What if Al Gore hadn't capitulated so quickly? Today's political landscape could be more functional than it is.
Here's a not-so-funny but accurate *joke.*
All politicians lie.
Republican lie through their teeth.
Democrats lie down.
5
Why would Russia favor Trump? Because he:
– gave Russian tank destroying and Russian tank crew killing missiles to Ukraine, unlike Obama.
– made the US energy independent, thus independent of Russian energy.
– urges Europeans to get natural gas from the US rather than from Russia.
– strengthened the US military.
– strengthened the Obama sanctions on Russia, bringing the US–Russia relations to a new low.
– managed to keep Russia from interfering in the 2018 elections by active cyber countermeasures, unlike Obama in 2016.
– managed to make Europeans pay more for NATO, which is in much better financial shape now.
– keeps the US prosperous, thus strong and assertive.
Or is it because:
– lots of people in the US see talking to US adversaries as bad, rather than useful for world security.
– lots of people in the US are in the McCarthy Russia paranoia state of mind...
5
While Russia will most certainly continue its efforts to interfere in our upcoming elections, the biggest threat are Americans who fail to vote and /or who would vote to reelect Trump. This man has been and continues to be a clear and present danger to our country and the world. He is a thug and we deserve so much better. Those who continue to believe Trump's endless lies, which are repeated and amplified by Fox 'News' (what a misnomer), need to wake up to reality. Facts still matter as does truth. Regrettably ,Trump embraces neither facts or truth. Trump is very much an imposter and he managed to dupe some sixty million voters in 2016. Fool us once shame on you: fool us twice shame on us.
8
Trump and his henchmen are professionals at projection. Whatever it is they have done wrong, they turn it around and blame the opposition.
4
And why? Because the American people can't be trusted, right? Why isn't that your (and everyone's) truthful headline, for those stories that have already conceded the election, and/or make excuses for why he will be re-elected.
1
"us" picked the last president. Now "you" are trying to overturn an election based upon no actual evidence. Shameful.
2
The paranoia and outright falsehoods from the left are amazing to watch, yet, so hard to accept.
The Democrats lost in 2016 and have no real plan for 2020 except to try and demonize Mr. Trump.
Show me how you will continue this great economy, reduce illegal immigration, reduce my taxes, take on our enemies (Russia, China and Iran) and more that Trump is doing.
Yes, he's a jerk, but, he is getting things done that previous administrations said they would before they capitulated.
Until then, I'll vote for Trump, not a socialist wanting all my hard earned cash for other people.
3
"Who gets to pick the next president of the United States — President Trump, Russia or us?" Is an excellent campaign slogan but let's consider another.
"Who gets to pick the next president of the United States? American Oligarchs or the American people?" American corporations and billionaires had FAR more influence than Putin.
But that doesn't let voters off the hook. Yes, Russia played a role but its the eligible American voter who did the damage. Yes, dark money played a role but ultimately its the voter who is responsible.
If you choose not to vote, you're complicit.
If you voted for Trump because you found Hilary unlikeable you''re complicit.
If you voted for Trump knowing full well that he's a grifter a racist and a liar because you wanted to stick it to the establishment then you're complicit.
4
One of the most frightening scenarios imaginable to me are of a Trump, impeached by the House, acquitted by the Senate, and re-elected in 2020.
The resulting tyrant would occupy the most powerful office in the world, in a black rage, set on vengeance and completely out of control, for four more years.
5
It sounds like Democrats are already making excuses for losing again.
2
This article is okay until we hit the silly part of throwing in Russia, the Ukraine's nemesis, as really affecting our elections. Hillary still controls the DNC and the NYT, but please get her failure where it belongs - in the past.
2
The paranoia and outright falsehoods from the left are amazing to watch, yet, so hard to accept.
The Democrats lost in 2016 and have no real plan for 2020 except to try and demonize Mr. Trump.
Show me how you will continue this great economy, reduce illegal immigration, reduce my taxes, take on our enemies (Russia, China and Iran) and more that Trump is doing.
Yes, he's a jerk, but, he is getting things done that previous administrations said they would before they capitulated.
Until then, I'll vote for Trump, not a socialist wanting all my hard earned cash for other people.
1
If the Republican Party could simply realize history has them forever in its crosshairs they'd know the hour is getting late, they'd quit talking falsely and common sense would finally prevail. Trump would lose their vote in the Senate and get impeached. And we'll finally be rid of him.
But because the hold Evangelicals have on the Republican Partry is so strong, it will come down to the 2020 election for us to be rid of Donald Trump.
The Democrats have to get the vote out in record numbers, numbers even surpassing those that got Obama elected in 2008 if they expect a top to bottom ticket victory in 2020, finally guaranteeing the removal of this swampy Republican cabal controlling the White House.
6
Lest we forget: beyond the Ukraine scheme, beyond Trump's countless emoluments violations, beyond his and his campaign's election tampering, beyond cozying up to our worst adversaries, beyond his 14,000 lies, beyond his rancid array of henchmen - beyond all this and so much more is the stacking of what's left of our impartial judiciary. We now have two more hard-right doctrinaire SCOTUS appointees and, more insidious, 182 equally (or more) hard-right lifetime judges on the federal bench, at least two of whom are rated as "not qualified" by the American Bar Association.
Wow, what a series of "gifts" this captor of the presidency has dropped on us: "American carnage" incarnate. I've had enough "gifts" to last a lifetime of Christmases; haven't you? Impeach him now, then remove him from office, then arrest, try and convict him and his co-conspirators for the entire range of their civil crimes.
4
Now the Democrats need to get in control of the narrative in order to convince the "undecided" and the blatantly partisan GOP that impeachment must happen. That involves pulling back & framing the "meta-picture": that Trump is an anti-democratic strongman wanna-be who would have more in common with Russia & his good friend Putin than any of the western liberal democracies he keeps trashing and undermining. Does Joe Six Pack REALLY want to be a Russian? Trump is the idiot gift that keeps on giving & the Democrats need to keep it in the news moment by moment. The corruption is unbelievable in scale (Devin Nunes sitting on the Committee & having a VOTE, while being involved in the scheme to involve Ukraine, & yet I've struggled to get any good news perspective on that--same with King Trump forbidding people with knowledge from testifying. Bang those drums & don't let the whining of the GOP on bogus procedural claims distract. This is a scandal monumental in scale--craft a narrative & get it across. American democracy is at stake.
4
Trump must be impeached and removed as soon as possible. Tomorrow isn't too soon. Each day that he remains in office he becomes more bold, more profane and more lawless, and he and his enablers destroy another pillar of this constitutional republic.
5
When will enough be enough? We are at a crossroads in our future is at stake. Let’s get on with it and get rid of this dirty business.
3
Trump is a clear and present danger to all of humanity.
4
And yet, the traitorous republicans and trump’s uneducated idolaters would rather be loyal to Putin’s Communist Russia than to the American Constitution and the freedoms it guarantees we, its citizens. Time to think about where we go from here. Intransigence and stupidity such as this is not going to change.
For the majority of us who are not happy living under the whims of a damaged man who considers himself a chosen monarch, held up by puppets, it’s time to get real about what we want for our future and for the planet.
3
The fact that Trump rolls over for $$$$$$ is not really a big surprise.
The fact that Americans actually applaud him while he looks away from the Saudi's murdering a reporter, or the Russians corrupting our elections is why those who love this country should shudder.
Being a sellout is now politically correct. We should all pray loud, long and often.
2
"Who gets to pick the next president of the United States — President Trump, Russia or us?"
Should be, "Trump, Russia, Electoral College, unlimited billionaires' dark campaign cash, or us?"
1
given democrats are self destructing at moment; they are on course to lose in 2020.
Russia - and other red states
2
Donald Trump is the classless face of the republican party whom have been rigging elections one way or another for 50 years+.
Sure he's fun to hate and a sure fire click bait, but the fact is he could not be anything if it were not for the groundwork laid over several decades and willing direct assistance rendered by the GOP.
The entire republican party is an accomplice in all of his crimes.
3
Since the Republican criminal president has shown us all that he will solicit illegal interference into our 2020 elections in multiple ways, we simply cannot have free and fair elections until he resigns. All good citizens must now demand the president's resignation.
2
Sorry, genius, but you have to have an actual CRIME to repudiate the American voters who chose Donald trump to be our President.
Nixon was accused of a felony - a law on thr books.
Clinton was accused of lying under oath and other felonies.
Trump hurt your feelings? Got anything else?
Sorry again, but presidents get to conduct foreign policy.
Twenty-odd people were in on that phone call and you got NOTHING from anyone actually involved?
That's gotta tell you something.
1
What national security issue? Lots of opinions no facts. Trump haters.
2
And Barr seems to think it is ok for foreign governments to meddle for his boss. Scary
1
No judgeship for you.
At least not until after 2020.
Maybe longer.
Russia will pick GOP senators and GOP president.
We Americans will have to work hard and together(which GOP doesn't want) to elect our own president (Dem or Republican or 3 rd party)
"Who gets to pick the next president of the United States — President Trump, Russia or us?"
Who is us, "rural America" or "Inner City America?"
Clear and Present Danger to the 2020 Election????
Yeah, because he might win.
So who is really in danger?
Democrats
1
Laughable article. Putin, of course. There is no one and nothing to stop him. Certainly not the US Congress.
1
If the Senate, AG Barr, and other Republicans in power have their way, the election will indeed be stolen by a wide range of tricks.
Among other things, Republican donors are the top executives of the companies that make voting machines. Millions of paperless machines have been sold to red states.
The Senate refuses to finance election security.
My dad sent me this from AAAS: https://www.aaas.org/membership/member-spotlight/aaas-epi-center-tackles-science-voting-security
"Paperless electronic voting machines might sound like modern technology, but scientists overwhelmingly agree that “direct recording electronic” (DRE) voting machines are insecure and should not be used. They are vulnerable to glitches and coding errors, in addition to malicious hacking. With no paper record, there is no way to independently verify if a voter’s choices were accurately recorded and counted.
“The short version is: computer experts tell you to use paper,”"
And then there's that 11 year old who hacked a voting machine in less than 10 minutes!
And that doesn't include removing accessible polling places in poorer districts, intimidation, short voting hours, and a wide range of tactics spread by the Kochtopus and other Republican cheating boosters.
Russia is only part of it. Manipulating and hacking, creating chaos ...
cartoon of the day: "Trump: Counting every vote is cheating"
https://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRange/archives/2018/11/13/claytoon-of-the-day-counting-isnt-cheating
1
Please forgive my typo.
I meant "a newly-invented word."
Painful, day after day. I'm not sure the nation could survive another term of this mess. There's a reason we are divided, a reason he hires people like Miller and is friends with McConnell, a reason why we are about to impeach him. He's a white supremacist sympathizer and willing to cheat the nation.
I thought we were better than this - even at our previous worst moments - we were better than this.
1
Why would Comrade Putin prefer Trump over other experienced public servants, for his grasp of policy issues, knowledge of history and governance, his statesmanship, deal making prowess, taste in skin tint and hair care, or because he owns him?
2
"Russia, if you're listening...."
The Blue Wave of 2018 and the recent elections in Kentucky, Louisiana, and Virginia show that massive turnout can overcome even the most corrupt attempts to subvert democracy.
The Republican Party, of course, doesn't care about democracy or rule of law, or any kind of commonsense ethics, and it must be voted out of existence. They are perfectly happy to see a government by the people perish from the earth and be flushed down a gold-plated toilet. We are at a serious crisis point and we need to fight against this menace with everything we've got.
So. Please be sure you are registered to vote. And if you know someone who is not, please help get that person to the polls in November of 2020. You can register to vote online in 33 states and can register by regular mail using a downloadable form in 14 other states. You, or someone you know, can use this link to get registered: https://vote.gov
1
Putin, with Republican assistance and connivance.
1
What baffles me is that the very people that were Soviet/Russia hawks some 30-40 years ago are now either useful idiots of Putin, his oligarchs and the Russian security services or openly support them. They have no interest in calling what Russia/Putin did to us in 2016 an attack and act of war. They have no interest in securing out elections. A process at the very heart of our nation. They believe what Putin has to say over our own intelligence agencies. What the heck happened?
It is time for patriotic Republicans to stand up and end this criminal behaviour for the sake of our country.
2
Is it possible that the very suspect brain sitting atop Trump’s corpulence even comprehends the Constitutional issues he’s teasing out? I think it entirely possible that he hasn’t a clue...
I wish those who blame the people for not voting ought to reconsider. Our entire process has always always been to NOT count as many votes as possible. We saw how bad our system is here during the stupid Gore v. Bush election ... another appointed president was the result and two wars.
It's our duopoly that created the perfect opportunity for a Trump president and legalized bribery.
The Times asks, "Who Will Pick the Next President?"
I'm guessing either : Lindsey Graham or Jim Jordan.
Don't we all know this already. I would think a few fresh ideas were more important for the readers of the Times than old platitudes.
Vladimir Putin is winning, and winning.
2
Such nonsense. 5 or 10 illegal aliens are in the US and the left worried about Russian bloggers. Meanwhile, the left argues strenuously against voter IDs because they care about the integrity of our elections. Right—you have to have a library card to borrow a book but a voter ID is way too burdensome. Right.
2
Decent Americans don't vote for Russian-Republicans peddling Kremlin propaganda.
Time for the Grand Old Phonies to remove those fake little American flags from their suit lapels and replace them the Russian flag.
Question to residents of Republistan:
What's it like to be a citizen of the latest Soviet satellite republic ?
5
none of the above....its the electoral college that picks presidents..not us .unfortunatly..it should be one person ,one vote...period...but its not .... the popular vote has no meaning .... sometimes i feel like what is the point of voting...like in this last election see where it got us !!!!..
2
rather: "Trump, Russia or We?"--or did you mean "USA"?
Amen, We should also include rape which means jail.
No, Anne. You get to choose, just like you always have. If you think the American people are too dumb or deplorable to make the "proper" choice due to either Russian or Trump campaign brainwashing, then that's you're problem. As the employment data showed today, the economy is booming. Fear not, the American people know what matters.
3
We are dealing with a psychopath whose religion is to never lose. I figure he's got his boys on the job out there. Who knows what he is doing or will do to grow the dictatorship in service to Putin further? All that matters is winning. In this case the prize is a reservation for his entire political party in the dustbin of history.
1
No—but me and my uneducated, low earning, knuckle dragging deplorables will choose the next President! Guess who?
1
Looks like the GOP supports the Putin/Trump ticket.
1
'We the American people' will if we just simply, peacefully, and revolutionarily:
DUMP
EMPEROR
TRUMP
Simply calling-out this Disguised Global Crony Capitalist EMPIRE, for what it really is ‘an EMPIRE’.
When a massive number of protesters fire a loud, public, sustained, ‘in the streets’, but totally non-violent “SHOUT (not shot) heard round the world” as Americans did in our first 1776 American “Revolution Against EMPIRE” [Justin du Rivage’s 2014 deeply researched, and definitive book of the same Title] no country in the world can stand-up against their ‘own people’ standing in the streets and calling that country out as an EMPIRE!
When the people of any country call it out peacefully as being an EMPIRE — a people’s peaceful “Political/economic & social Revolution Against EMPIRE” will certainly cause a change from EMPIRE to a functioning ‘democracy’ quickly and with certainty!!
As I wrote to the “Times” recently about Bernie’s focus and goal to fire a loud, public, sustained, ‘in the streets’, but totally non-violent “SHOUT (not shot) heard round the world” to ignite an essential 2nd American people’s peaceful “Political/economic & social Revolution Against Empire”:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/04/opinion/trump-voters-chaos.html#commentsContainer&permid=102341200:102341200
1
I don't know about the rest of you, but I sure hope that the Russians trick me into voting for Trump again in 2020.
The conservative court appointments alone are worth the price; the rollback of progressive leftist overreach is just a bonus.
3
Hydra has infected Shield. C'mon, Captain America, where are you?
Show us the tax returns.
We promise not to laugh.
...heeehehehe...
No! Stop it! I said no laughing!
OK......
2
And democrats all wear halos, LOL.
2
The GOP Congress can belittle and denigrate this process, until Hell freezes over, but Trump left the House with no other alternative. We the People, can no longer turn a blind eye to a person who time and time again, has refused to comply with the laws of this Nation. If Trump were innocent of the crimes charged, then he would have freely turned over requested documents, and would not have put up roadblocks, preventing close associates from testifying before the Intel Committee. Now it is time for the Piper to face the music where the world will see this scoundrel for all that he is.
1
As usual, another leftist howling rant about the end of the democracy. Are we not all weary from all these 'prophets' predicting the end of the world from every street corner of the NYT streets?
2
No Republican wants a fair election. They know that if they don't suppress the vote, employ the help of Russia, gerrymander their states, and make voting difficult for minorities using broken down unsecured voting machines they will be toast. They've left the democracy game along time ago and that's why no Republican is going to vote to impeach President Trump. They know that what he did is a crime but they also know that only by doing those things can they hang on to power. Hanging on to power by any means necessary is their goal. Constitution and law be damned. So from Nunes to McConnell to the entire White House cabinet they're all in on it.
2
Donald J. Trump of the Republican , per NY Times report , is working secretly for the Russians. What a traitor! What a shame on this Republican con man, fraudster, a cheat , liar, mass murderer.
I guess Pogo was wrong. We have met the enemy and it ain't us.
2
When will people stop blaming Russia, China or the Man on the Moon for the Trumps election? The fact is the Democrats put forth an unacceptable candidate the conservative moderates (like myself) and those farther Right couldnt live with. And its going to happen again in 2020 unless you get that through your head. Mayor Pete doesnt have enough experience & Elizabeth Warner/ Bernie dont appeal to us. They want to win at all costs, with those costs covered by people who think Big Govt is wasteful and corrupt. I am appalled by Trump & scared of the environmental damage roll backs will bring. But all Politics is Local and my Wallet is as Local as it gets. Stop the drama & noise and find a way to work with the Right to Solve Problems, not just win an election.
4
As this article spells out Trump's actions in seeking foreign help to win the 2020 election are a conspiracy with many actors and parts. Republicans would claim something to the effect that Trump's phone call to President Zelensky was just an unplanned aboration, that Trump had nothing better to do so just happened to dial him up for a 'friendly' favor, but that phone call was well planned by his conspirators such as Rudy Giuliani to have its extortionate effect. According to Trump apologists a long string of events like holding up much needed military aide to Ukraine had no coordination and just happened something like a monkey just happening typing out 'Hamlet' at a computer by accident.
Why does Trump fight so hard to continue as president? Could it be that he thinks he can avoid jail, a fate so many of his cronies have suffered and that will soon befall Rudy Giuliani? If Trump's friends at SCOTUS do not interfer we sill soon see Trump's tax returns and financial records and his corruption and ties to Putin will be clear except to those of his supporters in complete denial.
"It is the last goal, and the importance of preventing future wrongdoing, that resonates so clearly in the work of the Intelligence Committee."
No, it's for all three combined and that's what's so condemning of trump. He's blatantly broken the law, he is causing harm to thousands of people through his policies on immigration, the poor, the people of Puerto Rico, and the sick, not to mention the environment, and he does so in a way that guarantees more of the same as the staunch position of the senate demonstrates claiming to find nothing wrong.
It's not just trump who must be stopped but anyone who finds nothing wrong must be confronted what wrong is and that it will be stamped out diligently, speedily, and decisively.
The more evidence uncovered of Trump's criminal behavior just reinforces the GOP love for him: to small, frightened people it proves that he is strong because only a strong man can get away with overt crime (with their help, of course). The only thing they care about is APPEARANCE OF STRENGTH (unless the economy collapses - but they'd blame immigrants & Democrats and certain minorities for that, not their leader [btw, what is the teutonic word for 'leader'?] ).
Trump rightly believes that impeachment will have no impact on his 2020 election prospects.
