
28
This entire false narrative that Ukraine was behind the hijacking of the 2016 election was originally floated very successfully by, guess who, Vladimir Putin. Trump bought it, obviously. He favours Putin's opinions over his own intelligence agencies. Hill's (truth to power)testimony today is just the right antidote to the poison of Trump's allegiance to a leader of a hostile foreign power.
31
I'm 65 and for the life of me, can't figure out if the Republican Party has been swept into a cult, or are victims of Stockholm Syndrome under the leader of this administration. Hope I live long enough to see this fever break.
113
@Anne — It’s truly inexplicable. I think about this often, and I can’t come up with an answer. It’s like something has stolen their souls.
24
The fish are always the last ones to notice the water.
4
It must be very deflating to be a witness for this Congress.
These wonderful career advisers and diplomats speak their truth in excruciating detail before the Committee.
Then, Nunes, Jordan et al. perform excruciating phony indignation at the entire proceeding.
The witnesses must wonder, did he hear anything I said? Why exactly am I here?
No wonder Ms. Hill resigned in July. Soon, Trump will have only corrupt toadies dancing around the globe for him. Not a good sign for the US of A.
20
I have 15 friends in Ukraine. I’m embarrassed that our country has betrayed them and put their country on the front pages. Americans may not know much about Ukraine, but it is a struggling Democracy. I know a young woman who escaped from Crimea after both parents were killed by Russian invaders. Our country owes a debt to Ukraine that few people remember. Back in the 19th century Midwest Farmers were struggling trying to grow heathy Wheat. It was only after the Ukrainians shared their strain of wheat that the Minnesotans and Iowans were successful.
24
@fallen
NOt to mention US, among other countries, promised security, military assistance, and teritorial integrity to Ukraine in the 90s for it to give up its Nuclear Weapons. How did we honour that promise after the occupation of Crimea?
So yeah, Ukraine is a very important country in the geopolitics world and we should help that country. A lot of countries - like Baltic states - been trying to help Ukraine with helping it to some day join EU for years now.
3
Thank you Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch., Dr. Fiona Hill, Lt. Col. Vindman, David Holm, Peter Welch and Adam Schiff. Because of your strengths, your insights, observations and courage... I can continue to believe in the American Democracy. All of you have energized many, many Americans and hopefully many of our Allies to continue to believe that as Americans... We are better than that... WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS... I encourage All Americans, of all political parties to call their Senators and Congressional Representatives. Inform them that WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS and let them know you will vote accordingly in the coming elections.
16
Opening paragraph of House report on Russian interference in the 2016 election (issued when Republicans held the House.)
“In 2015, Russia began engaging in a covert influence campaign aimed at the U.S. presidential election. The Russian government , at the direction of President Vladimir Putin, sought to sow discord in American society and undermine our faith In the democratic process.”
(I’m glad Nunes provided her a copy of that report.)
And, btw, Mueller reported that President Trump did not collude/conspire with Russia to win the election. So there’s that.
4
@JQGALT:Mueller did not report that Trump did not collude/conspire with Russia.
3
But today, insistently and repeatedly, Republicans insist on defending a president who embraces the debunked theory that it was not Russia but Ukraine who interfered with the elections. Perhaps that is what prompted Dr. Hill to take the republicans to task. Indeed, their prior acknowledgement of Russia’s singular role in election meddling only underscores how clear this was to everyone, and undercuts any claim that Trump’s actions were motivated by a legitimate concern about election meddling
4
@Anna
Volume 1
Read it
1
All humans are flawed and perhaps most of us are also compromised. Yet only the most grievously conflicted can play the classic Shakespearean role of a confidant who brought down the king. Sondland the successful bidnessman auditioned brilliantly for such a role this week.
Meanwhile clean, uncompromised American heroes like Yovanovich, Vindman, Hill, Taylor, Holmes, Kent, McKinley and others show us the America of ideals, the foundation of how we operate as a republic. It is sad that this foundation is being hollowed out as we witness honorable and skilled professionals driven out and attacked by partisans.
Patrons are leaving the theatre and the stage is now bare, except for Sondland’s soliloquy as the curtains fall.
7
Dr. Fiona Hill's testimony was admirably compelling. She spoke with clarity about the dangerous embracing of Putin's propaganda which has infected Republicans, and for which they are now carriers. This country owes a debt of gratitude to the brave career diplomats and public servants who have put their careers, integrity, and perhaps even their own personal safety on the line for this country to come forward and speak out. They are true patriots. They have been treated disgracefully and dishonorably by the Republicans.