Without the president's removal from office, impeachment is much ado about nothing, a mere slap on the wrist. Impeachment is effective only when the office holder can be shamed. Mr. Trump's hyper narcissism has no shaming receptors. When asked if he is worried that impeachment will have a negative impact on his 2020 re-election, Mr. Trump stated without any hesitation or emotion, "No, not at all. It's a hoax." Given America's short attention span, he's most likely correct.
Those who voted for Trump in 2016 got what they expected, and will vote for him again. Debasing the highest office in the land, and becoming America’s Berlusconi, won’t hurt him, and impeachment, followed by “exoneration” in the Senate, will be seen by his re-energized base as a failed attempt by overeducated, elitist coastal liberals, and angry, liberal media outlets, to even the score after 2016.
Whoever the Democrats choose, that person will be seen as just another Hillary to Trump’s base, and Trump will get an even larger voting turnout in the states whose electoral votes he needs. He doesn’t even need Russian interference to win, thanks in large part to the economy Obama handed him. The 2020 presidential election is Fox News’s to lose, and they are doing everything they can to protect their franchise quarterback.
Sanders and Warren don’t have a prayer in the battleground states: they are rightly seen as small-state, eastern liberals. Biden cannot seem to dust away the mental cobwebs. The only candidate with the mental wherewithal, money, leadership bona fides, and brass-knuckles mentality to win in the Rust Belt and in the battleground states outside is Bloomberg.
2
Some of the comments herewith are sadly defeatist in tone.
That is no way to win next year. Do something! Whatever you can! Get off the couch and volunteer. Contribute to and work for a candidate you know and trust. Help register new voters. Put a bumper sticker on the car, a sign on the front porch, in your yard or apartment window. Drive folks to the polls and get them back home safe.
It is our country too; we need to protect the space we occupy.
2
As I get closer to finishing Andrew Marantz's book, "Anti-Social" I am more convinced that, while Russia 100% interfered in our election it wasn't why DJT won. Pizzagate, the exaggerated focus on HRC being sick, and the rise of what nationalists were us, not Russia. We allowed trolls like Mike Cernovich and his online army of minions to infect the election with fake news combined with a disastrously run campaign by HRC that completely ignored the social media game she needed to win. If we go down this road again Trump will win by a further electoral college margin then ever imaginable.
All these posts seem concerned about Trump and Russia and not one mentions Trump&co’s refusal to recognize that nature is in a battle to survive. The Blue Planet is dying.
Why are people so outraged by Trump like he's different from any other U.S. President? With the exception of maybe Teddy, FDR and Lincoln, every US president in history was a vassal of monopoly capital, white supremacy, and patriarchy.
Trump has yet to accomplish anything that rivals Obama's destruction of Libya & Syria and while it is one of the smaller misdeeds on his record, Obama once stopped-and-frisked the presidential airplane of Bolivia's first indigenous president, Evo Morales, in an attempt to find Edward Snowden. Nobody said anything. Can you imagine that happening if Trump did it?
Trump is an iconic representation of a culture gone mad from decades of being saturated in manufactured myths about the nation, surrendering to the unrestricted easy access of unhealthy addictions, guided by their fetishism for commodities and celebrities, and suffering from a multitude of pathological status anxieties. A culture of narcissism to this degree eventually produces a deterministic result, and that’s what we have in Trump, a self-fulfilling prophecy.
1
Trump's motives are clearly aligned with Putin's - for some reason. Why would he so favor all things Putin desperately wants for Russia's economy, expansion, decimation of NATO alliance ?
This will be hard to prove unless Putin himself, in a grand act of sabotage, blows the whistle...leaks some taped conversations ?
Otherwise we have only a trail of positions, policies and maneuvers by Trump that links his personal political needs for election/reelection (and thereby enlists GOP right wing zealots like Pompeo, McConnell, Pence and Barr) to Russia. Trump needs Russia and the GOP needs Trump.
Strange bed fellows.
1
The answer to to the sub-title that asks who will pick our next president is simple ... it is US. 63,000,000 million of us overlooked the sleazy business history of Trump, ignored the misogyny, screamed with delight when he showed himself to be a bully, and if we don’t actually believe all 14,000+ lies in the open, we have, thus far allowed him his power. We report on him as though he has policies and is invested in the governing of our nation. His crimes have not been done in the dark of night or shadowy backrooms. He has pierced or sense of reason and morality daily. And yet nothing has been done for over three years to put brakes on his rampage.
Just as abuse victims may be innocently complicit in the harm their abuser inflicts when the don’t leave the relationship, we have put this miscreant into power, and cut off respective heads of all our national agencies. I am not sure that the rags of patriotism are strong enough to hold the Republic together.
As much as I applauded the impeachment of Nixon, and had a moment of optimism when the process started here, I hold little hope that we as a nation care enough about our country to save our democracy. Trump will escape, just as he has his whole life, any real punishment and probably get re-elected. And WE are ultimately the ones who didn’t treasure our democracy enough to invest ourselves in its safety. Foreign nations can’t influence someone who cares!
1
Those sound like great opening arguments for the trial in the Senate.
I am truly convinced that, if given the opportunity, Republican voters would willfully choose to beg the President of Russia to select the next President of the United States of America. They would also willfully choose to elect this person, Donald Trump, to a new position of Supreme Leader - a lifetime honor, much like our corrupt Supreme Court.
The bottom line is that the Greed Over People cronies think it is ok to cheat in an election by getting a foreign power to help and that is ok because as long as they win and their superior ideas win--well, cheating was worth it. Winning is everything.(Think of all the unborn babies they are saving.....)
Because the Republicans, even though they are in the minority seem to think they know better, and have superior ideas and the rest of us--the majority, must follow.
The ridiculousness and anti democratic nature of this can not be overstated.
1
I hate to be so negative but trump will be re-elected. He is merely a symptom, Albert a dangerous one, in the life of a decaying democratic republic. I have lost faith in my country to do the right thing.
What are you talking about. He'll beat any and all of the democratic challengers.
2
Rather than reiterate what others are saying, let’s me ask a question.
If trump wins, what is your escape plan?
1
If things go on as they have been the chances are that the Russians will pick the next president of the USA and the prime minister of the UK as well. Johnson is also an admirer of Putin!
If the Democratic Party voters don't get their keisters off their sofas and vote against Trump, Trump will win re-election next November unless he is impeached and removed from office before then. He's such a clear and present danger to democracy that he will be swept out like an old broom in 2020.
Remarkable, yet still we sleep on the sidelines. Shame on us.
Trump was the candidate of the Russian Federation, and was himself a Russian creation: "Donald Trump, the Successful Businessman" was as good a piece of Russian disinformation as any. He is a loser who has long been cultivated by the Russian fascist oligarchy. His thorough dependence on Russian capital will presumably be reflected in the tax returns and financial records which he has gone to great lengths to conceal. Next stop will be cancellation or deletion of the 2020 election over some manufactured crisis or emergency pretext. We will then find ourselves in a dictatorship on the Russian (or German circa 1933) model. Make no mistake: despite the newfound affection of the Republicans, Putin's objective is the destruction of the USA and he is well along the way toward achieving that goal.
Impeachment will not deter Trump from seeking and accepting help from Russia or anywhere else.
He will be acquitted in the Senate, will crow about his "complete and total exoneration" and continue on his merry way to November.
Black and young voters must come out-- in large numbers -- and VOTE. No one else can save us.
Trump does what Putin wants. Putin helps Trump get elected.
But it's not just foreign interference.
Republicans love all this cheating. Staying in office by any means possible allows them and their wealthy and powerful friends to stay wealthy and powerful.
They add intimidation, hacking, false accusations, and every kind of clever removal or disqualification of those who should be able to vote. They remove polling places from poor districts.
The criminalization of poverty grows and grows, and preventing voting is part of the problem. For example, crosscheck works against people not making living wages because they have to move often. Transport and being able to take time off is an ever increasing liability.
Cheating, cheating, cheating. And they love it!
Of course, Trump once out of office is likely to face a variety of criminal prosecutions, so he has extra incentives to keep the power he abuses more each day.
Barr should also be disbarred for his corrupt support of this lawless egomaniac and his mobster tactics.
2
This is a pivotal moment in our history. Under the current 'administration' , if you can even call it that, our country is spiralling out of control, except for those who are benefiting from the 'Trumpet's incompetence and inclinations to favor the rich, a crowd he thinks he belongs to which he does not. He owes even his underwear to the Russians. The sad reality is that people are entrenched along party lines, especially those that consider defending our Constitution against the most corrupt president a coup d'etat. That is a disgrace.
I am praying that there are more objective people with a conscience than those lost and bitter souls that support a man that claims to represent them when he does not. He only cares about himself and his survival, for removal from office means convictions and jail time for the rest of his life.
If this guy is re-elected, because I expect the Senate to absolve him, darker times are ahead of us.
Professor Milgram is absolutely correct in her assessment. After the House votes on impeachment and the Senate begins its trial, if any Senator votes not to remove this corrupt and treasonous president from office, then they must be called out for being a TRAITOR. To not remove Trump is to choose loyalty to party over our country.
Senators: Are you a Republican or Democrat first or an American first? Will you be a Traitor or a Defender of the Constitution? History will forever show how you voted.
1
Why would Russia favor Trump? Because he:
– gave Russian tank destroying and Russian tank crew killing missiles to Ukraine, unlike Obama.
– made the US energy independent, thus independent of Russian energy.
– urges Europeans to get natural gas from the US rather than from Russia.
– strengthened the US military.
– strengthened the Obama sanctions on Russia, bringing the US–Russia relations to a new low.
– managed to keep Russia from interfering in the 2018 elections by active cyber countermeasures, unlike Obama in 2016.
– managed to make Europeans pay more for NATO, which is in much better financial shape now.
– keeps the US prosperous, thus strong and assertive.
3
I almost feel sorry for donald. He is so ignorant, so unwilling to be informed, so unable to recognize WHY his actions invite impeachment, so accustomed to making "deals", so inexperienced at working for and with others, so dependent upon "fixers". How could he possibly know right from wrong? However, I do not want this kind of person in charge of democracy, which demands the best from any leader - the best information, the best understanding, the best at listening to others, the best ethics and the best intentions.
1
Here in Canada we thank King George for modeling our democracy after Britain the greatest democracy of its time, the slave owners revolt,was followed by hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing the US colonies to Canada, including African Americans together with our First Nations who helped defeat the President Madison ordered invasion of Canada in the war of 1812, we may have a two faced Prime Minister but Boris Johnson, President Macron and Princess Anne were laughing more for the ABC camera. The US has become a failed state because it does not have a popular vote for its chief executive and its Senate is elected with a majority with is little as 18% of the national vote. 2 senators for each of California and New York your failed state is on a par with Iran!
1
Yes, actions by Ukrainian officials to aid a political party and a particular candidate are abhorrent. However the most troubling behavior is the bribe to solicit such help. If Trump bribed a US person or organization to do oppo research on Joe Biden, it would be an impeachable offense.
And what's Rudy Guiliani up to in Ukraine as we speak? Let's start connecting the dots... Manafort...Ukraine...oligarchs...Trump...Guiliani...Russia, Putin...disruption of NATO...withdrawal from Syria. Appears to me Trump is a envious of all of these thugs that are making the news each day.
Trump vitriol seems exaggerated to me. I'm a student of history and whatever atrocity he is accused of, I know far worse has happened before. And every individual grievance -- corruption, racism, dishonesty, ignorance, and more -- I can cite someone who has done it worse. His outrages are less outrageous than things that have come before.
There are two possibilities. either the invective is a matter of quantity or the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
I doubt that it's quantity. Those whose vitriol is loudest aren't adding up. They're spooked by a man they think is different in quality. So there is a singular or multiple underlying qualities that move them.
I think of Trump as a person who continually does bad things but has never done that one bad thing that changes everything. Destroying tapes for Nixon. Rape by Bill Cosby. John Edwards' cover up of his affair.
More important than my study of history are my life experiences. I grew up blue collar, know bigotry well and lived in the Bible Belt with all that entails. I taught in a community where blacks and whites were deeply divided. I lived in Germany and talked to folks who lived through the war. I've known Soviet dissidents and shah sympathizers who fled. And my career was studying, investigating and prosecuting white-collar criminals.
Whatever intangibles horrify others do not horrify me. And I think that those who are horrified have not read history and have lived sheltered lives.
12
Vote all of them out.
All of them.
The people must exercise their franchise.
Then go after the lobbyists.
Lobbyists are the deep state.
1
@Rich Pein
Lobbyists are the tool of "a deep state." The influence of Oligarchs is what drives them, not always, but in the most destructive cases.
We've got our own oligarchs and plutocrats to deal with to protect our nation and the worst thing about Trump is that he compacts with all sorts of foreign and international oligarchs too.
I am a teacher. Teaching is hard. It’s difficult to convey a clear message, that is memorable, to people who process information in various ways. I get the impression that the Democratic leadership sees the electorate as quick, earnest learners. That’s not the situation: Americans are all distracted and overworked these days. When it comes to civics we’re very poor students.
It’s the perfect climate for a miasma of disinformation to settle in. Be vigilant. Be patient. Expect that we need everything explained clearly at least fifteen times.
Pop quizzes are a great idea. Ask us to reason things through: does it still count as a win if you cheated?
1
"Here I am, baby.
Signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours."
I remember hearing those words sung with a smile on the evening of November 8, 2012. Seems like a century ago. Will we ever hear them again for the same reason? Can we?
2
Well, in the last election it was the Electoral College over the will of the people. When, oh when, will we rid ourselves of this undemocratic anachronism?
5
Trump merely asked a question I think all voters have a right to know: did Joe Biden use his influence overseas to secure a sinecure for his son? The current fashion is to bash Trump for the question when, in fact, it is a good question and one I believe all voters who care about the truth should want to know.
4
@SinNombre Why not ask the same question of Trump’s children, who are feeding at the White House trough? Ivanka has an office in the White House. What are her qualifications?
1
@SinNombre
The question has been asked and answered many times. Any theory about Joe Biden using influence to get his son a sinecure in Ukraine has been thoroughly debunked. As Fiona Hill testified, and as senators were told in a private briefing by the American intelligence agencies the same week, by repeating that story you’re repeating Russian propaganda. It’s un-American. If you’re in Texas, shame on you; you should stop. If you’re in Moscow full speed ahead.
1
President Trump is, sadly, Russia.
Will our new president in 2020 represent America - us - or will he continue to represent Russia - Donald Trump?
Republican are, willingly or unwillingly, complicit with Russia in the election of Donald Trump. Is it even possible to disentaqngle the interests of the Republican Party and its members from those of Vladimir Putin? Every Republican should ask himself/herself who really controls the Republican Party, where Maria Butina found such a compatible home. The NRA has been completely controlled by Russia for years, and even now that this is common information, nothing has changed.
6
It is evident from Giuliani's continued travels for the President while being investigated that nothing will stop Trump from cheating to win the next election. Unfortunately it also appears that nothing will make Republicans put country before party. We must all be prepared to vote against Trump and for our constitution if we want our Democracy to survive. Of all the people running any would be better than a person unable to look outside his own needs
6
Trump has also corrupted the Department of Justice. Barr's name is all over the Ukraine matter, starting with trying to bury the whistleblower complaint. And if Trump manages by hook and crook with a little help from his friends to win the 2020 election, he will be further emboldened to inflict damage to America's democratic institutions, national security and world standing. Those in the Senate GOP who are not complicit in Trump's actions should at this point recognize that Trump is a national security risk. Who in his right mind would give Trump a security clearance if he were not the president?
6
@Ken the Republicans prefer power over everything including the Constitution, except of course, the second amendment
1
The craven behaviors and cruel policies of Republicans were hidden by slick spin, but now with Trump they are brazenly overt resulting in smart people believing that it is "better with Russia than Democrats". Historians will struggle to explain how this happened to the USA.
6
Ms. Milgram...We can readily identify Putin’s Russia as an enemy which will interfere in our elections and take necessary precautions. What is far more problematic and worrisome to me is the behavior of those within our own country who would undo the 2016 election of Donald Trump. The opposition to his election made it very clear from the start that they were the resistance and would act accordingly. It began with the two year Mueller investigation and now an impeachment process in which Representative Schiff’s office acted as a handler for a whistleblower. It’s all very suspect. I’m fairly certain this will all come back to haunt the Democrats in 2020.
3
@Jones
I am mystified by the unwillingness or inability to connect the two. Trump welcomed Russian interference; Mueller couldn't prove deliberate collaboration, but the indifference or maybe eagerness to accept the "help" was demonstrated in the documents. For god's sake, as this column points out, Trump is open about it. This is not about undoing an election. The vast majority of Trump apologists know this very well, but it serves as a convenient foil.
6
@Jones read the Mueller report. He laid out multiple points where Justice was obstructed. The laws apply to everyone.
3
You forgot to include in this comment your rebuttal of the facts contained in the article.
Our country exists in two different universes. The facts presented in this article, while undeniable, do not exist in the other, so called GOP universe. I say 'so-called' because there was a time, not long ago, that the GOP was mistrustful of Russia. No longer, the GOP is happy to do the work of Putin, advancing Russian propaganda that is destroying our country. History will definitely look back on this time, the question is, does it predict where we are going, or the path we not taken.
9
Well, he's raised billions of dollars and used his term in office to host "rallies" to strengthen his base. He's used his powers of office to discredit and disparage his political opponents. He's encouraged foreign governments to interfere in our democratic process and one half of our congress (one of the two institutions meant to check and balance the executive branch) have aided and abetted his high crimes, and abandoned their duty to the constitution and the Republic they were sworn to serve.
It doesn't look good, does it?
11
Well, one person's "solicitation of foreign interference in our election" is another person's investigation into corruption and possible criminal behavior by a former vice president. Ukraine has a treaty obligation to help with the latter, which they have chosen to ignore.The president would have been right to withhold aid in this circumstance.
Furthermore, while there is indisputable evidence that the Russians tried to interfere in the 2016 election, there is no evidence that they changed so much as a single vote. So let's dispense with the canard that the Russian somehow changed the outcome of the election. Donald Trump won the last election because he simply ran a better campaign than Hilary Clinton, and was a better candidate. He didn't force anyone to vote for him, nor will he do so in the next election. Americans elected Donald Trump in 2016 and in 2020, Americans can elect someone else. Let's stop blaming the Russians, or Donald Trump, or anyone else, for 2016, let's stop trying to undo the election with impeachment, and focus on winning the next election the old fashioned way, with good candidates, running strong campaigns, with popular stances on important issues.
5
It's interesting how this comment ignores any of the larger issues that are relevant to this discussion. The Ukraine has no obligation to undertake investigations of corruption of US citizens at the request of shadow channels. If these investigations were legitimate they would have been handled by the DOJ. The claim that Biden interfered with the investigation of internal Ukraine corruption to help his son is disingenuous and not supported by the facts. Ukraine was clearly worried about a campaign that added Manafort to the team, his association with Russian elements is well documented. But, that's not equivalent to Russian interference with the 2016 election. Which gets us to the real game that we are witnessing. And that is Putin's hand in all of this drama. Have we forgotten about Russian aggression in the Crimea and the various sanctions that effected the Russian hydrocarbon industry. That industry is at the center of Russian viability and power. Connect some dots, this impeachment is not about some two bit coercion, we have a serious adversary at the heart of all of this. In response we have a narcissist and a GOP that has lost all sense of history in a blind persuit of power. That said it it is the American people who are finally getting their chance to vent their bigotry and can find comfort in the warm embrace of the mob cult. You may not agree with my summary, that's fine, but don't pass off silly, simple arguments in place of analysis. This is the NY Times not Fox.
1
@chip Well said. On Nov 9th, 2016 I read the comments of Trumps election in this paper. The anger and horror over a "stolen election" from a candidate who "deserved to win" were followed up by calls for immediate entrenchment of the Democratic Party to Resist and Obstruct the new President. This disgusting behavior, ignoring the real problems in America solely to prevent Trump from actually achieving any goals, has been on display ever since. This country needs a full "reboot" to factory settings with dialogue, not insults and a focus on working together to solve problems allowed to fester these past 3 years.
1
@chip this is not undoing the election because Pence would be president if 45 was convicted
Yes Trump is the clear and present danger but only because the Republican Party allows him to be. What I find most shocking about the current state of affairs are GOP senators like Graham and Kennedy spouting Russian disinformation straight from the Kremlin handbook on how to undermine Western democracy. Another clear and present danger is the Electoral College. When five or six states can cancel out the majority vote and determine the outcome of an election, it makes a sham of our so-called "democracy."
17
Another article that talks about impeachment as if it is a punishment, it is only an indictment and, of course, the Republicans in the Senate will never let their president come to trial. Accordingly, since the president cannot be removed from office (the punishment), the impeachment is not a prevention of future such behavior by the president, it (the impeachment) is but a curiosity. The only question is: "how will all the publicity provided by the impeachment process sway the vote ?"
1
If Trump doesn't get re-elected; How many of his supporters will spy for Russia? Or are they doing it now? Seeing and hearing how his supporters defend him what else am i to think?
2
There is a major election coming up next year. If it is held, and a substantial portion of the population does not believe it was a proper election, we will then have all the ingredients necessary for a civil war.
The last time we had a civil war it took the nation a hundred years to recover from it. In some ways we have not yet recovered, and some places where the war passed through have never fully recovered.
Do we wish to repeat this experience? Speak for your self, but as for me, I would much rather have a fair and believable election.
2
Our elections are already in doubt. And the question about who gets to pick the next president does not involve Ukraine. It needs to be shouted from the rooftops that there are pro-Russian forces in Ukraine who do the bidding of the Kremlin. These are the forces that Trump, Giuliani, Nunes, Barr, Pompeo, Mulvaney, Pence, Jordan and others in the radical right are employing as a means to an end. The wholesale effort by the Russians to poison our information streams with paralysis by sowing confusion, stoking fears, and eroding trust in Western and democratic institutions, is really what's being investigated and judged. The radicals using the Russian scheme are in plain sight and all need to be removed from holding the levers of our power.
8
Republicans not only don’t care, Trump’s scheme has offered them a new inventive way to win elections. In the past they relied on Gerrymandering, voter intimidation, voter I.d. laws, de-registration of voters, limiting pre-voting, and limiting polling stations. Now, thanks to Trump’s entrepreneurial inventiveness, they can add foreign intervention to their toolbox. When demographics are against you, it’s important to be inventive.
10
"If Congress fails to hold the president accountable for the Ukraine scheme, there will be no way to prevent the future harm of a corrupted election."
The difficulty is that given the many many complaints against Trump, the Democrats have chosen one the weakest. Joe Biden is not the nominee of the Democrats. Ukraine is not crucial to our security any more than Vietnam was. The people who voted for Trump did not vote so because Putin told them. They voted for Trump because they are fed up with the Democrats. The case is thin.
I really do not want Trump to be re-elected in 2020. But I am also fed up with the Democrats's partisanship and playing fast and loose with the facts.
There was an anti-Trump march in Jan 21, 2017, three years before that phone call to Zelensky. Democrats have been itching to get rid of Trump for three years. Only Democrats believe that Zelensky is any more than a convenient excuse.
There ARE BIG things to complain about in Trump. His pulling out of the Paris accord on climate is such a big thing. His approval of torture is another. So is his pulling American troops out of northern Syria. The Zelensky phone call is something small. Too bad the Democrats have focused on IT..
2
The 2016 election spotlighted the numerous ways our vote can be hijacked, many of which readers have shared. Yes, it is a system that is dangerously flawed and must be fixed. This is possible because;
We the People are governed by a Representative and Constitutional Democracy and;
"Sometimes we elect good leaders and sometimes not so good ones. That is our right. It is a right that more than one million service members have fought and died for since the birth of our nation."
Not casting our vote 2020, throwing up our hands touting 'why bother' is saying ' I surrender.'
Not voting is a silent vote surrendering and silently choosing to remain to be governed by a system that models a Monarchy with no constitutional restraints. The very system thousands and thousands give their lives for that began in 1775; the American War of Independence.
It is imperative that on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 voter turnout is historical taking back the People's House, the People's Government. Let our history books mark a time to furture generations that the power of our vote saved our Constitutional Democracy Of, By and For All people. Now is not the time to stop fighting back. VOTE
12
@mary Remember too that a vote for a 3rd party candidate is a vote for Trump.
2
Not us. Not if you live in New York, California or any other large state.
The Electoral College is the one that selects the president of the United States.
And gerrymandering and voter restriction helps to insure that the Electoral College is successful.
Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida. Those are the states that pick the president, NOT US. Only a few states.
I don't need to vote (I foolishly do). My state will vote for the Democrat.
Likewise my sister who lives in Alabama doesn't need to vote. Foolishly she does. Her state will vote for the Republican.
4
Very dangerous times we find ourselves in. Now is not the time to throw our hands up in the air and give up. We must speak up for truth for that is the enemy of the present administration. Freedom of the press has never had more meaning or importance.
8
Hillary told us so...we didn't listen. And it seems 40% are still not paying attention.
7
"Donald Trump Is a Clear and Present Danger to the 2020 Election"
That's what they mean in sports by saying "he's a danger". In awe.
A danger to the opposing team, that is. Opposing team which is bound to lose.
3
I'm not as confident as you are that Trump will deliver a win for Putin against Americans, but I agree that it seems to be his intent.
4
@novoad Only an idiot would “be in awe” of a narcissistic vulgarian like trump.
1
Mr. Trump used the powers of the Office of President illegally to cause improper interference in next year's election, for his personal electoral benefit. We need to know about any and all other illegal means he has planned, attempted or used toward that end. We need a full such accounting also for the 2016 election. He didn't have access to the powers of the office yet but, given present facts, it's likely that he would have availed himself of illegal means that WERE within his reach then. And should such actions be uncovered, two things should follow: First, punishment, as outlined in Ms. Milgram's fourth paragraph, and appropriate for his status then as a private citizen. Second, the institution of some mechanism by which this country, when it learns its election has been corrupted illegally and/or from outside, can do more than just shrug and say, "that's regrettable and we'll try to do better next time." If the true result of the 2016 election was stolen from us, it should have been restored to us.
8
Elsewhere in the NYT columns, we are learning that Mr. Rudy Giuliani is visiting places in Europe. He claims, he is on a mission to gather information.
This is all so very unprecedented. While it is unclear, what exactly is Mr. Giuliani's role, one question is who is it that pays for
Mr. Giuliani's travel and expenses. In all probability, it is US tax payer funds. It is also unclear, what information Mr. Giuliani is seeking.
17
The Electoral College and third party candidates who syphon off a small percent of the vote but have no realistic chance of winning make our elections more vulnerable to outside influence. It’s time we tighten up our procedures, dump the outdated Electoral College and remove the candidates who can’t poll a fair percent of the vote from the ballot. In the end it should be one President to represent all the people and then the winner will be forced to concentrate more on representing the people than their political party. This idea that we can continue to swear in candidates who lose the election because electors were on horseback when they dreamed up the Electoral College is unfair, looks bad and sets a bad example for the rest of the world striving for fairness in their elections. A free society, democracy and capitalism are hard enough, but ignoring what makes our elections an easy target for outsiders or big money to influence sets us up to fail.
12
It is important to remember this: the case against Trump is not a criminal case in the ordinary meaning of the term. It is impeachment for wrong doing in office. As such, the entire record of Trump's radical, disruptive, disrespectful and on the record statements must be considered to back-up the case in regard to Ukraine.
So, too, is the fact that he has acted with impunity to laws and decency his entire adult life as a business wheeler/dealer and full time self promoter. In a criminal case, these kinds of extraneous matters may not be considered ordinarily. Not so with impeachment. The articles themselves can and must be limited to the written instructions (though vague) contained in the Constitution, but everything else Trump has said and done is fair game.
I would love to be a prosecuting attorney arguing the case of The United States of America vs. Donald J. Trump. I could show, through his own words and actions, the many things Trump has said to convict himself in interviews and teevee statements. Slam dunk.
Pay little or no attention to the blubbering, foundering objections of the Republicans in the House nor, for that matter, Jonathan Turdley. They torture logic and themselves trying to help Trump escape...himself.
16
It seems I might have misspelled the name of the "legal scholar" who argued against the impeachment for the Republicans. No matter. He has contradicted himself with many public statements dating back to when Clinton was being impeached. Back then, he favored it even though the article charging that Clinton lied under oath had nothing to do with his official duties as president, a far different matter from the current situation which involves abuse of official powers.
15
The misspelled name of the “legal scholar” is well-suited to him.
1
Some say don't vote because our system is beyond redemption, but what choice do we have? Hunker down and do nothing counting our nonexistent savings? Perhaps throwing ourselves on Trump's storm troopers as the people of Hong Kong have done will make a point and may be our only option but that has not worked out too well for them. Perhaps we nee to try voting one more time. If we buy into the belief that things are rigged so why bother then all is lost.
7
You did more than misspell Professor Turley’s name. The impeachment process is not the unbounded mess you would endorse. It is not an opportunity for political retribution against an elected official whom you despise, nor a process to undo an election that you found profoundly disappointing. Trump’s call with Zelensky, at least as presented in the transcription published in the press, was basically benign. It certainly didn’t amount to an attempted bribe. The Dems hate Trump and have wanted to get him ever since he was elected. Even if, after the Democrat-controlled House impeaches him and the Senate fails to convict, he is re-elected, the damage to our political system will have been done and the damage will last and last.
Clinton was impeached and then not convicted for criminal conduct that resulted in his being disbarred for five years inhis home state of Arkansas by a Democrat judge he had appointed while he was Governor. Regardless of whether that impeachment was a politically wise maneuver, at least it was for actual crimes (perjury and obstruction of justice) and it had bi-partisan support. The current proceedings against Trump, whom I don’t particularly like and didn’t vote for, are a vendetta that puts an ugly stain on our government.
In the Canadian parliamentary system, my not voting in my riding's election for a member of Parliament has really no effect on who will be the leader of the country, given that I'm voting only for one representative, not for the for prime minister. I still vote. In your US presidential system, each vote cast for a presidential candidate counts and matters directly. Get out there and vote!
9
It amazes me that there are commenters here who are good with a president using their tax dollars to bribe a desperate foreign leader to push a false narrative to throw the election his way. It’s like they’re just a-ok with being lied to as long as it supports their guy? Truly cult-like behavior.
21
That picture says it all....all we get to see is either his back or his sneer, and always while he's trying to duck us.
9
Haven’t enough people stated they would support a Russian over a Democrat? It seems it’s not just outside meddling when they have brainwashed voters and republicans.
9
Q: What's the definition of "House Republican"?
A: Someone who risks blowing up a city block...
...if he can sell his house on it 2 days before.
5
Thanks for the fact-filled and thoughtful analysis. Love you on “Cafe Insider” too!
1
It is so true and so sad to be forced to ack on this situation. My GOP friend back the guy all the way money for the most part white for the next in line and don't forget gun's gays and male domination over women. Of course that subject is not talked about but it is there and we have Trump who set them free to be who or what they believe. If we don't kill our selves first we need to try and change the way the propaganda is dished out to save us from our selves.
2
“The President's Own” United States Marine Band !!!!!!!
Did anyone other than me realize this is outrageous!
At the National Christmas Tree lighting.
Freighting.
5
If there is any such thing as divine justice, China will pick the next president and it will be one the GOP absolutely hates. This is the path they are laying for our future...
5
This Russia phobia derangement has gone far enough. A few Facebook posts overcome billions of dollars in non-stop advertising and outreach and 24/7 media plugs? If that's true the candidates sure ar wasting a lot of money and effort. All they need is a big guy in a basement to seal the deal. /sarc
2
Who Will Pick the Next President? Trump, if he loses the election. Because results will be nullified and Marshall law will be declared. The senate and his cult will love it, because it will literally be "owning the libs."
4
@Ron A point of proper word usage: it's martial law. I share your worry about Trump's intentions.
1
@Ron
Well Ron , since you're from Canada, we know that you won't have a voice in electing the next President unless you as a foreigner meddle and interfere in our election. Now why don't you go back to worrying about the housing and homeless crisis in Vancouver?
So the guy never learns...Trump has Giuliani still trying to dig up dirt on Biden in Ukraine.
Once again, Giuliani is overseas begging Ukrainians to manufacture damaging information on Trump's political opponent, Joe Biden.
This must be Rudy's last ditch effort to stay relevant so Trump won't throw him under the bus before he is indicted by the Feds along with his close buddies Parnas and Furman.
Poor pathetic Rudy, he so needs for Trump to love him. He just could not handle being abandoned.
But then...as Rudy says, he does have "insurance".
9
The plutocracy of America where money constitutionally now legally talks and its resulting corruption of elections and more importantly, policy and law...is one thing. However.
The POTUS using [his] position and countless billion$ of dollars as even a hint at buying further advantage is flat out criminal.
While 'TED' is correct in many ways, not to the level. As if one could say every POTUS has suitcases of cash going into and out again of the WH, (Nixon) is business as usual.
OR for any POTUS sold missiles to Iran agreeing to actually hold are US foreign services longer as hostages for mere political show, (REAGAN) no big deal...everybody does it.
This if allowed to stand is a further giant constitutional step toward fascism, capitalist fascism.
4
Today I am convinced that:
• Trump is in total control of the Republicans (nationwide) through fear, money and racism.
• The impeachment process will energize both Republicans and Democrats- for a few a months-
• The Senate will acquit Trump of any wrongdoings.
• Democrats should keep with legal/court venue about the subpoenas - all the way
• A few cases will land on the SCOTUS - that will prove if Justice Roberts was sincere and serious about his “there are no Obama judges....”
• There is a very good chance that Trump will lose the elections if there is a great Democratic turnout- no matter who their candidate is.
• Putin will do whatever it takes to disrupt the elections.
• Be prepared for a “nasty” turmoil if Trump is defeated.
• You don’t longer have a truly functional democracy and I don’t know if I will ever see the recovery of your country
7
Every day. It is your country too!
Let's face it--the office of the President is nothing more than the roost of a useful stooge to the Republicans in Congress. They need a stooge to carry out their stated purpose of shifting wealth to the donors who keep them in office. Recall Grover Norquist said the president only needed working digits that allowed him to sign whatever was put in front of him.
If Trump is removed, the GOP will just find another useful stooge.
2
Yes, THIS is the critical question. Ms. Milgram's essay is important and on the point. For those who just shrug at Trump's antics and say, "he's just a distrupter", as if he were an endearing toddler--he is NOT. He is a threat.
"A republic, if you can keep it". Let's hope to high heaven that Americans awake from their stupor and become sensible to what is at stake. Everything is at stake, just as the founders anticipated. We must ensure the integrity of the election next year or there will be riots by the losing side, claiming foul.
And Putin will break out another bottle of the finest champaign and say, "yes, cracking the United States was way easier than it ought to have been." Then, beware the Baltic states, Ukraine, and Poland.
8
Trump isn't the problem--we, the American people, are.
Most of us have eyes and ears. Even those of who can't see, or can't hear, surely know, as do the rest of us, that Trump plays fast and loose with the law, equating "good" with what's good for him, just so long as he gets away with whatever he does to get it.
Many of us actually admire his selfishness, just as many of us admired Jesse James' selfishness.
Trump doesn't just think he's above the law, he firmly believe he's a law unto himself, he prides himself on it. For him, rules are there to be broken (but not by others).
"I alone can fix it." I imagine when he said that most of thought he meant "fix" as in "repair." That he meant "fix" as in "rig" didn't occur to me, and I'm pretty sure it didn't occur to you, either. Today it's clear he meant "fix" as in "rig," as in the phrase, "the fix is in."
Still, that's he's a "fixer"--and proud of it--doesn't mean we, the American people, aren't responsible, ultimately, for putting in the White House and keeping him there. How many of us think that this administration isn't corrupt?--Very few. Yet roughly half of us root for him, which means roughly half of usage OK with more corruption. Therein lies that problem. Our bad!
3
Trump wanted only an announcement of an investigation of the Bidens by the Ukrainian President. He has no desire for an actual investigation which, in the hands of non-corrupt Ukrainians (which, since the election of Zelensky, we now have) would only reveal the facts. Trump wants innuendo, not facts. He wants to cast a shadow on his rivals. Trump thrives on innuendo and eschews facts.
2
If the House impeaches him, as expected, and the Senate does not convict him, as expected, will it deter Trump and his henchmen from trying another scheme to rob the election?
I think he's going to try again, with another cockamamie scheme, maybe with Romania? Hungary? another starving Eastern European country that needs money and run by an autocrat? I would pick Hungary or maybe even Bulgaria.
1
Trump clearly has no limits in his efforts for a second term. This is his style, honed over years of crooked lawless dealings in business and now government. The Senate must understand this and should not want to be a part it. If this tawdry, meretricious band of corruption passes Trump through impeachment, we certainly will have serious concerns about the direction of our Nation.
4
There’s plenty of outrage in the paper, but precious little action elsewhere. If trump becomes a dictator, voting isn’t going to do a thing to stop him. There may come a time, soon, where the only effective means of saving or restoring democracy in this country is going to be some kind of direct action.
6
As I am reading these comments and messages, it seem we all blame the GOP for the corrupt practices of President T.
Let's put things in perspective, Democrats cannot wash their hand from this mess. They have enabled corrupt practices during Obama, Clinton and other presidents.
I am NOT a Trump supporter. I abhor his revolting behavior.
Trump took it to an entire different level, which is compromising our national security.
Maybe this will be a wake up call for those corrupt politicians.
STOP corrupt corporate practices.
STOP Lobbying.
STOP campaign funding!
STOP Teacher Union Meddling Into Education.
Put limits on CEO compensation for public companies.
Did we forget the collapse of financial market in 2008?
Did we forget the rewards that these failed executive ripped after they have put our nation at a verge of total collapse?
We all should be outraged, and not only with Trump.
We should be OUTRAGED with our corrupt politicians.
Just maybe, maybe, it's time for meaningful change..
We need public servants like the witnesses that stepped up with courage...We need more of those....Fiona Hill, Vidman, Holmes ...
5
Every decent Republican I know is completely sick of Trump. Hopefully, we'll see a huge number of cross-over voters next November. Unfortunately, the extremists in control of the Republican Party now will tell their senators to stand firm and not defect from Trump. But a huge number of Republicans are simply sick of this guy and all of his shameful behavior. They know what he is, there's no mistaking it any more or "hoping he'll be presidential." Enough is enough.
2
It is absolutely vital that if we are to rid ourselves of this nightmarish breaking down of our country to cynicism run amok, we just can't blame Trump for his many transgressions, we need to shine the spotlight on his congressional Republican enablers as well. For the collective of the Republican Party to seemingly be defending Trump's many egregious misuse of power for personal gain over country, they simply need to be run out of Washington along with that bum. Republicans are exercising a variant of hypocrisy that simply has never been attempted and leave little doubt that they are the most direct threat to the United States of America currently existing in the world.
2
If the Senate fails to convict, the illegal and unconstitutional Ukraine scheme will stand. Moreover, they will be free to do the same with other nations willing and otherwise. Don't believe a word the Republicans say. The Ukraine scheme has already accomplished many of its dishonest corrupt aims. For instance, Zelensky and the Bidens are now both in the proverbial box. And the puppet show continues. For example, this Trump fiasco has greatly weakened Ukraine vis-à-vis Russia and its proxy invasion. Finally, as noted here, this was a conspiracy. Both the longstanding criminal effort, and the subsequent coverup. All of the coconspirators should all be impeached, investigated, indicted. That list of wrongdoers implicates the individuals who are have sworn the oaths and are sitting in the offices of vice president, secretary of state, energy secretary, EU ambassador. How can the Republican Senate not convict, given all that we now know? How can they ever find the principles and the moral spine that it will take to vote to convict, when so many of their own, including even possibly Congressional Republicans, have been or will be implicated?