We have seen a highly decorated Purple Heart recipient denigrated, we have seen a former diplomat to Ukraine smeared, we have seen and heard the arrogant, condescending questioning of Republicans whose allegiance is to Trump and not this country. Trump without a doubt should be impeached, but most are in agreement that he will not be removed from office. For those who have risked all to step up to the plate I hope this will all be worth it. We praise these people now, but I really wonder what it will mean to their lives months down the road when the dust settles and the Senate trial is a memory (destined to be a bad one at that). How will these people fare? We owe them safety and career protection. Will journalists continue to follow their stories? Most likely not.
Perhaps as others have commented, this should all be brought to a swift foregone conclusion, and we should focus on the 2020 election. it is looming large.
8
Now we know clearly what President Trump has done, and that he will likely serve out his full term nevertheless because the Senate will take no action. How tragic it is to think of all the smart, honorable State Department employees who have been laid off, chased out, or just left because of this administration.
Imagine what we will all be thinking (and wondering) the next time he has to negotiate some sensitive international situation. And the time after that. He will feel he has a license to cheat, lie and steal--and he will.
7
After watching these hearings, it occurred to me that there were actually two parallel hearings going on: The Democrats were interviewing people and running an investigation, while Republicans were running a disinformation campaign.
Republicans, led by Nunez, had absolutely no interest in even pretending to determine if Trump had done anything wrong. As with almost all things emanating from them, they present a 180 degree version of reality, and get away with it because of the pervasive right wing media, led by Faux News. As such, they turned Ms. Hills' warning about not being duped by Russian intelligence schemes like the myth of Ukrainian interference in the 2016 election, as being about the DNC and Ukrainians interfering in those elections!
Meanwhile, the Democrats for the most part didn't rebuke these Alice In Wonderland fictions, seeming to believe that people will see them for the falsehoods they are, and that the evidence they've accrued through testimony will win the day. As such, they are "winning the (evidence) battle, but losing the (perception) war". They're getting "OJ'd", as in how everyone knows OJ killed his wife, but he beat the rap because his lawyer managed the jury's perceptions enough that they couldn't convict.
The Dems need to stop with the dry procedural approach and appeal to people's emotions that are connected to fairness, and no one being above the law, fighting our enemies, all of which are jeopardized by what Trump has done.
5
Bless the founding Fathers for having the foresight to know these days might happen and to put procedures in place that allow democracy and our Republic to survive.
5
The Republican's can continue on their fool's errand and perhaps they may succeed for bit longer, holding truth and justice at bay in the service of ulterior and nefarious motives, but when they do fall, and they will, they will fall hard and they will fall fast.
There is, frankly, no forgiving those who lie or those who enable and/or cover for liars. There is also no trust going forward to give to these people who have so violated their oath of office, their constituents and the constituents.
4
One of the meanings of the word, "Fiona", is fair.
And that is what Dr. Hill was today and continues to be - fair.
I've known three women by that first name and to be honest, they too were always fair, direct, articulate, and steely in all that they did in their professional lives as well as their personal lives.
I am totally enamored by Dr. Hill. She is truly an impressive and solid role model for young girls and women throughout the world. Heck, many a man could learn a thing or three from her.
Thank you Dr. Hill for all that you have done today and days past for this country.
One extremely grateful American.
11
Since they're incapable and incompetent of governing because the former President went around congress and used illegal executive orders to govern,they think this is going somewhere.It's impossible to win against the senate vote even with little miss English accent contributing her two cents worth. Which gives Trump exactly another 4 years because everybody has had it up to here and they don't have a viable candidate.
3
@Alan Einstoss
Each and every Democratic candidate would be SO much better than Trump - as these hearings have now proven too.
As long as "we the people" decide to cultivate cynicism instead though, the corrupt GOP will continue to control DC and destroy America's greatness.
It's up to us to choose, and to engage or not ...
30
@Alan Einstoss
Why use childish insults such as, ‘Little miss English’?
No need to listen to independent experts. No need to check facts.
Many Americans have had it up to here, with the current President, who continues to show on a daily basis, he had no concern for honesty, fairness, competence, ethics and decency.
Trump continues to make loud fact free distractions, yet avoids being interviewed under oath, despite claiming he is completely innocent of all charges.
16
You don’t speak for everyone. And the narrative that Obama governed by executive order is a false one. Look at the total number of executive orders by president.