2
I have one question for the GOPs in Congress:
Had candidate or President Obama threatened to withhold aid to Israel unless they helped him defeat opponents McCain or Romney, would you have investigated and perhaps tried to remove him from office, or would you dismiss such efforts as a witch hunt?
Your answer reveals if you have principles, or lack them.
9
It is sad we are at this crossroad again one way we go with the devil’s word, the other way we will soldier on towards democracy. Is there really any question here
2
Those who want to defeat Trump must call him what he is over and over again. He is a liar. He has lied thousands of times. If Trump supporters can be persuaded to see him as one giant lie, they will be able to disregard what he says and vote him out.
2
I used to believe this. If only you could persuade his base that his behavior is repugnant. But then I figured it out. To the base Trump’s lies and criminal actions are not a bug. Instead they are a feature.
In Donald Trump we do not have a gentleman who enters a contest with a sense of being fair. From his business experience Trump has imported the notion that what really counts is winning, what really matters is the profits accrued , and not the sense that one had engaged in a fair contest where the best man won. It's like the prize fighter who puts lead in his gloves and then does not allow anyone to inspect his gloves. As in war, to Trump all is fair and one should not honor the rules and conventions that civilized contestants have always accepted as necessary for a just outcome. All Trump lusts for is victory. And he lacks the sense of honor and the sense of shame that propels most people into honesty . His pattern of corruption and deceit has become more and more apparent as his presidency continues . It should not be allowed to prosper or to continue.
5
Republicans are claiming the impeachment hearings are a sham and, most likely, make the same claim at an impeachment trial. Neither Mr. Trump nor Misters Pompeo, Pence, Bolton, Mulvaney provide any written nor oral testimony.
To deflate this claim, call your Republican and Democratic Senators, and strongly urge them to demand that those named above participate in this historic event.
2
The problem of course is we Americans live in two parallel political worlds. Approximately 50 per cent of us agree with the argument as outlined by Professor Milgram. 40 per cent however including the majority party in the Senate are not “buying” it. It’s also fair to say the odds makers right now are not looking favorably on conviction in the coming Senate trial of President Trump.
According to Elie Mystal writing in The Nation Oct 24, 20 GOP senators would need to break rank in order to impeach the president. In “Don’t Count the Senate Out on Impeachment”, Mr. Mystal makes a good case for conviction not being a lost cause. He breaks the 53 Republican senators down into 4 groups of varying degrees of “vulnerability to their conscience” for lack of a better term.
It’s time for "we the people" to fulfill our end of the constitutional contract. Adopt a Republican senator Mr. Mystal encourages and get to know them maybe on a first name basis. Call and write them daily. If you live in a state with Democratic senators volunteer to help a friend out in a republican stronghold by helping to write letters. When the time comes it may even be necessary to camp out on Constitution Avenue. Hopefully, the trial will be deferred until at least February – perhaps it will be a few degrees warmer. In the event we will be better protected from the elements than those patriots at Valley Forge were.
3
We can only hope that he is removed from office and never makes it to the 2020 election.
1
No tax returns, undisclosed loans with Deutsche Bank, Russian oligarchs buying condos at Trump Soho, Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn, private chats with Vlad at Helsiki, Trump Moscow and list goes on.
You really don't need to connect the dots to see the connection, it's all in our face.
8
From an outsider's viewpoint your political system appears relentlessly fragmented inside a zeitgeist of extreme partisanship. I don't think the Democrats can wholly escape the odor of sour grapes by cloaking their bitterness in noble rhetoric as did Speaker Pelosi today. Your electoral system, not Russian trolls, imposed Donald Trump on you nation. All of you knew him better than every candidate other than Clinton. Now, if Mrs Clinton had won the Presidency that in itself would have cemented into your polity a cancerous Aristocracy of Familial Representation. A husband and wife would have each recently become President just as the Bush's father and son team had, not to mention the Kennedy aristocrats. Powerful political families are a back door threat to your Democracy. Donald Trump attempting rapprochement with Putin is in the Republican tradition pioneered by Ronald Raegan and Mikhail Gorbachev. Is it possible that by denying Ukraine weapons President Trump is preventing escalation of the Eastern Ukrainian Civil War?
We didn't elect Trump. The Electoral College and Russian interference did.
7
Russia, Trump, Republicans in Congress and Facebook make a great team for destroying our Democracy and our elections.
3
Neither Trump, Russia, nor us. get to pick the next president. Whoever it is will be chosen by the antiquated electoral college.
3
Tough answer. Seems like Russia & Republicans are working in concert? We don’t have a Federal Election Commission because vacancies exist, GOP denies Russia involvement in 2016, Senate is packing federal courts with hacks, GOP say’s public documents & Officials are not accountable to The Public, all Executive Agencies are directed by Trump loyalists etc. etc. Its like the Klan, Crips or Mafia have staked their territory and power and that’s the Law & Order.
A reliance on genteel & opinion Politics before factual Law, Order & The Public’s Welfare & Justice are what got us to this point. Lies & bombs on foreign soils; now our selfish & soulless Ideals have come home to roost! Personal Liberties aren’t free it seems. Allegiance to The Nation’s dead Founders or their Brilliant legacy of The Preamble & its Constitutional Framework.
If not removed the odds are he’ll win with The Electoral College because it can be bought!
2
I would like to announce that the russian efforts to influence the election have already started . Vladimir Putin just called me at home and asked , no demanded , that I vote for Trump in 2020 . He said I would be in big toruble if I didn't promise right now. He even threatened to use the dreaded "Kompromat" against me. I tell you friends and neighbors , I was shaken to my very soul. What could I do but agree ? I will say this for Vlad - he promised to send me two. cases of his best Vodka. So there you have - Trump now has at least one vote in chicago. Now ll I have to do is convince my wife. Wonder what Vlad has on her that I can use . I would like to get 2 more cases of vodka for her vote.
1
The reason Congress will not hold Trump into account for his actions is that they, primarily Republicans but Democrats as well to some degree, have acted relentlessly to pre-determine the outcomes of elections. Gerrymandering, insecure or non-functioning or not enough voting machines in mostly minority districts, denying students access to voting in the districts in which they attend college, restricting access to registering to vote are some of the weapons that have been deployed to disenfranchise citizens.
Give them credit for creativity. Republicans have weaponized this approach. Trump's foreign outreach is merely the latest manifestation of their strategy to hold onto power.
4
Someday, the Russiagate industry will admit that you really can't steal an election with a 100,000 buck Facebook effort, which is what the Russians spent, according to Mueller.
That's why, between them, Clinton and Trump spent about 800 times as much as did the Russians, 81 million bucks.
In spite of the simple arithmetic behind this analysis, the anti-Trump forces return again and again to the claim that 126 million voters were touched by the Russian campaign.
Most add that this might have or did change the result.
When one inquires how this 126 million miracle could occur, the answer is that the posts "went viral".
Only about one post in a million goes viral, according to the pros. Thus, the amount of information provided by the "went viral" claim is the same as that conveyed by "the devil did it."
Namely none.
This is great news. Russian interference was trivial. It will be trivial or non-existent in 2020.
7
With the electoral college, a lot of votes don’t need to be changed to have an effect. Just the right ones in swing districts. Not that hard or expensive to do, especially since we have done almost nothing to prevent it.
25
Nobody knows how much the Russians spent on ads—we’re learning more every day. But the Mueller Report makes the point that the Russian social media campaign was extensive and systemic. You don’t need a lot of money to create viral memes and disinformation—you need tens of thousands of bots. You need thousands of foreign trolls to create the content. In other words we’re not talking about ad spending as the campaign’s chief weapon.
Could this campaign have swung 78,000 votes in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin? What do you think?
17
@Smilodon7
" Just the right ones in swing districts." If that is all it takes and it is so simple an inexpensive , why didn't Hillary and the Democrats do it?
4
Wish the Democrats on the Hill would hire this author to write their speeches.
2
Facebook is picking the next president, not Russia.
1
Or Fox News?
4
Holding anybody accountable for their actions, good or bad, is almost a foregone conclusion in civilized society. So it is not just that we have to protect our system from negative Eastern European influence but also that we need to exhibit the traits of a civilized population. So Impeach this man, we should.
However, there are also better ways than impeachment to send a message to those daring to dirty dance with the components of the former Soviet Union. We can coalesce at the polls and defeat the GOP. Anything that the Dems can muster up is still way better than the best that the GOP has to offer, let alone a dangerous man like Trump.
9
And let’s remember, the whole Ukraine scheme would have happened without our knowledge if it wasn’t for a whistleblower. But we cannot depend on that for every other current and future election-rigging scheme that Trump and minions are hatching.
7
Yes , Trump is a danger . People may actually chose to vote for him.
2
Foreign interference in U.S.elections is guaranteed under Trump's corrupt reign...unless we hold him into account now. Waiting to oust him in Nov. 2020 would be too late and too little, given that this vulgar bully is convinced the White House is just an extension of his Real Estate dealings and wheeling. And corruption, for Trump, is just 'business as usual'.
5
Congress will hold Mr Trump, and hopefully his enablers, accountable.
Problem is the GOP Senate - also enablers.
Or in another term, traitors....
13
Half of our government, half of American citizens, are intent on destroying the Country they claim to love so much. Why can so few people see the danger? Why does everyone just shrug their shoulders like this is all business as usual and will blow over? Why is everyone in denial? I do not think we are going to make it out of this one, I really don't.
11
Agree. Democracy in the US is drinking in the Last Chance Saloon. As much as I hope Trump will be either impeached and removed from office or roundly defeated in next year's election, I greatly fear that we're at the start of authoritarian regime led by an ignorant, stupid and venal man who's narcisstic to the point of insanity.
1
"It also shows that Mr. Trump corrupted significant agencies of the United States government...."
This touches on the primary danger Trump poses to America: The willingness of others to be corrupted in his service. That includes the elective stupidity and slavish devotion of his unwavering supporters among the U.S. electorate.
11
Who will pick the next President? What a foolish rhetorical question. Why the same people who have selected all the previous presidents: the ruling rich. You want us to squawk about nefarious Russians? The billionaires who own and run this country are the actual nefarious manipulators. Let's see, we have two twin parties comprised of millionaires in the service of the billionaire masters. Not a democracy by any definition. I couldn't care less about the alleged foreign "interference." By the way I do believe the US has the all time record for "interference" in other countries, from hundreds of military coups and dictatorships, to CIA planting fake news stories, paying local politicians, assassination of political leaders, etc, etc. It is also interesting how the Democrats are trying to out Jingo the Republicans, wrapping themselves in the flag, and pounding the nationalist drum, as "true patriots." There is a certain McCarthy stench to it.
3
I’m sold! What a wonderful reason to yawn and let the President cheat in the upcoming election!
2
The 'ruling rich' would never had let a moron like Trump win.
If trump corrupts an election and fools Americans into winning - Shame on us. If trump corrupts an election and fools Americans twice and wins - do we still have a democracy?
"an American president used his enormous power — and may use it again — to compel a foreign country to alter the outcome of the next presidential election."
Making matters worse, in addition to withholding $400 million in military aid, trump has an ally, Putin, is Zelensky's enemy! Making trump a double threat to Ukraine if Zelensky doesn't comply with trump's request for a favor. Indeed, Putin can increase his pressure on Ukraine - kill a few civilians as he's doing in Syria to aid his ally there - he'll do the same to aid his ally in the Oval Office to ensure he stays in power.
What do the Republicans have to lose swapping trump out for another Republican, Pence? Is it worth destroying America as Putin wants to stick with trump? No doubt Pence would give him a pardon for all crimes the trump has committed and continue the obstruction and coverup.
Imagine if the Ukrainians actually investigated the Bidens to satisfy the trump. Does anyone think trump would let Zelensky off the hook letting them release a report stating the Bidens were innocent of all wrongdoing?
Lately, trump appears to be working to corrupt our military with his commander-in-chief stunts with war criminals, to ensure he can stay in power by force, if need be. He is succeeding in dividing our military - ahhh, just as Putin wants.
3
The impeachment process should not stop at Trump's door. He is only one, albeit the most important, of the many actors involved in the campaign to force Ukraine to help his reelection bid. All of those involved in this plot should answer for their criminal behavior. Giuliani, Pence, Pompeo, Perry and the rest of that despicable crew should be impeached if they hold public office and all should be sentenced to lengthy prison sentences. The Criminal-in-Chief and his crew must pay for their actions. They are not above the law. For all that, I fear the damage they have done to the democratic institutions of this country may well be irreparable.
3
the ONLY place trumps maga hats will be are in TJ Maxx with all the rejected clothing... priced at Free with any purchase.
trump is a lonely sad pathetic politician who will go down as one of the world's worst and most corrupt.
8
This is pathetic. So Hillary didn't win in 2016 because of the "Russians" (and even Jill Stein was a "Russian asset") and now the Democrats are doing a pre-emptive strike, probably recognizing that Elizabeth Warren is not a viable general election candidate and even Biden can't win. I am not a fan of Trump, but maybe we should give Bloomberg a chance instead of cooking up new conspiracy theories.
2
@Dave
That Trump extorted Ukraine is a theory?
Oh please -- the Division with Hatred in our Congress and government is doing more damage to America than if Putin took up residence in the White House.
I don't care much about "Trump" but do care about the elected President and my fellow Americans who voted. Our House is stealing those votes and telling us all that they alone choose the President.
And are you serious that "Russia" could make a dent in the 24 by 7 hatred that is blasted into our living rooms? Besides, ALL our cyber experts point at another country with the capabilities claimed. Hint -- it is in a trade war with "Trump" and would support ANYONE else. Let's take another two years and more $35 million to again "investigate" "Russia".
2
Really? So you are saying impeachment isn’t in the constitution? Trump committed serious crimes, he deserves impeachment. If he didn’t want this problem, he should have thought about that beforehand. He has no one to blame but himself.
He could have helped himself a lot by keeping his pie hole shut.
3
apparently this commenter thinks the Constitution's providing for impeachment is un Constitutional
the founders feared the likes of a trump, a demagogue and a traitor
get over it, comrade
Trump has put all countries on notice that if they are interested in American aid, cooperation or largesse their path is to interfere in US elections on Trump's behalf. He sells America's integrity and American policy for his personal benefit. The entire Republican party supports and sanctions this behavior, this prostitution of America.
Republican voters and elected officials evidently have no qualms about supporting Putin's preferred candidate to harm America and its allies even as they claim they are the real patriots of "the real America." They are correct in their view that it is not my America.
6
We the people do. And if you had any doubt as to the President's intentions, even in the face of the impeachment process, his personal lawyer who has his fingerprints all over the wrong doing is back in Ukraine this moment. We are being had!
6
You’d think he’d be smarter than that. It looks really bad.
@Smilodon7 I don't think he is smarter than that. I think his belief that he is above the law insulates him from any wrongdoing and that will be his downfall.
“Who Will Pick the Next President: Trump, Russia or Us?“
This question must be asked, as much and as loudly as possible. Republicans can fake it as much as they like, we’ll never stop reminding them about Russia Russia Russia/ treason treachery and disloyalties. They will try to ignore it, complaining about everything they can think of. Don’t let them off the hook.
On some level they must know they’re wrong as can be on this.
5
Well, who picked the current President in the 2016 election? The press and political establishment are mute when it comes to discussing the reality, based on probabilities and statistics, that Putin's Russia was highly likely successful in their efforts to steer the 2016 election to Donald Trump. If we can't admit that it happened in the past(2016), then why would anyone be concerned about the future(2020)? The TRUMP/GOP/FOX/PUTIN propaganda machine runs virtually unopposed promoting that denial and offering fake alternative memes; all the while while holding onto power in a minoritarian bastardization of our former democratic republic.
1
The continuous innuendos are sickening. The US voters chose Trump in 2016 and will more than likely chose him again in 2020. I know that most Op Contributors despise Trump and yearned for an HRC presidency but it did not happen. Enough of the sour grapes, whining, blaming the Russians or anyone but the obvious poor candidacy of HRC.
2
I have voted in every election, and I think it's safe to say, unless there is a paper trail, it sure as heck won't be us.
2
The military will choose Trump because he has an extraordinary affinity to approve of mass murder. Really! The rest is just the tools, from the money to the Television industry.
You haven't been reading for decades if you disagree.
1
The Republican defense of Corrupt Trump is simple: alternate-universe assertions.
If it is sunny outside, Republicans may assert that it is overcast. If the grass is green, they may assert that it is red. They have decided that the way to defend Corrupt Trump is to deny reality, assert that lies are truth, up is down, wrong is right. They clearly believe the American people are too stupid to understand what they are doing, much less understand what Corrupt Trump is guilty of.
Simple reality question: Would you want your children and grandchildren to grow up to be Republican child-men who believe the moon landings are a hoax and Hillary Clinton has murdered over 50 people?
8
Well, Putin already has Trump on his side with his belief in the Russian disinformation campaign and 44% of Fox viewers believe it as well. This is so so sad and we need to get out the vote
VOTE!
5
As long as the Democrats no nothing to prevent Trump and the Russians from hacking into the voting machines, as they did in all 50 states in 2016, the outcome is a forgone conclusion.
How can they do that? Anything they send to the Senate McConnell kills.
2
Without FOX news W Bush and Trump never would have been elected. I nominate FOX news as our biggest threat to our democracy.
11
Love the set up for when Trump becomes Re-elected.
You forgot to add the present GOP Trump sycophants to the list of who is a clear and present danger. They are the enablers and just as guilty.
5
Through unprecedented political corruption, the stupidity and personal flaws of Trump, the Russians look like they, having lost the Cold War, are going to continue winning the Cold Peace. The Ruskies are proving too smart for the Yankees. They will determine the future elections of the US president. Huge chunks of American voters are too ignorant of what is going on. Very odd that they ignore facts ( established by all the agencies of the US Intel community) and act out their biases and flaws. Very dangerous development.
3
The list of culprits needs to extend to those in the House and Senate, starting with Mr. McConnell (I now think of him as Valdi-Mitch McConnell), Lindsey Graham, Devin Nunes, Jim Jordan etc who have not lived up to their oath of office to serve the country and the constitution. Vote Trump out of office. Vote McConnell out of office. Vote Graham out of office. Vote Nunes out of office. Vote, vote, vote!!! For the sake of our country, constitution, our democracy. For our children, and grand-children.
4
A truly exceptional observation.........quoting.....
"With meticulous detail, the report catalogs his knowledge of the 2016 Russian interference into the United States election. And it notes that his request for “a favor” from President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine during a July 25 phone call came one day after Robert Mueller, the special counsel, testified before Congress about his investigation into Russian 2016 election interference — testimony that Mr. Trump claimed exonerated him of wrongdoing."
Is Zelensky a go between to Putin?
Left to their own devices, the Republican Party would gladly have Putin pick the next POTUS.
Of late, they are very proud of being the propaganda arm of the Kremlin — just listen to Kennedy, Graham, Nuñes, et al parrot verbatim Russian talking points about the last and current electoral interference as coming not from Russia but Ukraine (despite 17 US Intelligence and Military Agencies saying the contrary) not just on FOX news but CNN as well.
If we are to save US democracy, we must lance the festering boil that is the Republican Party.
Vote the all out.
And those that could be criminally charged for being a foreign agent like Giuliani and Nuñes and Pompeo, prosecute them to the full extent of of the law.
5
This is very possibly one of the best written and most well thought through editorials of the past year. It makes it quite clear that impeaching the president and removing him from office has everything to do with the future destruction that he is very likely to create given the opportunity.
We all need to be aware of the past in order not to invite a horrific future in America.