14
Does everyone get that Fiona Hill is Trump/Pence's very own top expert on Europe and Russia?
30
The GOP doesn't care. It won't acknowledge "high crimes" or misdemeanours, corruption, wrongdoing or even simple stupidity. It just won't. It won't recognize the swamp they swim in, or finger the shooter on 5th Avenue.
As for the Dems, they shouldn't flinch. Impeach him in the House, let it fail in the Senate. They have made the case. If, in spite of all this smoke, voters still endorse this clown and his criminal Administration, then America doesn't deserve any better. At least at the present time.
23
I have always thought it wise that American law does not allow people born foreign nationals or who maintain any citizenship other than that of the USA to become POTUS.
But after hearing Dr. Hill and Lt. Col. Vindeman testify, I find myself wishing that one of them could trade places with the born-American currently in the Oval Office.
23
@PATriot, I’d rather see candidates for president be required to pass a test demonstrating their knowledge of United States domestic and foreign policy; the US Constitution; and basic English literacy. Ask them to repeat the letters in the alphabet.
At least, require each candidate to explain the Schoolhouse Rock video “How a Bill Becomes a Law”.
8
@Karen, you are right about that. The people that represent us in government should have better than a basic understanding of how legislation is enacted, what responsibilities are expected of the office holder AND the limitations of the office she or he holds. If they cannot pass a basic exam before they assume office, then they should not be in office.
Such a test would have prevented Trump from ever getting inaugurated.
1
The swamp that Trump claimed to want clear up is bigger than ever now by his own hand. His narcissistic ego shall be his eventual undoing. Impeachment is right around the corner now. The GOP has no cogent defense against the president’s ministrations. His actions will fulminate his administration completely. The loop of involvement by Trump; Pompeo; Pence; and Mulvaney in the Ukraine affair will end up crushing this government.
9
We’re still talking about election interference & we’re about to vote in the next election lol
2
This headline roars a terrible fact, assuming our Republican lawmakers actually care. They don’t.
12
Putin and Russia must pay a price for interfering in America. Look at the damage done, a response is in order. They have turned the Republican party into traitors, nothing less.
15
@sdt :"Putin and Russia must pay a price for interfering in America"
Awwwww c'mon don't be so 1980s in your foreign policy outlook. Just need another Reset Button to fix things, but good.
1
The GOP is officially aligned with Vladimir Putin. Let the civil war begin.
20
Ms. Fiona Hill, for Secretary of State.
Current Incumbent, incompetent, pompus,
untruthful and has compromised American
Honor.
Nunes, The fool on the hill.
Thank you Sir Paul, for the words!
14
I seems hypocritical that there are so many concerns about Hunter Biden. China gave Ivanka Trump’s business dozens of potentially lucrative provisional trademark approvals including voting machines (why would a fashion designer need voting machine patens?) This seems to be a conflict of interest. Watch groups have also reported over 2,000 conflict of interest into the president. Hypocritical? I guess it’s really a power game.
22
@TMR - This should be front page news.
2
@DR
Yes! Perhaps, the twisted logic is protecting their own financial interests.
I just had reason to hear the words of a former President, one who wasn't known to cozy up to and purr in the lap of the Russians: Americans are free to disagree with the law, but they are not free to disobey it.
Question for Mr. Trump: Are you American or Russian or something else entirely?
10
Comrade Trump has been a Russian asset since his bankruptcies prevented him from getting legitimate loans and he had to go to grey market sources to finance his lifestyle.
22
@John Reynolds Spot on! Follow the money.
5
@John Reynolds : Who'd have thought it would be Obama who let 'em in. We need Hillary and here Reset Button to take care of business.
1
Unfortunately Republican Committee members still state these debunked Ukraine narratives that they and not the Russians interfered with the 2016 election.
Not to be labeled as being "soft" on Russia, today for the first time some GOP members said that Russia poses a threat.
However, Republicans were quick to add that Trump gave millions of military aid to Ukraine and that there was only a "pause" in Ukraine getting the aid. This is so deceitful.
The Republican and Trump propaganda outlet Fox faux news peddles these false narratives on a daily basis.
7
Volodymyr Zelensky should announce that he was bribed by President Trump. He should ask the Republicans if they want to help him or not.
6
"The Russians deploy millions of dollars to weaponize our own political opposition research and false narratives. When we are consumed by partisan rancor, we cannot combat these external forces as they seek to divide us against each other, degrade our institutions, and destroy the faith of the American people in our democracy.” Dr. Hill must have misspoke. She must have meant Republicans, not Russians.
Trump is a small part of a bigger story of a political party that will stop at nothing including forsaking their oaths of office, to establish a totalitarian regime in America. What kind of American defends a party that is determined to overthrow our democratic republic?
To be clear, Republican House members are in favor of investigating Ukrania for supporting a Democratic candidate that opposes their candidate, but oppose investigating their president and their party for collaborating with Russia in a successful effort to change the outcome of the 2016 election, and try to change the outcome of the 2020 election!
These are acts of treason! Again, what kind of American supports acts of treason!? This question must be answered now before the indictments go to trial, before a Republican controlled Senate. Today, Senate Republicans are plotting with Trump's impeachment team on how to defend and acquit him.
If there was ever a time for patriotic Americans to rise up and take back the country from a morally, ethically and politically corrupt party, now would be a good time!
9
I agree with all these comments on Fiona Hill, and one thing that sticks with me through the hearings so far is gratitude that the Western world realized about 50 years ago - better late than never - that it was time to open "the professions" to the female half of the human race. Not just Hill but also Yovanovich and Cooper - clear-headed, informed, expert, effective. Nothing against the guys - they were impressive too, and we obviously have a competent and dedicated foreign service in this country - but the point that struck me is that a social revolution about half-a-century ago has in effect doubled the talent pool.
12
When President Clinton was impeached, most (not all) Democrats voted against impeachment, but at the same time criticized the President's behavior. Republicans could do the same thing here and state that, although Trump's Ukraine machinations were inappropriate, they do not constitute an impeachable offense. Although I would disagree, such a stance wouldn't be patently unreasonable. I'm guessing many Republican House Members and Senators actually feel that way. Commentators have often noted that Trump seems to have an affinity for authoritarian leaders. I guess that's because, in terms of his control over a major political party, he is one.
6
I haven't heard one word about the concept of a "speaking agent" binding the principle to what they say. Those rules of agency and evidence certainly should apply to Sondland and others to bind the President as if their statements were his.
Solicitation of foreign government assistance in exchange for military and other support, for a reason related solely to the President's personal political gain: not just demonstrated by credible corroborating testimony from contemporaneous witnesses, but admitted by the President and his Chief of Staff.
Republican attempts to confuse the electorate and smear unimpeachable witnesses is beneath contempt.
8
We have now heard these patriots; many like Dr. Fiona Hill and Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman are immigrants. If they can demonstrate their dedication to the Constitution while risking the careers they've worked so hard to achieve, why can't the the immigrant-bashing Republicans show they care as much for our "rule of law" instead of the lawless "rule of Trump." As Dr. Hill observed, it is immigrants like her and Col. Vindman that make America great; and sadly, it appears that the non-immigrants, mostly all white male Republicans that make America groan and threaten the very democracy that they're so willing to cast aside.
10
I am glad that Dr. Hill was able to thoroughly and completely refute Morrison's volunteered character assassination of Lt. Col. Vindman. Morrison's attack, and short tenure in that position over the crucial period in question, had the whiff of dark politics.
6
A bit of perspective is required here, on the Ukraine and Russia
A bigger help to Putin and a much larger damage to the Ukraine was Trump's support of Israel's land grab on the West Bank
Putin now he says the US - having made mockery of international law - has absolutely no moral right to be upset about his land grab of the Crimea
And sorry to say, Vladimir has a point.
7
If I have one takeaway from the hearings. It’s not about any of the committee members. I was most impressed with the intelligence and knowledge of Dr Hill and Colonel Vindmam . If i had a role in the next administration I’d look closely at both for cabinet level positions. Another comment, got many years ambassadors have come from the moneyed and noble class. Isn’t it time to change this?
5
There’s something rather bizarre about the GOP’s claims that the President was simply focused on the fight against corruption in Ukraine. How curious then that he chose a corrupt mechanism himself to pursue that objective.
2
Sondland came across far smarter, more intellectually agile and capable than Hill. I would side with his viewpoint. Hill also seemed to be misinterpreting what some republicans view as possible attempts to influence the 2016 election by some Ukrainian government officials by releasing the story of Manafort's ledgers during the election, instead of during an earlier FBI investigation. Hacking of the DNC and facebook trolling is separate of this. The release of the ledger claims and hidden payments to Manafort during the election is real and indisputable. See Politico articles in 2017.