This is no longer a political endeavor, it is instead a humanitarian mission to save America from a neo fascist president who has gone irretrievably off the rails, threatening the well-being of every American.
And the Republicans who have decided to support Donald Trump will ultimately pay the greatest price. Their legacy will be one of unforgettable shame , for supporting a man who has sought to destroy the very fabric and foundation of our democracy.
2
Play the Trifecta and Rus to show.
Whether he is impeached or not Trump will ask for and/or accept help from Ukraine, Russia, China or any other foreign power that can assist him in an election or in any other personal way. Impeachment will not deter him from committing unconstitutional or even treasonous acts in the future. That I can tell you!!!
2
"Anne Milgram, a law professor at New York University, is a former federal prosecutor and was attorney general of New Jersey from 2007 to 2010."
Alternatively, just as accurate, but perhaps more informative:
"Anne Milgram is a Democratic politician from New Jersey."
1
Doesn’t mean she’s not right.
2
We, the people, will decide who is going to serve as POTUS in 2020. Get out and canvass like your life depends on it. Go phone bank like your kids' and grandkids' lives depend on it. Volunteer for the eventual D nominee because the future of the planet and democracy depend on it. And most importantly, register and go to the polls and vote for whomever the D candidate is on November 3, 2020!
3
The political contrivance known as the "electoral college" will pick the next President, of course.
Well that's an easy one. If a Democrat wins in 2020 it will have been 'US' that picked them. If, however, Donald Trump should win again, then it will obviously be the choice of Russia. So, who will it be picking the next President in 2020? Guess we will have to wait and see who wins to know the answer won't we? How pathetic that you democrats cannot see that it is because of your Russia nonsense that you Have Already Lost in 2020.
2
Paranoid delusions? Inability to accept loss? Alternate reality? Whatever the cause this insane Russia collusion hype is not helping the Democrats.
2
Wow! Never thought I'd read such an op-ed in the NYTimes or in any respected journal -- and all of it to be true and on-target, demanded by the facts.
You know, if you forget about politics for a while, focusing on something else, and then return to the scene of the crimes, it's a fierce slap in the face and swift kick in the stomach.
A change's gotta come!
2
it's fairly umcomplicated.. you either Do or Don't .. believe that extortion by a U.S. president Is or Isn't an impeachable offense. And if you can't recognize extortion when it smacks you in the face.. then everything else is moot.
5
You just can’t make this up .... since Trump was “elected” president .... every minute, every hour, every day, every week, every month, every year ... (2 years, 319 days, 6 hours, 11 minutes and 20 seconds as I write this) there is another occurrence of his childish behavior and his disdain for following the letter of the law (amongst others). We the people .... MUST vote him out of office.
3
"If Congress fails to hold the president accountable for the Ukraine scheme, there will be no way to prevent the future harm of a corrupted election. It’s one thing for our leaders to engage in corruption. It’s an entirely different thing for our elections to be in doubt."
Correct statement by the writer, but sad to say:
1) Congress WILL fail and exonerate the President in the impeachment trial.
2) A future president will do the same. Memories are short and the battle ground will be different.
3) The leaders will continue to be involved in swampy schemes (they are politicians).
4) US elections will continue to be doubt for a long time to come. The US is perpetually in elections. The money spent on these elections can build so many schools and hospitals for the aging population, retrain so many displaced workers, help solve opioid addiction, reduce gun crime, fix trains, replace rickety bridges, as infimum.
1
I don't think it's clear to about half the voting population what Trump was trying to do. And you are right that the understanding needs to start with the Intelligence Community's findings. Only until that is understood can the Trump voters begin to ask the question "who decides who gets elected?"
The fact that some of these voters apparently don't believe what the Intelligence Community has reported is another sticking point. But how you get the voters on board when their trust in our government is so weak is a difficult nut to crack thanks to Trump's supporters in and out of office.
A lot more than a handful of government employees are going to have to speak out. If they don't, we're at the mercy of Trump/Fox News and the GOP.
3
They won’t believe in anything other than their hero’s word. Facts don’t matter to them. It’s a lost cause trying to convince them. Democrats better turn out the vote among young people and minorities.
2
The "goal of helping President Trump get re-elected" is not singular (unusual, peculiar). It's normal. It was single. "Singular" is a very different word from "single" even though many people seem not to know that.
1
"If Congress fails to hold the president accountable for the Ukraine scheme, there will be no way to prevent the future harm of a corrupted election."
So this statement sums up the new talking point for Democrats wish to impeach Trump. It sounds like a familiar theme by climate alarmists. "We must ban all fossil fuels or there will be no way to save the planet!" Good luck selling impeachment to middle America. When Democrats won in 2018, they promised they could get things done, impeachment wasn't on that list.
2
@William Aiken: the Democratic House has passed hundreds of bills which McConnell refuses to bring to the Senate floor for a vote.
16
@Tracy What about the big stuff that really matters? The MCUS trade deal that Trump negotiated over a year ago is still sitting on Pelosi's desk and holding up thousands of American jobs. But to Pelosi's mind denying Trump a win on his trade deal is more important than improving the quality of life for US workers.
This partisan governing is going to lose Pelosi her speakership.
1
@William Aiken: I’ll speak for kindergartners hiding under their desks in active shooter drills: gun safety legislation is a big deal. We are the only developed country where we live in such fear of gun violence. McConnell won’t take up the bill because the NRA owns Trump and the rest of the GOP.
6
Yes, there is, has always been, a clear and present danger: the Electoral College.
7
There is proof that Trump and Giuliani are continuing to strong-arm Ukraine and other countries into launching investigations of the Democrats. Trump will not let up. He believes he can get away with bribery and extortion and he'll keep at it until he is thrown out of office.
11
This is who he is. He ran his business like a mobster. He doesn’t get that he can’t run the government the same way.
3
If conservatives become convinced that they can not win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism. The will reject democracy.” ― David Frum
Bank on it. You think Nixon was trying to rig things? He was a rank amateur compared to today's GOP.
17
There is no doubt that Donald Trump is a Clear and Present Danger, and not just to the 2020 election. But the far greater danger to that election and to the future of our fragile democracy is in fact us. We cannot deny the fact that nearly half the citizens who voted in the 2016 presidential election voted for him. Further, we cannot deny that regardless of any evidence presented during the impeachment inquiry and trial, nearly half will vote for him again (assuming he is not removed from office). A democracy cannot exist if nearly half the citizens who vote can't decipher the truth, won't accept the truth, or simply no longer care one way or the other.
18
Trump is president because of the asylum issue. I would say that if anyone is a threat to us it is the leadership of the Democratic party. They are the ones who put all our chips on teens repeating tall tales. And if those kids are telling the truth? Then we send in the troops, right?
2
Don’t forget he lost the popular vote by over 3 million. He is president because of the electoral college. More people voted for the democratic candidate than the Republican candidate (including the immigration issues) and yet because of the electoral college the person with the fewer votes is elected.
4
By now, I have no confidence that any of this will be sorted out and cleaned up - let alone all the bad actors brought to real justice. We should all be in the streets. Other countries do this to obtain democracy, but we seem incapable of doing so just to keep it.
19
I wonder this every single day. If we are as outraged as we profess to be (on social media), why are we not putting our bodies in the streets to demand justice and accountability? Why are we not marching to support our very democracy? Apparently, we get the government we (and our laziness) deserve.
There are some Americans who do not think that Donald Trump received a tremendous amount of help in the 2016 election from Vladimir Putin through other Russian oligarchs, through Putin’s intelligence services, through what became Russian front organizations like WikiLeaks under Julian Assange and through what is loosely called the Russian mafia. Such Americans either have not paid attention or they are very slow to grasp reality. The only other explanation, of course, is that they are simply staunch Republicans.
Since becoming president, Donald Trump’s trading of favors with Vladimir Putin has become more blatant and reckless. Entire nations like Ukraine are put on the auction block, as Trump extracts political capital for his personal domestic use, and then proceeds to sell Ukraine down the river to Russia. In other words, foreign interference in the 2020 American election is going to make 2016 look like a church picnic.
In answer to the question posed in this article by former federal prosecutor Anne Milgram, if Donald Trump and the Republicans have their way, the Russians are going to choose our next president.
16
2020 is an election for Democrats to lose regardless of whether Putin actually does rallies with Trump or not. Non-Republican voters will most likely pick 'anyone other than Trump.'
Problem is Democratic candidates are all over the policy map. Perhaps this is the beauty of America. Anyone can run for president. On the other hand, look who that democratic process produced in 2016. Trump's election was legitimate. Whatever Russian help he received, he still won the election and there was no tampering with votes and none was alleged by Democrats. Trump is the only person who hasn't accepted the results of 2016 and he won! A smart winner would have accepted his victory and left it in 2016.
The DNC allowed 20+ candidates, giving each a few minutes to connect with voters. Warren was the darling for a short period until she explained how Medicare-for-all would be financed. Then she declared war on the rich. And her poll numbers tumbled.
Mayor Pete is erudite but he looks like he's 12. And he has no Federal government experience. What's his hurry?
Most of the other candidates have no base of support. A few snappy sound bites at hearings isn't the basis of a nation-wide campaign. Harris, Swalwell, Booker fall into that category, others are unmemorable.
Sanders had his moment in 2016 but that didn't pan out.
Trump obviously felt Biden was the one to beat and he may still be right. But he looks wobbly.
I fear Trump will be re-elected because Democrats failed.
9
How do you know there was no tampering with votes? We didn’t look for any. It’s hard to find somehung when you make zero effort to look for it.
As the New York University professor reminds, more than a million service members died for America. Check Fiona Hill's moving opening statement. The USA oath of executive office absolutely cannot be toyed with and batted about, as it has since last Spring, during this Ukrainian scheme.
My thoughts always were that the over-the-top "resistance" immediately after the election, and the constant badgering of Trump, was going to prove a mistake when the time came that the man truly did legally cross the line in a clear and easy to prove manner. Well, maybe enough people will see this is impeachable.
6
Here is my 'forecast' for our 2020 election. Hacked. Not stolen, trashed. Total chaos. Absurd election results coming in from all over. Men in business suits storming the election counting facilities.
The Supreme Court steps in and, citing as precedent their own action in a similar election in 2000, declares Trump the winner.
Couldn't happen? We said that before 2000, too.
15
They won’t be that stupid. If the goal is to steal the election, they will only hack the swing states, and just enough to win. They want it to look legitimate, not obviously hacked, so we don’t look too hard at the results.
@Charles Tiege
Has your State recently legalized Cannabis?
"This report warns of a future harm: that an American president used his enormous power — and may use it again — to compel a foreign country to alter the outcome of the next presidential election."
It's bigger than that. A network of mobster capitalists, many headquartered in Eastern Europe, are seeking to create an alternative perception of reality that will enable their kleptocracy unfettered expansion and exploitation. The basic technique is to undermine the credibility of liberal institutions of political control while fostering an alternative narrative that explains away contradictory facts in conspiratorial terms. Russian disinformation and electoral rigging form a large part of the effort, but there are other elements as well, including our own domestic right-wing media.
Polling gives us a current measure of success. At least a third of Americans believe devoutly and unshakably in the Trump narrative version of reality. This cohort is large enough to intimidate and control the behavior of the Republican Party, including those few who actually know better. If the Trump opposition fails to unite, the cadre of true believers may prove strong enough to dictate the 2020 election outcome.
In a global order that is visibly falling apart, future success will likely reward those who are able to control the disaster narrative. Who is to blame for this or that collapse? If Trump and his allies can saddle public blame on their enemies, they will likely consolidate power.
14
When the GOP tells us that the impeachment process is unnecessary and that the voters will decide for themselves in 2020, I am just dumbstruck.
This is the whole point. As Ms. Milgram points out, Trump is *right now* actively trying to manipulate the outcome of the 2020 election. Right after he got caught accepting & encouraging Russia interference with the 2016 election.
Trump has cheated his way through life, be it in his multiple fraudulent businesses, his marriages, golf, getting out of serving in Vietnam & the 2016 election. And he has never paid a price for his cheating & lies.
I desperately want to believe my vote will count in a free & fair election in 2020. With Trump unchecked, that outcome is very much in question.
43
absolutely on-target. Left unsaid: The Republicans want the election to be corrupted, because they learned in 2016 (if they did not know it already) that the can't possibly win a fair election.
50
That’s why they won’t do anything about election security
2
@Smilodon7 You got it!
Unindicted co-conspirator in the impeachment proceedings but not mentioned in this article are people such as Congressman Nunes, the Republican co-chair of the House Intelligence Committee who surreptitiously helped Trump in his efforts to seek foreign influence on 2020 election. Nunes deliberately not disclose his underhanded activity before, during or after the impeachment inquiry in November. He had the audacity to undermine the inquiry and its validity while colluding with those committing the crime. Another indirect accomplice is Senator Graham (R-SC) who as a juror in the upcoming Senate impeachment trial is supposed to be a neutral party, but yet decided to prematurely declare Trump innocent while vowing not to read the witness' transcripts from the Intelligence Committee. In a real court, such a biased juror would be eliminated from the jury pool.
27
Given the president "we" picked in 2016 we might be better off allowing Russia to choose for us this time around. They probably will in any case.
1
Oh for heaven's sake! Go read some history. What on earth makes anyone think that the Russians are so much smarter than we are?
I could not vote for Trump, but I could not vote for Hillary either. People can talk about Russian interference, the Electoral College, etc. But the real problem was (and may be again) the Democratic candidate. We all saw Trump's campaign, he was beyond embarrassing. How could the election not have been a landslide against him? A very poor Democratic candidate was the reason. And yet, it is looking like a repeat.
6
Jake, I hope you will not sit out the 2020 election, knowing as you do that Trump is an existential threat to our democracy. I like several of the Democratic candidates, but I would vote for the Democrat regardless of who wins the nomination. I envy you for being able to vote in Florida.
3
@Jake Who would be a good Dem candidate in your opinion? I'd like a name, not just an idea.
What utter nonsense. Moral cowardice such as yours weakens our democracy. If you truly understand the danger to our republic and the Constitution, you should do everything in your power to ensure the defeat of Trump.
Man up this time.
Democrats can holler until hell freezes over. There is no one in the candidate crop that is electable. That should be their bigger concern. The party's failure is compromising the two-party system, not Donald Trump.
3
@lifelong Dem
Trouble is, after many decades of candidates tearing each other down, we are no longer led by learned dignified, and respectable people who would want tolead us. We are down to the likes of Trump and the Congressional Republicans.
2
The only polls you need to watch are in the swing states, where Biden leads Trump.
I didn’t understand what you meant when you said Democrats were compromising the two-party system. It seems like Republicans are compromising it. (Unless you meant that you dislike the two-party system, in which case you should work toward instant run-off voting reform in your state).
3
You might want to open your eyes. We ( the Democratic Party) has many learned and dignified candidates.
Check them out ( really) and get back to us.
1
How about this headline: "WHO WILL PICK THE NEXT PRESIDENT: PELOSI, THE MEDIA OR US?"
That smacks of right-wing paranoia and hyperbole? It's the mirror image of this column.
Every credible inquiry has determined that Russian meddling was inconsequential to the election outcome. It is a sore-loser trope to keep harping on it.
As for Trump -- You don't want him as president? Fine. I don't either. But any honest person would describe the effort that began on Day One to drive him from office via impeachment -- for a string of flimsy excuses -- as a witch hunt.
Americans want to choose a president - not have a Congressional circus determine who holds the job.
Beat Trump at the polls by fielding a candidate who speaks to the values of the people in Michigan and Pennsylvania and Wisconsin who abandoned the Democratic party to elect him.
That DOESN'T include $80 trillion or so in new taxes for a Green New Deal, Medicare for All, Unfettered Illegal Immigration - and Free Health Care for Them, Reparations for African Americans, and a Buyout of Student Debt.
If Democrats impeach Trump, then field a candidate who embraces that laundry list, the party is doomed.
5
We didn’t do a credible inquiry. Nobody checked the paper backups. Without that, any inquiry is woefully incomplete.
1
Because the people of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are the only ones that matter, right? This is the way we should elect our leaders, with most people not getting a say.
@Philboyd
"That DOESN'T include $80 trillion or so in new taxes for a Green New Deal, Medicare for All, Unfettered Illegal Immigration - and Free Health Care for Them, Reparations for African Americans, and a Buyout of Student Debt."
Oh, please. And you talk about right-wing paranoia and hyperbole.
US oligarchs have been picking up Presidents for the last decades. Trump is the current and worst iteration. Money in politics has destroyed the system. Russian oligarchs working with Ukrainian oligarchs working with US oligarchs working with Israel are playing with the balance of global peace. How can it be that Michael Bloomberg think he can buy an election?
Yes, the impeachment report underscores all the committed malfeasance, but what difference does it make, if candidates who seek to restructure a very broken electoral system, not to mention an economic and social system are labeled “radical”?
Money has to be removed from politics so that each vote counts. Lobbies have to be reduced in value so that these can’t dictate policy, domestic or foreign, as is now the case. Lessons learned have to include that, as Americans, we reject the “status quo”, and try to recover our democratic system and country.
350
@Ted
As competent as I think Bloomberg is, there is absolute tone deafness at this moment in time to his entry into the race given the issues we have with obscene amounts of wealth - like Bloomberg has. Perhaps he'd have been a compelling candidate had he run pre-faux-billionaire-trump. The trump has ruined it by discrediting billionaires worldwide.
Ungodly amounts of money and wealth so obscenely huge as to overwhelm, manipulate and corrupt a one person one vote electoral system with the further ability to run roughshod over entire governments with relative impunity as a result of such huge wealth is what is RADICAL.
We need a one person, one vote and a one person one dollar contribution max electoral system. Cross border, cross state-lines and even cross-county-line money contributions should be illegal. Outside money that overwhelms local money overrides the locals who have to live with the results.
Massive amounts of money controls politics and governance the same way it controls markets. Monopolistic money travels rapidly around the world to dictate ever lower wages and higher prices. Money equals power and it can now be moved globally at the click of an executive baby sitter's mouse to corrupt politics too, to lower wages, environmental and societal standards.
Unfortunately with trump, plutocrats, Republicans and Russia in power over our country now, it may be too late and trillions short for mere citizens with barely one vote to do much to get our country back.
38
@PAN
What would you say to a proposal to block any citizen of another country from expressing an opinion about the Presidential candidates?
3
@PAN: My proposal is that candidates should only be allowed to accept donations from people who are permanent residents (and eligible to vote) of the geographic area she/he will represent if elected.
12
And know this - what we know as public information about the extent of election meddling is no doubt the tip of the iceberg. The shocking thing, at least to me, is knowing that there are Republican congressmen on the congressional intelligence committees who have been briefed in greater detail about the threat, and still refuse to do anything to thwart it. In fact, in that light their current efforts to shield Trump and his henchmen are tantamount to abetting foreign meddling. There is a word for that, and in the country of my birth the penalties would have been severe. But that country apparently is no more.
14
That infuriates me. It just makes me crazy that nobody looked for actual computer hacking even though we know the Russians were in the voting systems of all the states. Why was the election not audited?
I believe the headline of the Borowitz Report was, “Trump concerned that Americans will interfere with 2020 election”
433
@Yeah
Exactly! In trump's America it is illegal to not vote for trump
Hence the reason Republicans interrogated the scholars yesterday to divulge if they had voted for the trump and punish them as traitors or enemies if they hadn't.
That's what makes the 2020 election such a farce and why Republican's call for trump's fate be determined at the corrupted ballot box is preposterous. If trump can't be impeached and removed from office, we will be as powerless as North Koreans are to vote Kim out.
36
@Yeah This is trump's way of claiming the election was rigged and trying to never leave the WH.
17
@Yeah, lately it's often hard to separate satire from truth. Too often recently, they are the same. Horowitz nailed it.
4
As soon as trump asked the Russians for help in the 2016 election, he should have been disqualified from the race.
Why is the trump not disqualified from running in the 2020 election we now know he has corrupted and continues trying to corrupt? - As his conciglieri, Giuliani, proves with his in your face and on TV defiance trip to Ukraine knowing he's above the law with a trump pardon in his pocket and Russian money, to continue undermining the 2020 election as his client has ordered him.
Indeed, with the self-pardoning power blessed by Barr, the self-chosen-one ordained by God, so Perry says, trump can indeed do whatever he wants. Who will stop him? Mere Democrats?
3
We will ultimately elect our next President provided Democrats nominate a moderate centrist so that millions of Republicans with a conscience can quietly cross over to save our democracy and ultimately the Republican Party.
160
@Frank Heneghan I'm afraid "Republican with a conscience" is an oxymoron at this point.
83
@Frank Heneghan
If an election is not postponed!
10
@Frank Heneghan This, I am afraid, is a fantasy. "Millions of Republicans" voting for a Democrat? And: "to save our democracy?" These are the same people who will support to the death a president who appears committed to destroying our democracy.
43
More hysteria from the left. There is no crime, no quid pro quo. Period. EIther get bi-partisan support or stop it.
14
@Ralphie
Reality check. There's no such thing as "bi-partisan support" these days, and you know it.
But fortunately, all this doesn't begin and end with the Senate.
Which is why the only hysteria we're seeing these days is coming out of the White House.
7
@Ralphie
Let's hear from Pompeo, Mulvaney, Perry, Bolton, and Giuliani under oath, and then see if bipartisan support ensues. I'll bet it does.
5
@Ralphie
If there was no quid pro quo, then why did a bunch of witnesses testify under oath that it was their understanding that there was, in fact, a quid pro quo?
The crime is trying to use presidential power to smear a political opponent. That's what Trump tried to do, according to the testimony presented by witnesses who were involved. If you don't believe the witnesses, then by all means provide some proof they are not telling the truth.
11
Get real. The electoral college picks the president not us. It overturned Hillary’s majority vote of 66 million, and now we hear that impeachment would overturn the will of 62 million who voted for Trump. We decide nothing here in the US and don’t have any more say of the top office than in China.
25
@PAUL NOLAN
The President is elected by the electoral college. That is real and is not going to change.
3
The Electoral College will determine the presidency. Just as it has done in the past.
Candidates, remember that and campaign effectively.
Remember, there is no popular vote !!
2
Provided Putin doesn’t hack the results. Folks, making a computer display one thing and do another is just not that hard.
Excellent article. Trump coerces others to do what would be illegal or damaging politically to do himself. Secretly using Ukraine to slander his political opposition has the effect of putting a thumb on the scale for the Republicans. He stands a chance of getting away with it because his whole Republican Guard stand to benefit. The Republicans don’t see what’s wrong because it’s like gerrymandering, an easy way to maintain power without earning the votes needed.
5
The Trump campaign should have been shut down hard BEFORE the 2016 election! Trump's name should have been removed from all ballots nation wide and another Republican candidate chosen before the 2016 election was allowed to move forward. There is apparently no means for doing anything like this, but we must be able to do it or more disastrous "elections" will result.
We can see what a disaster results when a campaign heavily involved in a conspiracy with a foreign government to rig an election is allowed to steal that election: In the case of Trump, who CLEARLY conspired with Russia, it was the ultimate DISASTER! Nobody could possibly have imagined a disaster as big as Trump; in fact nobody, including Trump himself, could even imagine him "winning" even with all the Russian conspiracy and other blunders.
Now that we KNOW Trump has already conspired with Ukraine to smear Joe Biden (and make no mistake about it Biden has been smeared!) the 2020 election is already DESTROYED! It is now IMPOSSIBLE to have a true democratic election in 2020 unless Trump is impeached AND REMOVED! And forbidden to run ever again! He should be banished from the US permanently for the sake of our national security!
5
It's Putin specifically that has already gotten Trump elected. And in my opinion Trump reports to Putin -- if the executive branch of the government were a corporation Putin would be the CEO and Trump the COO. Sound far-fetched? Go back through a lot of seemingly hard-to-understand actions Trump has taken since becoming President, from withdrawing U.S. forces from Syria to his intervention in the Navy SEAL case, and see if they don't then start to make a lot more sense. Scary, huh? With the Republicans too scared or corrupt to interfere, our country has become a proxy state to Putin/Russia. Unless we can find a way to take our nationhood back, kind of game-over including the outcome of the next election.
2
@wkb
Trump provided the most advanced anti-tank weapon in the world, the Javelin, to the Ukraine military to stop Russian tanks. As a Republican president he increased the military budget. Trump has pushed for oil and gas exploration which harms Russia especially if we start shipping LPG to Europe where they have an effective monopoly. He also slapped overdue sanctions on Russia. What's scary is, in spite of all of the evidence to the contrary and an exhaustive investigation finding no collusion, people still cannot let go of this Trump/Putin fantasy.
1
@MLH:
Why hasn’t Trump done one single thing to protect our elections? I think you know the answer.
1
@MLH
As the NYT reported 10/24/19, “The Trump administration provided the missiles on the condition that they not be used in the war . . . lest they provoke Russia to slip more powerful weaponry to the separatists.”
As for LPG, Russian petrochemical giant Sibur is itself massively cutting exports to Europe, redirecting them to its newly built Siberian plant ZapSibNefteKhim. When complete it will be one of the world's 5 largest petrochemical plants. And wouldn't you know? One of Sibur's 2 biggest shareholders is Gennady Timchenko who has close ties to Putin. Another major shareholder is Kirill Shamalov, husband of Katerina Tikhonova, one of Putin's daughters. And we have no means of effectively cost-competing for the European LPG market in any event.
As for the sanctions he imposed on Russia, Trump only did so after delaying to the point that there was overwhelming BIPARTISAN pressure from Congress, and then both he and Putin downplayed them as much as possible.
It's the pro-Putin/Trumpers in denial who are living in fantasyland.
Indeed, it should be a wake-up call to all Americans, but obviously isn't. The closer we get to articles of impeachment, polls show the more Republicans are rallying around Trump. It has nothing to do with Russia, just pure tribalism circling the wagons around their "Chief."
The evidence is very clear: Trump is a traitor. He should actually be in jail.
8
I pick Bloomberg!
In anwer to your question - Putin.
1
He won the last election.
I'm not criticizing the author, but this is so not funny in any way shape or form.
1
The voice of the American people is increasingly usurped by the choice of the Electoral College. Without the elimination of that arcane institution, we don't have free elections anyway, with or without foreign interference. If a candidate can win by millions of votes and still not take office, the entire process is political theater.
2
There is no "us" left.
The biggest problem in the coming election is there's not ONE unifying person in the country. There is Trump unifying the conservative rich and lying to the gullible. There are Dem Candidates pointing fingers and confusing their base. There is no one with enough stature or respectability that all Americans can support to unify our country. Putin knows this. Trump is guilty but will survive impeachment because members of the senate will vote party over country. The election will be an ugly dog fight crippled by lax security, dark money and Russian manipulation. I will vote for any Democrat to beat Trump, but I do not see our country healing for at least a generation.
1
Oh my, the featured picture of bare flesh peeking through strategically placed hair strands and the MAGA hat's back vent aroused my pity for the man who dedicates a portion of his every day to camouflaging the hairless part of his dome.
Then I read the article, none of which was surprising. I already knew his flagrantly bad character better than the hidden back of his head. Baldness is innocent. Behavior above the law is not.
2
We will pick the next President of the United States. But Russia will actively insert themselves into the process by any means necessary. This lawless administration has done nothing to deter them from repeating what they got away with in 2016. And, as the evidence in this impeachment inquiry shows, Trump likes nothing better than a little foreign interference to help him win re-election.
So it is up to us to get people engaged. Knock on doors and tell them that their vote counts. We can’t allow 43% of the electorate to stay home as they did in 2016. The 2020 election has to be a fight against authoritarianism. Get Out The Vote!
2
It's really up to the Republicans, isn't it? If they find their moral code and send Trump packing and tighten Russian sanctions and warn them (and China, and Saudi Arabia, and Iran) about interference and how we won't tolerate it, we might get a fair election. But the Republicans spread GRU propaganda -- Putin's plans could not have worked out better for him, so he'll be all in again, and why not? Trump has fulfilled more than half of Putin's wish list. But I've given up on the Republicans doing the right thing. So it will be up to the people to vote out the Republicans in numbers, in the hope that we drown out the Russians and the MAGAs and reclaim the country and our morals.
You have to hand it to Putin he caused a lot of trouble for us and it cost him very little.
1
Dear Professor Milgram,
I suppose that you, like most op-ed writers don't have final control over your headline. So you can be excused for the utter absurdity of inferring that Russia influenced the 2016 election to such an extent that they in effect created the outcome.
Both journalism and law are fact driven professions. For lawyers, like yourself, the obligation to accurately state facts is an ethical obligation, even when statements are made as you do here as a free lance writer.
Space is too limited for a full debate about the "facts" of Russian election meddling. Many fine investigative journalists have already done that. None have or ever will be given an op-ed post by the Times.
In a democracy we should debate the meaning of facts. And as lawyer I'm sure you have done that in court. But we shouldn't base critical policy decisions on cherry picked information.
In case some have forgotten that's what happened with the Gulf of Tonkin claim and the WMD claim. Both of which, turned out to be disastrously false.
I will close with one point that illustrates my argument. The Russia case is based on the repeated conclusion of 3, not 17 intelligence agency personnel. Their "assessment" contains the disclaimer that their conclusions may not in fact be accurate. One of those three, James Clapper committed perjury.
As we move forward let's make an effort to get the facts, not oft repeated summaries of what some claim and simultaneously disclaim as fact.
5
So, if the Russians did effectively hack our elections, to get “their” candidate in office, do you think “the winner” would tell us? Think again.
Your argument would carry more weight except every single foreign policy move Trump has made has been beneficial to Putin. I wonder why that is? Trump is also a compulsive liar, he lies about things that are easily checked. So why should I believe him now? He’s proven he has no integrity
@Drspock Hear, hear! One of the few accurate commentaries I've read here about this absurd essay.
This is beautifully and accurately framed. I hope the simplicity of the issue can be presented, rather than all the muddying of the waters that seems to prevail by both Democrats and Republicans. While it is absolutely true that Trump's behavior, complete lack of understanding of the US government and how it works and his inability to deal effectively with complex issues, all disqualify him for his office, the articles of impeachment deal with impeachable offenses at an appropriately specific level. They should stay that way so that everyone can understand why this president is a clear and present danger to the United States. And take the necessary steps to remove him from office.
1
I am not liked when I say "why did we spend 40%+ of our Federal budget on "defense" during the Cold War when ultimately Russia took over the basic institution of free elections in 2016? But that's what I think.
4
The invocation of the phrase 'clear and present danger' is interestingly applied to the '2020 election'. The phrase derives from a Supreme Court decision in a case involving the allowable limitations to first amendment rights. Then there was the movie based on a Tom Clancy novel. In the new role as an impeachment tagline, it successfully conveys the immediacy and depth of the threat to the republic itself by the president's behavior.
1
Preservation of the integrity of our elections is the oxygen of our nation, and impeachment has never been more important. Even the Republican witness yesterday recognized that more time would likely make the case stronger--and that's not a great Republican defense strategy. Jim Jordan, Elise Stefanik, Devin Nunes and Doug Collins will be viewed by history as betrayers to their oaths of office in order to try to keep their power for one more election. Will any Republican Senators show more character than the House Republicans? It would not require much.
3
The line here about Trump getting U.S. agencies to work on his personal behalf, and not on behalf of citizens, is the sentiment I am most alarmed by. I heard Bill Kristol, a neoconservative but most assuredly not a Trump supporter, express that same sentiment in a TV interview recently.
We cannot allow Trump to co-opt the U.S. government to work on his personal behalf. That type of nonsense might have worked for his business career (such that it was) with his employees, but when applied to a career as an elected official, it's called corruption.
You know, old-fashion, third-world, grease-my-palm, do-me-a-favor corruption -- the type of corruption Trump now 'claims' he was trying to root out of Ukraine. (Yeah, give me a break.)
Trump supporters who don't understand that basic fact really should think more deeply about this. If his actions are left unchecked, a dictatorship is in our future, whether from this or some future president. This behavior cannot stand.
1
Affluent highly educated Republicans who continue to support Trump should know better. But to them, a robust portfolio is paramount. So long as the stock market continues to perform, the hell with our democracy.
4
There has been previous efforts to influence Presidential elections by foreign governments.
The British Intelligence Services worked to assure that FDR was elected and continued to be re-elected. Did FDR know about this? Possible. Did he ask for this assistance? Probably not. It was Churchill's effort to get America into WWII.
Iran refused to release the US hostages until Carter was out of office. Did Reagan know about this? Possible. Did he ask for this assistance? Probably not. It was Iran's effort to punish Carter for supporting the Shah.
The difference now is that the President asked for this assistance.
Millions of years ago Earth experienced the "Age of the dinosaurs" and their demise.
Today we are experiencing the "Age of the Oligarchs" from Russia, the Ukraine and sadly, possibly in our own country. And this president
directly or indirectly condones much of what they do.
Even the founders and those of wealth at the time of creating this singularly great democracy could not have anticipated these days would come.
Let's at least hope we don't go the way of the dinosaurs.
1
So long as Americans continuing living in the space of, for example, Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit, I’m afraid Americans will continue to be easily manipulated by whomever or whatever. This is a convenient human nature weakness that is being exploited. But we can learn from past mistakes. We need to learn to question and research everything that is fed to us (even from trusted sources!)— to weed out the fictions and lies from all the noise.
1
I have zero faith that people will do that. That requires reading and effort.
Hopefully honest citizens who still believe and hope for the true American way.
Nick, sadly, the citizens you mention make up only about
56% of U.S. adults.
1
Perhaps the most frightening aspect of the rhetorical question posed here is that there is no difference between, and among, Trump, Russia and the Republican Party. Notwithstanding the fact that this one-for-all, all-for-one troika is always on the same page, why is Trump, forever boastful of how wealthy he is, equally shy of revealing how he came by his ill-gotten gains? Perhaps it is because, as Trump Jr. bragged, a “disproportionate” amount of their organization’s assets have flowed to them from Russia, or that the Trump organization effectively has been serving as a laundromat for Russian money for decades. Although this global Watergate is ethically, morally and legally far worse than the “third-rate burglary” that occurred some forty seven years ago, the same Deep Throat recommendation applies: Follow the money!
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@Steve Griffith
Nicely summarized.
Follow the debt too.
29
@Steve Griffith I couldn't agree more! I was shocked to learn that Mueller skipped that whole follow the money rule. What investigation, from the most rudimentary to the most complex, doesn't look at the money?
34
@Andy As Deep Throat, played by Hal Holbrook, said in “All the Presidents’ Men,” ‘You’re missing the overall.’ Not you Andy, but most of us. We’re missing the overall.
7
There is only one answer to the question, which of the four gets to pick the next President of the United States?
It will be “us.” Although the first three choices pose the threat of a “corrupted” election, and how difficult it may be for “us” to make the pick.
The “us” has two parts: one, our Congress and two, all of our citizen-voters.
Congress may impeach, but Congress will not convict.
Trust the Mitch McConnell Republicans in the Senate to assure that Donald J. Trump will be our sitting President and Republican candidate for the Presidency on November 3, 2020.
So, all of our citizen-voters will pick the next President of the United States.
It will be the most important vote of their lifetime.
1
“R” does not stand for “Republican”, it stands for “Russian “
Trump is the head of the Russian Party.
Trump is Russia’s candidate, and they are doing everything they can to get him elected, and either way, to rip us apart.
When it comes to the Republicans. The Russians have succeeded. Look at Mitch McConnell, look at Matt Gaetz, look at Lindsey Graham, who do they represent?
The Russians.
They certainly don’t represent us.
6
Be absolutely certain Israel and Saudi Arabia are also in on this.
Trump has acted like Putin's pawn for years. The Ukrainian false narrative Putin peddled through intermediaries is a common form of Russian disinformation. All 17 U.S. Intelligence agencies agree Russia/Putin interfered with the 2016 election, not Ukraine.
Some believe financial leverage explains Trump's treasonous allegiance to Putin. The House Ways & Means Committee subpoenaed Mazars for Trump's financial records to see if that is true. Trump claimed he would release his tax returns, then didn't, which suggests he needs to keep skeletons hidden in closets.
Only time will tell if Trump is unwittingly gullible, because he's not a genius by any stretch of the imagination, or if Trump willingly works as Putin's pawn. The Mueller Report clearly showed Russia/Putin interfered in America's 2016 election. Mueller stressed to Congress that they're still doing it. America must steel itself against Putin's constant disinformation campaign and the question is, will Congressional Republicans handle this danger or ignore the issue if it benefits their political party?
Legislative actions by the House and Senate can protect our democracy from peril. President Trump seems unconcerned which should be troublesome to any patriotic American. Russia & Putin are not to be trusted. Congressional Republicans need to stop repeating false Ukrainian narratives as Dr. Hill explained in her sworn testimony otherwise they're as dangerous to the United States of America as Putin.
3
The people of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and North Carolina will be picking the next President.
If Native Americans and African Americans voted in large numbers, states like Georgia and North Dakota would be in play too.
Don’t worry, the Republicans will make sure that doesn’t happen. Look what they did last time.
If Trump wins again because of provable Russian intervention that as president he could have stopped, look for a cold civil war. The American people will not stand for it again. Fox News will be constantly attacked by the press. Protests will be everywhere. People will be hurt and some possibly killed. The reaction from the majority of Americans will be intense.
1
Great article.
The choice is very stark and clear next November:
Are we a country of laws, or men?
Will we have a Democracy, or a Dictatorship?
Or put another way:
Patriots, or Traitors? The difference between the two is only one letter, a P [for progressive] to an R [for Republican], but the wrong choice could well be irreversible.
Remember this moment in time, two years from today - our democracy by then either will be reborn, or will be dead.
3
My biggest concern is a very close election which Trump loses, but he refuses to concede the election. For some crazy reason I just don't see an honorable Al Gore-type of concession in such a case.
3
If Trump loses but refuses to concede we will have a crisis that will be like a sterilizing and healing conflagration: after a fevered period, it will be the death of the Republican Party as we know it. RIP
1
I disagree with the author's conclusion that "[i]t's one thing for our leaders to engage in corruption. It's an entirely different thing for our elections to be in doubt." If our elections become suspect, it is a direct result of the corruption the Trump administration has institutionalized. This corruption must be removed from the body politic if there is any hope of preserving a representative democracy.
3
I am deeply offended every time someone diminishes Donald Trump's actions. Donald Trump is a clear and present danger NOT just to America, but to EVERY living thing on planet earth. Remember that GOP flag wavers, never believed in Democracy, but instead wanted rule by the richest WHITE .1 percent. As long as they got political power, Donald Trump being a Russian asset was never a problem for the GOP. This is why they embraced the "visionary" tactics of Roy Coen, Rodger Stone and Rudy "Truth Isn't Truth" Giuliani. The Russian/GOP has known that as long as they promoted white supremacy, guns and religion they could manipulate undereducated white voters into supporting GOP politicians. The GOP has never supported the common good with policies like, social justice, racial equality, public education, clean air, workers rights, LGBTQ rights, etc. When America citizens finally decide they want a government by and for ALL the people who live in this country, every Russian/GOP politician will be voted out of office.
4
American Democracy is dead. Only a full senate impeachment might bring it back. And the chances of the GOP upholding their oaths of office is nil.
Whether Russia meddles with or without the White House's approval or help is irrelevant. The GOP has sided with an adversary--two branches of our government have seceded from our Union, its foundations, our Constitution.
A more pressing issue than whether Trump or Russia or us will pick the next President is whether the intelligent and informed voters among us,or the ignorant and easily duped voters among us, will pick the next President. That is a concern that will remain even if foreign influence and Trump himself are no longer in the election picture.