The author writes:"when [President Trump] pressed Ukraine to investigate the theory that Kyiv rather than Moscow undertook a concerted campaign to meddle in the 2016 campaign, he was playing into Russia’s hands for his own political gain."
This is a generous reading of what motivated Trump.
I suggest a more sinister reading: that President Trump was conducting foreign policy on behalf of the Kremlin for personal gain, but also because he owes Russia, and he needed to control the story about the election in 2016.
He uses a Russian counter-narrative to contradict USA intelligence findings. He smears Ambassador Yovanovich in order to remove her to clear the way for Sondland. These are elements in a pattern.
The Ukraine shakedown is less about advancing his electoral campaign for 2020 and more about compromising USA foreign policy. Certainly he is seemingly playing into Russia's hands; but I think he not as hapless as the above passage suggests.
I hope Chair Nadler will revisit the key elements of collusion of Trump campaign people with Russian operatives. He should follow the example of Chair Schiff and depose first, then hold public hearings.
I think squeezing Ukraine is only another example of how Trump is putting Russia first to the detriment of USA national security.
3
Like other honest Americans I've been impressed with a lot of the testimony at the impeachment hearings of Criminal Trump. Dr. Hill today was no exception.
I've watched close to 80% of these hearings and other than the republicans who defend a full blown criminal in the White House these various people like Hill and Ms. Yovanovitch make me proud of their commitment to what is right and just.
5
I wish the congressmen ask questions under oath so that they speak the truth rather than promote unprecedent level of disinformation, deflection, distraction including outright lies. Given each of these congressmen can use their time to ask questions, lecture or promote anything, it is important that they do this under oath with legal consequences like witnesses. The interviewers should be truthful like any witnesses.
There are countless examples where congressmen like Nunes and Jordan are untruthful, promoting misleading information and conspiracy theories.
It is hard to fathom the attack on facts, and live killing of truth on the floor of Congress, supposed to be one of the sacrosanct institutions of our government.
3
I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic;
Memo to GOP: CC: Military, Government employees
Please substitute Donald Trump for Constitution.
1
@terryg - I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will read the Constitution of the United States.
3
The witnesses were wonderfully inspiring, but the Republicans are in lock-step and will always support Trump, no matter how self-contradictory and delusional their explanations must be. We are in serious trouble.
6
Ms. Hill’s steely, focused clarity was a breathtaking sight to behold, a perfect embodiment of selfless, purposeful service.
56
Republican tactic: Play to the willfully ignorant.
That is the only logic I can derive from their defense in response to these amazing witnesses.
20
Why is Don Jr. allowed to speak? If there is a person less qualified to do anything besides sit there and breathe I don't want to meet him.
29
@Graham Hackett Agree with everything but being qualified to breathe. Anytime he chooses to stop doing that is fine with me. More than a few future "hunt" trophies will be better off for it, as would we all.
4
I too found Dr. Fiona Hill to be very impressive. From her opening statement, this point stuck with me:
"When we are consumed by partisan rancor, we cannot combat these external forces [Vladimir Putin and the Russian security services] as they seek to divide us against each another, degrade our institutions, and destroy the faith of the American people in our democracy."
Since Donald Trump's election, I have been eagerly awaiting the end of his presidency.
Dr. Hill's perspective has shone a different light on the situation. If we want a strong America, we have to let go of our partisan rancor, and just get back to building a strong America, one building block at a time.
16
Dr. Hill should be on every future POTUS's radar. A timely reminder to Congress to safeguard 20-20 election.
20
In their closing statements Republican members of the committee made it clear that evidence does not matter if you like the President. Evidence also, and this part is even more important, should be rejected if brought forward by anyone who does NOT like the President.
This leaves a narrow but dangerously real path for admitting testimony by impartial civil service professionals, so their competence and character must be attacked relentlessly.
Because keeping political power is the only thing that matters; Not truth, not the country, nothing else.
14
A retired person, a Democrat, an immigrant, a woman, I have found much to connect with emotionally and intellectually in these impeachment hearings. All the horror I, a critic of Trump's immigration policies and his everyday loutish behavior, have felt has been to some extent assuaged by seeing the steady business of government play out despite Trump's attacks on our institutions. If this were a Hollywood movie I could not ask for more perfect actors than Dr. Hill and Mr.Holmes today or Ms. Cooper and Mr. Hale yesterday, Vindman, Yovanovich and others before that. Yet, these were not actors, they were public servants, who came out of their offices bravely to testify, who have received threats, whose careers may be in jeopardy and who undoubtedly have had their peace of mind disturbed.
15
So here’s a hypothetical: What if a few Republican senators, though hardly likely, flip? And the Senate impeachment trial is deadlocked. Then Pence gets to have the deciding vote, as by statute he would. Would he vote AGAINST impeachment, and thus keep Trump in power. Or Would he vote FOR impeachment, and thus elect himself President? One shudders to think.
5
There is no deadlock possible. 66 votes fails; 67 and he is gone.
3
@John Isaacs - No one ever thought the Republicans would turn on Nixon. Everyday, we learn something new. And everyday, Trump tweets and makes things worse for himself.
FOX has slowly but surely been changing its tune on Trump. There are 4 shows who support him but when their legal analyst goes on their website and says he should be impeached or their lead news anchor says you don't have a pulse if not moved by Marie, things are changing.
3
@Bill Thanks, Bill, for correcting me. Thank God too.
But couldn’t it theoretically be a draw if one senator abstained?
Non-partisan government employees and one political appointee testified over the past two weeks that Trump sought a political favor from the President of Ukraine in exchange for a White House visit and aid money.
Republicans and Democrats in Congress recognized the threat Russia poses to Ukraine and therefore to our national interest and approved the aid that Trump chose to hold up.
Fiona Hill warned that Russia wants to see our nation divided, with Republicans and Democrats pitted against each other.
In the face of this warning and all of the evidence that Trump abused his power, acting against our national security interests and in favor of his personal, political interests, the Republicans have chosen to support Russia’s interests and enable a corrupt president by playing only a divisive role in the impeachment inquiry. They showed no curiosity, no seriousness about the grave facts before them, no openness to the truth. Putin now owns not only Trump, but the entire Republican Party.
18
Mr. Nixon used domestic talent for breaking into DNC building and made "America Great Again" during his presidency. Mr. Trump invited Russia and outsourced the hacking into DNC servers and Clinton's emails and made "America Broke Again".
4
What I found sad and depressing is that we are fighting over whether or not a man who has to write a full page note in giant childish letters to himself, to remember to shout the words "I want nothing, I want nothing!" at reporters, should remain in the most difficult, demanding, and important job in the country!
23
@Gianni - I would wager that KellyAnne wrote the note for him. If she had had more time, she would have made some flash cards.
6
“Her testimony before the House Intelligence Committee was an implicit rebuke to the president, suggesting that when he pressed Ukraine to investigate the theory that Kyiv rather than Moscow undertook a concerted campaign to meddle in the 2016 campaign, he was playing into Russia’s hands for his own political gain.”
Today’s testimony provides yet another possible instance of President Trump’s incomprehensibly subservient behavior when dealing with Vladimir Putin. Another occasion when our president took actions benefitting Russia and harming American democracy has increased in credibility.
The disclosure of Mr. Trump’s tax returns and financial records became significantly more important today, and the probability that a charge of Treason will be included in the Articles of Impeachment increased. Those records MUST be provided to congress.
If Donald Trump’s rationality was on par with Dick Nixon’s, he would be composing his farewell address. But yesterday’s televised declaration by Mr. Trump wherein he claimed that a single answer he gave to a question posed by Gorden Sondland, “Ends all of this,” came from a desperately addled mind.
Please. Congressmen and congresswomen, find a way to uuncover Putin’s hold on Trump. Remove this unfit man from office. He should not be the POTUS any longer.
10
@Tom W: Tax returns!
2
Compared to all of this, Richard Nixon basically was impeached for stealing a pack of gum.
11
@Stephen Mackin
Nixon wasn't impeached
2
Until these hearings, I was ashamed to be an American.
Now I am prouder than ever.
717
@Denny Wright Yes. Me too. How sad is it that it took an Englishwoman to make that happen?
33
@CritterDoc - Yes, Dr. Hill is originally from England. But she's an American now. So Denny Wright and you and I are entitled to let her make us proud that we're Americans.
Isn't immigration great? It's what made us the great country that we have been until recently, and that hopefully we can be again. People like our family members years ago and today like the Dr. Hills and all those who continue to come from other countries are those who boldly leave their homes behind to come to America. They do this in the belief that this is the place where we can all be our best.
Maybe there's still hope for us.