3
Investigators apart from the Television industry handlers should be carefully observing how they might tilt the election to their actor Trump as they appeared to have done in 2016 with a Billion dollars worth of free airtime for him.
At the age of 62 I fear for the democracy of our country. I mean like maybe I should move somewhere else scared. We have a grifter president with a AG who seems to see and read from the alternative facts universe. Example:Mueller Report. I read the whole report the first day it was available yet members of the senate chose not to. We have been demoted to a flawed democracy for the second year in a row. We better vote this dictator wanna be out or we will not recognize this country if we have another 4 years of what trump and the GOP plan.
"This report warns of a future harm:..."
Sounds like global warming. It's bad now, but in 10 years we'll be extinct.
No one ever mentions the Chinese. China has more to lose with a Trump re-election than Russia. China would love to help[ Biden, if he can make it to election day, or any other Democrat.
Which ever Democrat that is nominated, because he/she can beat Trump, will be impeached, for collusion with China.
The Democrats are not stupid enough to take China up on that. No, China is going to sit back & watch us destroy ourselves, then pick up the pieces.
Sounds like Democrats whining they cannot convince enough people about the correctness of their ideas. Stop deluding yourself into thinking Russia got Donald Trump elected. It was a single factor, among many that led to Trump's win. You can't not campaign in a purple state - Wisconsin - and expect to win the presidency.
Seems the msm and the Democrats will not be happy until we are in a nuclear war with Russia. You are putting us all at risk, IMHO.
There are other countries far more influential on our politicians and elections than Russia but are rarely mentioned. And further, look to the lobbyists and their influence on our democracy.
All this demonizing of Russia has accomplished is pushing Russia and China together. Real smart move.(sarcasm)
1
The notion that sometimes we elect bad leaders is totally avoidable, if more Americans really paid attention to who they were electing. Nixon's problems were well known, as were Trump's. I always thought Trump would be a disaster as president, one reason I thought it was a total long shot he would be elected. But he was able to bamboozle 63M Americans, that is the real story here, the utter impressionability and ignorance of FACTS of many Americans.
1
Impeachment, yes.
Let's not forget how vulnerable our election systems are. We also shouldn't forget how easily solcial media can be co-opted in order to manipulate our citizens.
We need to pursue this other unfinished business and cannot be 100% distracted by impeachment.
1
That is going nowhere with McConnell blocking anything to do with securing our election.
The answer is why did trump go to Ukraine?
Simply put Biden doesn't have a history of emails like Hillary did and he is well liked by swing voters and moderates.
As far as Russia people are now educated about Russian and other foreign actors an no longer place trust in what they see on line, might that be a comment of yet another microsite.
To top the cake with two cherries: democrats have regained Virginia and that means GOP redistricting is over and second most states and counties ahem gone back to either paper ballots or paper back ups.
Now will people stay home as they did in 2016 because of trump/russia successful campaign of mistrust and character assassination... or will people vote in record numbers (as I suspect) simply because they are beyond tired of trump never ending reality shows, his obvious incompetence and never ending lies.
1
Paper backups are only good if we look at them.
A truly exceptional observation.........quoting.....
"With meticulous detail, the report catalogs his knowledge of the 2016 Russian interference into the United States election. And it notes that his request for “a favor” from President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine during a July 25 phone call came one day after Robert Mueller, the special counsel, testified before Congress about his investigation into Russian 2016 election interference — testimony that Mr. Trump claimed exonerated him of wrongdoing."
It was a Eureka moment after I have been convinced for some time now of the possibility that Trump is a Russian double should be explored.
From the NBC coverage of the Sochi Russia Olympics, to Manafort's acquaintance with Russian State Television, to the Billion dollars worth of free airtime Trump's Television industry devoted to help him win, to the fact that Trump deported the Russian Diplomats suspected of spying but let the Russian Television company remain in Washington right down the street from the White House, to Zelensky being a Television man as well,it is clear deep espionage is occurring.
Beware the Television Studio Link Transmitters.
Now I know the FBI is part of it as they have failed to stop it.
It'll be left up to the "us" category because Trump and the Russians are clearly on the same page as we've seen throughout the impeachment proceedings. William Barr, Rudy Giuliani, Devin Nunes and the rest of Trump's defenders and apologist have been quick to repeat (disproven) Russian propaganda.
1
Why would Ukraine's announcing an investigation into the Bidens amount to "interference" in the 2020 election? Seems a bridge too far. The Bidens, and Dems, would have just said that there was no wrongdoing. I mean, we've had weeks of testimony about what Trump did and it doesn't even move the needle among either Dems or Repubs, yet you're telling me that a mere announcement that "we're investigating Biden" by a notably corrupt country is somehow going to automatically elect Trump? We don't even know if Biden is going to be the candidate. The only question to be answered is whether Trump had a colorable basis to ask that Biden's corrupt gig with Burisma be looked into, and clearly there was such a basis, agree with it or not. The fact that Trump may have received a political benefit himself is irrelevant. These op-eds are becoming increasingly unhinged. I don't particularly like Trump but just beat him at the ballot box already, and stop whining about Russia.
2
@R.P. ... "Seems a bridge too far."...The next thing that you will tell us that Comey, making a public statement that the FBI was reopening the investigation of Hilary Clinton's e-mail 10 days before the election, had no affect on the outcome.
"The only question to be answered is whether Trump had a colorable basis to ask that Biden's corrupt gig with Burisma be looked into"....Trump did not ask Ukraine to look into corruption in general, but rather wanted specifically for Zelensky to make a public statement that Ukraine was investigating Biden. That fact is rather different from the way you conveniently reported it.
The author seems to be preparing his excuse for Trump winning in 2020, which is the same as the excuse for 2016- the Russians did it! It could not possibly be that Trump ran a smarter campaign than his opponent, understanding and concentrating on key battleground states, but rather that tens of thousands of deplorable, "low information," pick your euphemism, voters in those states were brainwashed by clever Russian propaganda. Too bad the Democrats have yet to produce even one voter who admits he switched his vote from Hillary to Trump based on Russian propaganda he saw on the internet.
2
I wish there was an old Red Scare movie from the fifties where the bad guys turn out to be the Republicans! What a plot twist. So sad and revolting that the nightmare scenario of the commies infiltrating us is actually happening; aided and abetted by Republicans top to bottom. With the grand total of one Republican defection. But maybe that's what is needed - a little more revolting.
Another sad part is if Warren (or) is leading Trump by say 15 points next October - Wall Street will crash the economy. They did it when Obama was on the verge of being elected.
If they did that it would help her, not him.
Trump only shows in very clear terms what the United States is. He'll be re-elected in a landslide. Get used to it.
1
Could not have said it any better myself. I pray 20 Republican Senators read this article and do the right thing. Convict!
The complicity of the Republican Party is what will destroy our country.
The fact that an entire political party has so willingly sold out their own country is still a blow to the gut for those of us who believed our entire lives that Republicans simply saw the world differently. It’s difficult to accept the truth of what the party has become, but the endless lies, propaganda, and criminal disfunction is undeniable.
As flawed and unfair as the next election is, it’s our last opportunity to save whatever may be left of our country from a fate none of us want to live.
1
You gotta laugh, but you might cry instead. Mitch Moscow McConnell commented on quality of the Democratic witnesses at yesterday’s hearing.
Three top constitutional scholars, and McConnell doesn’t see their credibility.
It's outrageous that this piece even needs to be written. However. it absolutely hits the spot. It is so well said.
How about a billboards throughout the USA with "WHO WILL PICK THE NEXT PRESIDENT: TRUMP, RUSSIA OR US?"
Let's hope our outrage grows and all our citizens see Trump in the ugly nakedness of this Emperor with no clothes (shudder the thought).
1
President Trump so far since his inauguration to the highest position in the free world has not considered it necessary to have all who prostrate before him to call him ‘King’. No, it is rather to eye him as ‘Master of the World’.
If we consider Napoleon’s quip, ‘If you start to take Vienna, take Vienna’, we can get a general idea of where a usually one-track mind POTUS will wind up to if he gets a few more years. No not Vienna, just In the White House playing politics like a raging autocrat. Pray our democracy will handle him as bully and tyrant.
Trump has always been a dangerous person. Virus-like, he took over the Republican party, which now spews Trumpian invective on its own.
It's an open question whether Republicans can recover from their Trump infection. Many believe they were already suffering from anti-democracy fever. Impeachment, even removal, won't be an all-or-nothing cure.
Trump poses a threat to the 2020 election's legitimacy. The press and most of the public want to believe in this country's resilience. But this has to be tempered by a concern that we're burying our heads in the sand.
All of us, not just Republicans, are soiled by Trump. The press succumbs to relaying Trump's smear campaigns. Note this paper has a headline quoting his attack on Pelosi. We're transfixed by his lack of morality, by his destructive instincts.
Let's keep our eyes on the prize. When Trump ridicules a leader, ask when he'll release his taxes. When Republicans insist on first-hand knowledge of Trump's misdeeds, ask if they're accusing Trump of obstructing Congress. When Trump says he had a perfect phone call, ask when he'll release his taxes. When Republicans say the Mueller report was vindication, ask if Trump could stand on Constitution Ave. and shoot someone.
Keep asking about Trump's taxes. They're probably the only thing that might change public opinion in a big way.
'efforts to interfere with the 2020 election were willful, knowing and intentional. "
Te verb tense there is incorrect. Efforts ARE ongoing, as I write this, by both Giuliani and Barr, to interfere with next year's election. THEY must be stopped, no mater the outcome of the impeachment trial.
If Donald Trump is not removed from office before the next presidential election, then we must be prepared to face the likelihood of fascist rule by a corrupt self-serving tyrant. It doesn't matter whether Trump wins or loses the next election. If Trump loses, it will be disavowed by his base, and there will be ensuing rampant violence encouraged by Trump and subsequent disintegration of our democratic republic. If Trump wins by hook or crook, it will give him and his sycophantic boot-lickers license to continue to subvert our system of checks and balances and further allow Trump to become the self-serving dictator he so openly admires.
It appears to be a lose-lose situation for the American people and for our republic, but sadly, many of our citizens are too blinded by fear and primitive prejudices that they fail to see or acknowledge the fact that, as long as Trump and his lackeys remain in control, the country will continue on its rapidly escalating downward spiral into political and personal chaos.
3
Dr. Frankestein's monster destroyed everything the Doctor claimed to hold dear. Once created, he was savage, brutal, relentless, because the doctor refused to acknowledge and contain what he had done.
That's today's GOP for you. They created a monster, and now it's destroying everything. Is anyone surprised?
So how exactly will the monster be evicted from the Oval Office? Who will show up and tell him to vacate, and what if he doesn't? What if the monster rallies what he sees as his own military and base, and becomes a squatter at 1600, refusing to relinquish his stranglehold on the executive?
We may vanquish the actual monster, but his legacy of destruction will live on. To the modern Dr. Frankensteins of the GOP--the blame of this country's disfunction is on your doorstep.
At this point, it’s obvious, even under impeachment, Trump is continuing his unconstitutional behavior. I was shocked to learn that Rudi and Barr are currently actively working to advance debunked fake news about the Bidens and 2016.
I believe this explains why Trump is so insistent that Republicans defend him on the behavior, not just on the process. He has no intension of abiding by US laws. Maybe he’s playing by Putin’s laws. Maybe he’s convinced Republicans to play by Putin’s laws, too. Make America Great Again? What a laugh! SAD. SICKENING.
Trump thinks the law doesn’t apply to him. The law is for the little people.
This article is spot-on: because its nearly impossible that Herr Trump will be impeached by the Senate, it is important to send a warning to voters, that the potential for future activities similar to or even more illegal to happen, is quite great. This next election is probably the most important one in US history, since say, 1860... SOOOOO much is at stake. If The Donald and his merry anti-democratic gang of wannabee mobsters is allowed to continue destroying everything that ever made the USA "great" in the first place, the results would be nothing short of catastrophic.
We needn't worry about the legitimacy of the 2020 election. The legitimacy of the White House has been in doubt since 2016. The Supreme Court followed shortly thereafter. Congress hasn't held legitimacy since 2010 at the latest. Extreme gerrymandering as only one example. We live in a banana republic. At least partially.
I believe the duality of our nation has become irreconcilable at this point. We should simply separate. I wish such an outcome were peacefully achieved. However, there will be a war. The war has been stewing for a very long time. If voters can't achieve their will through the democratic process, there's only one other solution. Revolution as a means to an end. I can't wait to see Trump's reaction when justice is abandoned entirely. He'll wish he had taken the prison cell.
1
It seems to me that Trump is openly for sale to anyone who will help him -- and the Republican Party -- in 2020.
He openly asked for Russia's interference in 2016 in a campaign speech naturally covered by the media.
In a TV interview with George Stephanopoulos Trump said he'd be open to those who could provide "dirt" on his opponents.
More recently, he engineered a shake-down on Ukraine to gin up "dirt" on Biden.
Trump is broadcasting repeatedly that he wants "help" in his re-election bid. This means he's for sale.
How can anyone not see the profound danger that makes him to this country's institutions and national security? Trump has to be removed from office.
Impeachment is a necessity to protect us.
628
@An independent in For Independents, Trump is a necessary evil. He has helped to illustrate that the two party system has failed the American people. Think independently, vote independent!
2
@MJWacks first Trump must go. Voting independent for President only Keeps Trump. The Democrats are not equivalently evil to the Republicans. All Republicans must go at every level. Then we can work on replacing them with a new party, independents for example and work on the Democrats.
59
@MJWacks
Thinking independently is great. Voting independent is equivalent to not voting. At this point in history, our presidential election is going to be won by the candidate for one of the two major parties. Pick the one you like the most -- or dislike the least -- and make your vote actually count.
41
Let's be blunt. Our election system is broken.
Bush was 'appointed' by a partisan Supreme Court in 2000 - a travesty. He lost the popular vote. I expect he would have lost Florida if there had been a full recount.
Trump lost the popular vote in 2016
Our voting machines are suspect - it has been shown that they can be hacked. We operate in a highly gerrymandered system where voter suppression is more of a factor than any outside interference.
But the biggest problem is an uninformed, ignorant electorate, a good number of whom don't even vote.
Our Founding Fathers were adamant that the Republic needed informed voters to work. We have more effort spent to keep voters ignorant than inform them. Reagans repeal of fairness in media reversed a policy that worked. We now have a small number of media companies that too often peddle trash instead of real news. Investigative reporting has almost disappeared in this environment.
Just one more sign that the Republic is dead. We have the illusion that our vote matters and that we have a choice.
574
@cynicalskeptic ,have you ever noticed how other large countries do not use voting machines. Paper ballots and transparent ballot boxes.
73
@cynicalskeptic Some valid points, but way too one-sided. The democrats are as bad as the republicans. The two party system has failed the American people. Think independently, vote independent!
5
@cynicalskeptic
Your comments are right on point.
Doesn't it make your spine shiver to know that Ivanka Trump has a stake in a Chinese company that makes voting machines ???
64
If it weren't for the antiquated Electoral College, we would not be having this problem.
645
@operacoach
If Hillary had selected Bernie as her VP we wouldn't be having this problem. Surely Bernie would have gotten her the 100k+ votes in the Rust Belt to get her elected.
Even that intellectual giant Ronald Reagan knew in 1980 that he had to put his greatest primary rival on his ticket to make sure that his backers had a reason to show up at the poles on election day. This is called "Expanding the Base" and its Poli Sci 101. This almost give credence to accusations that challenged Hillary's judgement.
Apparently Hillary & her donors rather Trump win than give progressives a seat at the table, even when the seat is a nothing burger seat such as the VP - a virtual minister without portfolio.
Meanwhile she continues to blame Bernie for her losing. It never ever even entered her mind that she should expand her base to include progressives.
When is someone going to ask her why she didn't put Bernie on the ticket?
30
@Tim Kane Or why the Democratic National Committee did all in its power to prevent Sanders from becoming the nominee for president. He would have destroyed Trump in those "swing" states.
25
@Tim Kane
There are reports out today about Hillary's interview with Howard Stern. She is still a vindictive person blaming Sanders for her loss, and doing everything in her power to derail Sanders' candidacy THIS time around.
What a piece of work. With her true character now shining brightly, I realize I should have worn a bigger clothespin on my nose when I voted for her in 2016
11
In addition to foreign influence, the 2016 and was, and future elections will continued to be swayed by voter suppression and gerrymandering with "almost surgical precision" by unscrupulous politicians here at home. The game is to count Electoral College votes.
Even if foreign influence is proven, so long as it serves the winning of an election, too many politicians are willing to turn a blind eye and support unscrupulous means to 'winning'.
2
This is how a democracy can be lost. Major media outlets working in unison with opposition politicians on a narrative that is accepted without question by a large swath of Americans. Outright hostility toward anyone who refuses to accept the narrative, enduring the resulting personal attacks such as being 'unpatriotic' and worse, outwardly treated as evil if its discovered that they (gasp!) watch Fox News, to such an extent that many withhold their opinions in order to avoid the hostility. And when the hated President wins again, you can bet that there will be accusations of illegitimacy and calls to 'resist'. As the old quote goes, "a democracy, if you can keep it."
1
There’s no excuse for leaving a vulnerability in place when you know it exists. If not the Russians hacking, it will be someone else. It’s negligence to do nothing about it. Mitch needs to get off his behind and do his job. I don’t care what news channel you watch, this should disturb you too.
Really only two choices: the Trump/Putin tag team or us. Lost in all the discussion yesterday was that withholding military assistance was not just hurtful to the Ukraine but supportive of Russia, essentially Trump doing everything Putin wants as he has done since day 1 of his Presidency
2
It is extremely troubling how successful Putin’s regime has been in undermining the very principles of American democracy. If Trump gets impeached, his base will interpret this as a “palace coup” and a reversal of the results of 2016 elections. Parallels to the widespread sentiment in Scotland after the English dethroned James I, with generations of Jacobite wars that followed, come to mind. If Trump does not get impeached, the country will continue to be led by an agent of Russia. Either outcome is a big win for Putin. It is really extraordinary that a significant portion of our own Republican Party is abetting the enemy. Is it time to bring back the Sedition Act?
11
@Walter
Putin is successful because the GOP is the one benefitting.
We don't elect our leaders. Certainly, if we did, Hillary Clinton, who received 3 million more votes than Trump, would be our President. To keep harping on the fact that this is somehow a democracy, you have to ignore a lot of facts like that. Nor do I as a Californian, or you as a New Yorker perhaps, have anything like equal representation in congress. And the justices of the supreme court are appointed by a minority president, confirmed by a minority senate, serve for life, and are the last word on everything. Just how much more democratic can you get?
10
It’s all on us, the voters, to decide our fate.
There are many variables between Russia and Ukraine, and all of the bad actors involved, but the bottom line is if voters don’t show up at the polls in sufficient numbers we will get what we deserve.
There’s still a lot of time to make sure that We The People are in the drivers seat.
3
If Trump is impeached and convicted, will VP Pence become President. I feel strongly that his participation in the Ukrainian bribery scandal was more significant than has been publicly disclosed.
Shouldn’t he be held responsible for his involvement in this conspiracy? Shouldn’t this participation disqualify him from the honor of becoming the next President? Just as importantly shouldn’t the many members of the Trump administration who were involved in this conspiracy be forced to resign and face justice? Shouldn’t their coverup be scrutinized with moral and legal consequences?
All these facts are deeply troubling and reveal how much this Administration has violated their public trust, the rule of law, and their oaths of office.
15
Big money will pick our next president. Whether it comes from wealthy individuals, large corporations, or unions, campaign spending has a far bigger influence on our elections than any outside meddling. But we seem to accept that as just the way things are. True democracy requires public funding of campaigns.
8
Delaying military aid to Ukraine. removing US troops from Syria, delaying military aid to Lebanon. There are probably other things our fearless leader has done, but these are are enough to be going on with.