101
@Denny Wright
I, too, am proud that we have such intelligent, dedicated, civil servants serving our nation. No wonder they are such a threat to Donald Trump. Trump attempts to corrupt everything he deals with. Incorruptible civil servants that love our country, understand the threat posed by Russian aggression, and are prepared to stand up to Trump's bullying are his greatest threat.
60
Wow, Dr. Hill and Mr. Holmes were so clear and stood their ground so eloquently. Regardless of the outcome, listening to them, their informed confidence, filled me with hope for our country.
31
She did confirm that the “Steele dossier,” the genesis of “Trump-Russia collusion,” was indeed fiction and that Christopher Steele got played.
9
@JQGALT
More to come on Dec. 9th with the release of the Inspector General's report (there is even an article
today, apparently in the interest of doing lip service
to being fair and balanced, 'below the virtual fold' in
today's NYT). MUCH more to come, and we will all
realize why the Dems had to rush through these
hearings in the first place, before they get clobbered.
1
@JQGALT, except it wasn't the genesis at all. Just one piece of evidence.
Why did the Trump campaign have dozens of documented contacts with Russia again?
9
@JQGALT
How, more precisely?
4
This would pass for “news” when a former staffer makes a accusation that is demonstrably false yet The NY Times reports it as a fact.
4
@Bayricker
Uh ... what accusation, more precisely? And where's the evidence that it would be false, more precisely?
It's incredible how Trump supporters here don't even seem to be able to focus on WHAT they're accusing Democrats of anymore.
19
Everything works out for the best in the end:
A$AP Rocky got out of jail,
Ukraine got its Aid Package,
Hunter got his money from Burisma, which will help with his child support payments.
The Democrats' witnesses have all got name recognition now, which should help them going forward with their careers.
The NYT stock is doing extremely well. Lot's clicks!
1
Yes, but if the federal reserve raises interest rates, which are abnormally and artificially low to subsidize the tarring taxes, the market will tank and the whole house of cards will unravel ...:
3
@P&L Not for the Ukrainians or US national security.
4
Citizens United created this mess by opening the money flow wide open for Congressional candidates.
And these sleazy GOP guys and gals are the grifters feeding at the trough.
20
The Coal Miner's Daughter spoke truth to power.
34
Republicans don’t doubt Russian interference in the 2016 election? is the POTUS not a Republican anymore?
10
Doesn't it seem right that Nunes, Jordan, Stewart, Stefanik and the clowns running this charade, McConnell, Graham and all their fellow stooges in the Senate, and all other Republicans active and retired who hold a shred of sway but fail to stand up for what's right and denounce this administration and it's behavior (and the media that shills for them) - carry the stink of this awful mess on them until the end of time.
All of them.
It's not like you didn't see it. If we didn't hear from you otherwise, you're complicit.
27
Can we quickly amend the Constitution so that Fiona Hill can run for president? I want that kind of knowledge and competence at the highest level of our government, instead of having things run by an aged toddler.
39
@Jeezum H. Crowbar she needs to be made Sec of State for whomever wins in 2020
11
Fiona Hill's testimony today showed us what competence looks like, and by contrast how pathetic the republicans have become.
Too bad she cannot run for president (naturalized citizen), it would be a nice change.
37
We have been witnesses to how this Government Runs:
You have: Conduits to the President
Career Foreign Officers
--one might think they overlap-nah!-mutually exclusive.....
2
Trump’s not only losing on the facts, these quality appearances have destroyed him on the field of showbiz. He and the boys in the back of homeroom look preposterously insignificant in the face of these State Department and intelligence professionals.
Jersey Shore meets the RSC doing Lear.
48
As a Reagan Republican I found Fiona Hill's testimony an inspiring reminder of a time when the U.S. had a clear-eyed approach to enemies like Russia. President Reagan had enduring principles regarding the "evil empire" of the former Soviet Union, and he had the courage and boldness to challenge any tyrant who threatened our nation's interests. By contrast Trump is self-interested, ideologically unmoored, enamored with authoritarians (including Russia's Putin) and seems purposefully ignorant of history. It was refreshing to hear Hill articulate, albeit in a non-partisan fashion, the former principles of the G.O.P. regarding Russia and its intentions. How far the Republican Party has fallen...
79
It is disappointing. I had been a left leaning registered Independent since 2000. I respected and admired the likes of McCain, Paul Ryan, George Bush Sr and (to some degree) Boehner.
The Republican embrace of Trumpism has driven me reluctantly back into the arms of the Democratic Party.
Its disgusting what has become of the GOP. And as Ive said before, Im from the former USSR and yes Putin is as bad as our security experts say he is.
6
@Wesley - I miss Reagan because he always acted like a president. The current guy doesn't even have the acting chops to play Bonzo.
1
@tom harrison - Reagan gave us the myth of the welfare queen and botched the AIDS crisis, not to mention trickle down economics.
3
If all this comes to a dead end; if our government confirms that a president can do whatever he wants and get away with it; if our republic is permanently damaged; many of us can say that we didn’t go down without a fight. The Constitution will always matter to us.
I, for one, am humbled by and feel indebted to Adam Schiff, Fiona Hill, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, Ambassadors Yovanovitch and Taylor, and most everyone else whose courage laid bare the cowardice of many in the GOP as well their blind, inexplicable allegiance to a man who cares for nothing and nobody but himself.
And to think — all of these brave public servants were just doing their jobs: Putting their country first.
104
@MDB Very well said.. and absolitely true. Thank you!
6
It seems karmic justice that this President with his denigrating comments about women should have one come forward as the impeachment’s strongest witness.
Thank you, Dr. Hill.
78
@denise Lately it has become more clear the bias against women.
1
Another “Shattering of the GOP defense”, and yet not one, not one, Republican senator has broken ranks. This is the reality we live in.
51
@Beach bum Either bullies or cowards, with some exceptions.
2
Okay, Trump is your man just have the guts to say he probably did some awful crime but you still stand behind him as a loyalist. Don’t think he is a president for all because he is only your guy and you love him just have the guts. So if you find out he did something wrong ask yourself does he move your agenda forward or does he move the country forward. Is this the point where we only vote for our man and not yours or your man not ours. What about the country...what gets done by one side that can’t be changed or undermined by the other side. Let’s get beyond sides and work as a whole for lasting change for all of us.
11
Listening to “the defense,” it is apparent that there is no defense, that Trump could actually shoot and kill somebody on 5th Avenue, with the entire Republican representatives and senators watching him, and that none of them would see it. Then, if Trump were tried for murder, as a defense, they would want to ask other witnesses if they were aware that Harry Truman colluded with Japan to defeat Dewey.
26
@Hector - Or they would use their old standby, "that's just Trump being Trump".
2
So Mike Pompeo (not to mention Trump and Pence) is now directly undermining national security by continuing to support this elaborate GOP ruse.
Why are any of these clowns still in office?
51
@Adam
They are still in office because The Great Compromise was required to get our constitution ratified in 1788. Every state elects and sends two senators to Washington D.C.
The Republicans ruthlessly taking advantage of this fact, plus some unconstitutional gerrymandering, plus some voter suppression... It’s a sad story.
Obstructionism. Conspiracy.
The Republicans are no longer dealing in good faitn.
Ask the attack dogs, Jordan and Nunes. They have no case, facts or logic, but they keep attacking.
5
The most ridiculous moment was clearly when Nunes started to ask us to doubt the analysis of all US intelligences agencies and imagine that it must be "partisan", to then drop a 240-pages document in such a way that it made as much noise as possible ... document that he claimed to contain THE truth (= the long debunked conspiracy theory that says that Ukraine meddled with the 2016 elections), because ... it was Republican.
And then we're not even talking yet about the fact that Republicans lie about everything today, from Obamacare to inauguration crowds to new Apple plants etc.
24
@Ana Luisa It is not lost on the those in the public gallery that Devin Nunes appears to be a buffoon. He has proved that he can read (the comments of others) but he is not able to engage in question and response the way Adam Schiff is able to do so well. In this he is exactly like Trump. After one of Nunes's introductory rants, Schiff said calmly, " I thank the member for his comments as always" and the public laughed, apparently perceiving this as deeply ironic.
5
foreign affair experts as Donald j. trump, jr. and congressman nunes offer their brilliant 'critique' of Dr. Fiona Hill. Pathetic. Dr. Hill has forgotten more about foreign affairs than these 2 stooges could ever begin to learn. Dr. Hill aced the hearing today; sad that one with her qualities of mettle, intelligence, and articulateness aren't prevalent in our elected legislators. we dare to dream that the USA one day will have elected officials that have her exemplary qualities.
28
As I witnessed today, the Republicans have chosen Trump and Giuliana over their oath that they swore on the Bible to defend our country against this abuse of presidential and this new shadow government which is now running our country.
24