Who profits from this, one might ask. The answer of course, is Moscow. Could it be that Trump is a Russian asset? Looks more like it each day.
6
There are two aspects to be very concerned about. One. The prevalence of electronic voting machines and ballot counters. There are a limited number of voting machines types and manufacturers,, and the number of programmers for those machines is tiny. It is beyond easy,, I am a carpenter and I am sure I could figure a way to do it, it only requires one bad actor,, one programmer,, or one hacker, to subvert the counting of millions of ballots. Do not discount it. It would be much too easy,, and more to the point, much too attractive a target for a foreign player to assault. And we have no double check in place.
And second,,, the comments section,,, New York Times to Youtube,,,I comment,, I read comments,, and I know I have dealt with Russians answering in the comments. The syntax can be unmistakable. The positions adopted and defended can be unmistakable. Right down to and including,, some few are far to perfectly spelled, word choice, or they do not understand slang when an exchange occurs. There are ,today, many instances of commenters not being of this country. Can I prove it,, no, I cannot, But when I have someone supporting a "good ole boy' position, but they do not know that Detroit has not rebuilt squat,, or that pig farmers cannot sell to China,, or the soy beans are stacking up in silos because of trade disruptions,, Then I know I am dealing with someone offshore.
9
The question for me is who or what will be counting the votes, and who will have oversight over those people and machines that are counting the votes?
9
Don't worry about the Russians or Trump. Neither will have nearly as significant impact on who wins future elections of any kind in the USA as campaign spending does. Its not as sensational a reality television drama as foreign intrigue so it will hardly get spoken of by the click-bait media in this election cycle. But the candidates who spend the most almost always win and its been that way since this sort of data has been trackable. True, Clinton DID outspend Trump in 2016. But she also actually won more votes. Which brings up another far more significant factor in how elections turn out than Russian meddling: the absurd electoral college. But again, people want their real life political drama to be spicier than campaign finance reform and the electoral college.
9
There’s no reason that all of this can’t be a problem. Just because we need to get the money out of politics doesn’t mean the Russians won’t try and hack our election. I have a CS degree. It’s not hard at all to make a computer record a vote differently than what the voter entered. You can make it change every 10th vote. You can make it random and change every X vote to make it harder to catch a pattern. You don’t need the greatest programmer in the world, just someone halfway competent. And the Russians have that.
1
@Smilodon7 But campaign spending and the electoral collage are actually existing problems with a well known history of picking winners. Is there any hard evidence anywhere that any US election has ever been determined by foreign meddling in vote counting? I'm not saying that it is not some future possibility to keep watch for. But its not an actually existing problem. Yet this is what all the news media are forcing people to think about and focus on, while largely ignoring - since the beginning of this country - actual real problems.
@Jim If we didn't have the Electoral College then losers like Trump would never get a chance to be Prez. And that's not nice. We need a loser President once in a while to demonstrate just how low we could sink if we weren't more careful. Trump is a good example of a bad example.
It’s a new era with fake news and outside interference and unfortunately it’s not going to end with this election.
The best we can do is know it’s out there, to continue to have insightful articles like yours and great investigative reporting from The NY Times and other credible sources to keep people aware of what’s going on, and to make sure bad actors are held accountable for their actions.
Keep up the good work!
4
This column eloquently points out why impeachment is so vitally necessary – because the law "has three main goals: to punish a person who has broken the law, to stop that person from causing a current harm (or furthering a current harm) and to deter future harm." This is what the constitutional scholars pointed out yesterday during their testimony. They took the facts and provided the legal answers according to the Constitution and the rule of law. Turley only actually argued – disingenuously I think (and I've read plenty of his OPEDs in The Hill) – that more time should be taken because there isn't enough evidence. What he left out was all the evidence of obstruction in the Mueller report and the clear pattern of abuse of power by the president to suborn the truth about his actions to obstruct the investigation into Russian interference in our election and his own campaign's encouragement of that interference.(Go read the Mueller report summaries.) I think once the articles of impeachment are clarified to the American public there will be an outcry for justice and accountability. But it is up to us to demand our representatives obey their oaths and impeach Trump who has run roughshod over the Constitution and violated the Take Care clause as well as the Emoluments clause. And as Milgram points out corrupted the integrity of the State Dept, the OMB, and other agencies along the way. (Bannon got his dissemblance alright, and it is time for us to put a stop to it!)
7
Check the top donors for each party. That's who will pick the next president.
Remove private money from campaign finance. Publicly fund each campaign with equal amounts for a finite period, such as 90 days. Give us our country back.
15
The 2 016 election was affected by Russian hijacking of social media. Yet, Mr. Silverberg refuses to prohibit political ads containing blatant lies. Maybe, all political ads and discussion should be prohibited from all social media platforms to encore voters to look elsewhere for "news stories" that have actually been vetted for some degree of accuracy. Democracy does in the absence of truth.
3
@Bob Parker Can you name one person who's choice for president was impacted by the scary Russians?
1
A couple of my relatives were. They kept showing me stuff they found online. Articles where the headline & main story doesn’t match the fine print they put up as “evidence” hoping nobody would read it. Stupid Q Anon garbage. Stuff from websites that were clearly not legitimate news sites. Sites that were faked to look like CNN but weren’t. I told them it was fake but they didn’t believe me. Lo and behold when the Russian Facebook ads were released, guess what? Some of those I recognized as ones my family sent me.
1
If only Bolton -- and all those who have left this administration would only do their honorable duty to this country and testify before Congress, we would not be where we are today, with the Republicans shirking their duty to ALL Americans. Bolton wants to sell a book, which to him I guess is more important than trying to save our country. They all remind me of the old saying, "When a dove begins to associate with a crow, it's feathers remain white, but it's heart grows dark." It is not a quote about skin color, it is a quote about character. All those around Trump seem to catch some awful character disorder for which there is no known cure.
19
As Nancy Pelosi has said, with Trump, "All roads lead to Putin."
The impeachable offenses in the House Intelligence Committee's report are things President Trump has done that were self-serving. They were also even more in the interest of Vladimir Putin.
Congressional Republicans have steadfastly continued to defend Mr. Trump through all of this, despite clear evidence of wrongdoing. One explanation is Trump's continued lock on Republican voters, but even that seems insufficient to explain the unwillingness of nearly any Republican on the Hill to significantly break with Trump.
It is widely suspected that Trump's obsequiousness to Putin is due to financial and/or other "kompromat" that Putin has on Trump. Is it possible that Putin and his money are soaked way deeper into Republican politics than even that? There are already questions about the NRA's links to Russian oligarchs, and the NRA has been a huge funder of Republican political campaigns. Could there be a much deeper scandal here, with laundered Russian money infused into Republican campaigns throughout Congress?
Why are all these Republican members of Congress -including a growing roster of pending retirees who should be unaffected by Trump's voter base- so willing to look at clear evidence of Trump's wrongdoing and blithely make false declarations that there's nothing there? Why do people like Sen. Kennedy repeat false Russian propaganda about Ukrainian interference in the 2016 elections?
32
@Michael
We know Republicans have been on this crusade for decades, to shrink and destroy our government, put the oligarchs in charge and destroy social programs. Since Putin wants the same thing, how can we not suspect they are working together? It looks more and more feasible. Putin had a lot of money to be laundered over those years.
6
I am not sure that people are grasping the importance and urgency of the threat posed by this president's actions in the Ukraine affair. "Election interference" is anti-democratic and obviously bad, but it gets confused with things like Russia's 2016 cyber attack and various distractions raised by Trump supporters.
However, these other examples of so-called interference pale in comparison to the urgent threat to our republic when a president uses his official power to corruptly influence his own re-election. He is using his power to attain more power. Trump leveraged the U.S. Government departments of State, Justice, Energy and Defense, as well as the National Security Council, the Office of Management and Budget, and even the office of the Vice President, all to his own personal desire to retain power. These agencies are all supposed to serve the people, but he put them in service to himself.
Can a man who shamelessly hijacks our government to his own personal benefit be allowed to hold a position of trust to serve the will of the people? This is an imminent danger to all of us that can't wait for an election that he clearly didn't respect in the first place.
28
@Jim U I am completely sure that many people aren't grasping the importance and urgency of the threat posed by this president's actions. About 40% of the voting population if polls are to be believed. It is shocking that there are that many people who continue to turn a blind eye to this dangerous grifter and the threat he represents now and for future administrations. What they get out of supporting him I haven't a clue. The level of ignorance is mind-boggling.
1
But he’s one of them, or so they think. Never mind that he hasn’t done one single thing to help them.
And yet, 40% of the population of this country and virtually the entire Republican power structure sees absolutely nothing wrong with this situation. That's the real problem.
44
@Roger Demuth: It's called 'politics' and its as old as the nation. Very rarely do all persons across the na
@Roger Demuth Spot on
@johnlo -- It's also called ignorance.
1
Yes, democracy is at state, for the nation, and the world.
We are not the United States of Trump (UST), at least not yet!
Think of a new Trump (Murphy's) Law:
"If anything can go wrong, Trump will make it go wrong"
If we overcome Trump-mania we can have a new democracy.
I am reminded of the "Democracy" song of Leonard Cohen.
"Democracy is coming to the USA"
Perhaps the Times can discuss the "Democracy" song.
"Democracy is coming to the USA" (After Trump)
3
Who will "pick the next president"? The flawed electoral college, as always. The concerns of foreign interference rational, but the greater concern should be the profound willing ignorance of too many voters. . .those believing Trump-Pence are acting in the best interest of the people of the USA and those believing in 'free services' promises by Sanders and Warren. Aside from the different focus, both of these large groups refuse to accept reality and it is they who will destroy the USA through their anointed leader.
1
@Jim,
The electoral college will be in place come 2020. So democrats have to compete within three framework.
How many progressives are there in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin and North Carolina?
@Practical Thoughts,
not enough
Our presidential elections are always in doubt and are far from fair. With the electoral college choosing our presidents the will of the people as expressed by the popular vote has not been heeded with every republican president since the end of the first Bush’s term in 1992. Furthermore, trump has established an additional unfair mechanism in these elections and that is foreign collusion and interference. The senate republicans show no willingness to hold him accountable nor to change this fact of foreign interference. Why would they? This seems to be the only way they can skew the electoral college and achieve the presidency. The Democrats need to wise up, and after trump is acquitted in the senate, they need to adopt this new stratagem in their own run up to November 2020 because you can be sure that trump and the republicans will be. Welcome to the new paradigm in politics.
5
Yes, Ms. Milgram gets to the heart of the matter. Everything we've seen since 2016 assures us that if there is a way to cheat his way to reelection Trump will find it. When Republican officials make excuses for his actions, or try to discredit the investigation, they are telling us, the American people, "you have no right to a free and fair presidential election." The Republicans' argument that if we don't like Trump we should just vote him out in 2020 rings hollow when they are at the same time enabling him to corrupt that very election.
25
There's no doubt the Russians have and will continue to interfere in our elections, just like there's no doubt that there are some Americans who remain completely blinded to the criminal actions of this president.
That said, there's every reason to believe that people will get out the vote next year, it's just hard to foretell the result.
And then there's the Electoral College, which is as outdated as it is unnecessary and yet still holds the key to who's elected -- even when they don't get the majority of popular votes.
Anyone who has been paying attention to the recent events, or who has actually taken the time to view the Impeachment hearings knows without a shadow of a doubt that Donald Trump once again held himself above the law thinking he could get away with it.
It's time he didn't, and nothing less than our present and future Democracy depends on it.
5
Unless the American public can be assured that the 2020 election is free from foreign and domestic (read Trump) influence any close result with a Trump victory will be problematic.
6
@Etienne I'm pretty sure that Trump will influence the 2020 election :-). The two party system has failed the American people. Think independently, vote independent!
@MJWacks A vote for anyone other than the Democratic nominee is a vote for trump.
1
For everyone’s sake the 2030 election must be audited. Anything less will be seen as illegitimate
Isn't there this popular quote by Joseph de Maistre (googled it) "Every nation gets the government it deserves." As for the US all the necessary facts are on the table. Everyone can now make a well informed decision, based on plenty of fact-based information and common sense. Yet there is this (unfortunately too powerful) minority that doesn't care about facts and that minority in all likelihood will vote for Trump again. And sorry to say, as long as a part of the population refuses to accept facts and keeps believing in lies, conspiracies and fairy tales then something is obviously not working in this union. Divorce anyone? I don't know but apparently with Trump we get what we deserve.
9
@Mr. Chocolate Let them vote for the candidate of their choice. I will do the same, and let the best Democrat win!
@Mr. Chocolate I get what ya going for. BUT, we don't deserve tRump
Any question about damaging our democracy can quickly and easily be answered by the fact that 30% of Americans believe that Trump is a good leader, that he is doing a great job of clearing away corruption in D.C., that his shortcomings are trivial and inconsequential, that the world now respects us, and that any resistance or opposition to Trump is fraudulent and anti-American.
That's today, not 2020.
The damage has already been done. The only question we face today is whether our democracy has suffered a catastrophic blow from this crisis, or whether there is any hope for the future of our great nation.
21
Trump's actions regarding Ukraine were egregious.
But they do not constitute the Ukraine picking the next president of the United States.
Trump tried to force Ukraine--with the power of the presidency and the US behind him--to dig up dirt on Joe Biden and his son.
In Trump's view, that probably constitutes "opposition research."
But we've had previous debacles in that arena, like the Steele dossier. I've read that some suspect Russia played Steele, feeding him some of the more outlandish information in that report--which was then released to Buzzfeed and Yahoo as truth.
It's not just Trump or the Republicans who are at risk, or vulnerable, or willing.
3
@Talbot
Trump wasn't trying to force Ukraine to actually dig up dirt on Biden, he was only after a public announcement of such an investigation. All he cared about was creating a perception of corruption around the Bidens, via the public announcement by Zelensky, that would taint Joe Biden during his run to replace Trump.
There really is no equivalency whatsoever with the Steele dossier. For one, the dossier involved some level of actual investigative work by a 3rd party opposition research firm. More importantly, the contents of the dossier were not made public prior to the 2016 election, and therefore could not influence the outcome of that election. Most importantly though, no person on either the RNC (who originally commissioned the work) or Clinton campaign (who took over funding it after Trump secured the Republican nomination) used the power of an official US government office (much less the power of the Presidency) to extract any of the information in the dossier from a foreign government or foreign national.
The dossier is a complete red herring in the context of the current Ukraine scandal.
15
@Talbot
What kind of logic is that. You are ignoring the facts.
Fact: Congress approved the funding to help Ukraine fend off Russia.
Fact: The Trump senior advisors (Giuliani, Mulvaney, Pence, Sondland and Pompeo) pressured President Zelensky to make an annoucement concerning President Trump's political rival, putting thousands of Ukrainians at risk while the administration held up the funds. The Trump administration did not release the funds until the whistle-blower complaint.
Fact: A Republican donor actually first initiated the Steele Dossier.
@Talbot Be clear: He didn't say did up some dirt on BIden. He suggested (per the transcript) that the Ukrainians in the new admin, that was trying to wipe out corruption, look into the Hunter Biden situation -- and what Joe may or may not have done re getting the prosecutor looking into Burisma fired.
There's no question that Hunter Biden got a multi-million dollar gig sitting on the board of one of the most corrupt companies in Ukraine (Burisma) -- a do nothing job for which he had no known expertise. The only point of that job was to curry favor with Joe. The exact reason for JOe threatening to withhold aid is not clear, but...the best you can say about the situation is -- Joe had a huge conflict of interest which he ignored (as did the Obama admin). At worst it was corruption, pure and simple. The fact that Hunter got a similar gig in China is suspicious in the corruption category. This wasn't a witch hunt (unlike the Dem's impeachment inquiry) -- it was legitimate ask, whether or not Trump's motives were pure.
I firmly believe that Trump is antidemocratic and would rather not have an election.
There are too many parallels with Ancient Rome to not be worrying, but the most worrying of all is that it appears that many Republicans, actually find the idea of emperor, for life, Trump acceptable.
.
21
@Neville They find power, no matter the cost to our country, the rule of law, and the Constitution itself, to be a justifiable reason for what should be called treason.
1
It is a certainty that Trump will be acquitted by the Senate. So, how will impeachment forestall him from once again inviting in the Russians, and otherwise corrupting the 2020 election? To the contrary, it could well embolden him. Could someone please enlighten me?
Other than impeachment, what practical steps, if any, are the Democrats taking to forestall Russian interference? Does anyone have the answer?
16
@Ron Cohen, I don't have the answer, but I wish I did. Perhaps our CIA (if it still exists) or DNI is doing something but they certainly would not broadcast what they are doing because, well, if you're listening, Russia, ...
10
@Ron Cohen Pompeo, Barr, Perry and Pence could all be impeached. Giuliani could be prosecuted and jailed.
But these people could all be pardoned by a bizarrely emboldened man who, if reelected, would have no problem attempting to impose who-knows-what chaos on this country, and, indeed, the world (denying the climate emergency).
11
@Ron Cohen The answer is Mr. Cohen that under Pelosi's leadership the House passed the SAFE Act: a sweeping piece of legislation meant to ensure protection of our election systems. It is a bill sitting on McConnell's desk that he says is unnecessary. There are also other bills that Democratic senators have written and attempted to get to the floor of the senate addressing truth in advertising to take on the misinformation campaigns in political advertising as well as bills to increase funding to upgrade states' election systems. None of which the Republican dominated senate under McConnell's abusive and frankly rogue leadership will allow to move forward for public debate and a vote. I suggest you call McConnell's office and contact your representatives to demand that these bills be brought forward immediately for debate and a vote. These bills are about national security – securing the integrity of our elections – and there is no plausible reason why they shouldn't pass. The only reason the GOP objects to them is because they fear any effort to ensure a more transparent process that strengthens and ensures an American's right to vote. As for impeachment, it is necessary to hold a president fully accountable for wrongdoing to prevent a future harm to our republic and our constitution. If the Senate votes to acquit they will find themselves not just on the wrong side of history but confronted by a majority electorate seething with anger and demands for change.
8
Based on the reactions of Congregational GOP and Trump base to this impeachment inquiry, it is becoming quite evident that they define terms like "national security" and "nation" differently than the rest of us in a manner similar to their definition of "facts". To them, not allowing Democrats in power is an overwhelming part of "national security." That is why the lines of what is proper and improper in dealing with a foreign power is so blurred. Furthermore, their definition of "nation" has been shifted to mean only themselves, being the "real Americans." So, what we are dealing with is a monster that is putting us in a totally uncharted territory as far as a civic society is concerned.
49
If we have an election in 2020 it seems to me that a plurality of older white males without much, if any, college will play the dominant role, since they are so easily swayed by demagogues.
13
@Cassandra "If we have an election in 2020"(?) This alarmist panic is getting out of control. According to Wikipedia: "As of September 2019, Gallup polling found that 31% of Americans identified as Democrat, 29% identified as Republican, and 38% as Independent." So, the election will be determined by the Indendent, as it was last time (except now there are even more of us since many of us left the Democratic party after it's sham of a convention nearly 4 years ago). Think independently, vote Independent.
2
@MJWacks
Those who choose NOT to vote Democrat, but split the vote by voting 'Independent' are handing the election to Trump.
And it is very possible Trump and his gang will find a way to indefinitely 'delay' the election. Especially if he fears he won't win.
1
You are absolutely right that the integrity of our elections are at stake.At this very moment Trump is not giving any thought to the great problems which abound in the world-the degradation of climate change, the battles in Syria, the dangers of a failed Venezuela, the burning of the Amazon, the riots in Iran and on and on.His sole focus is the validation of being re-elected.He has time for several political rallies a week and constantly raises money.He sent Giuliani to Ukraine to help with a movie for right wing media to bolster his phony claims.He will do anything to win including “rigging” the election and sending the final decision to the Supreme Court.You are correct that he is a clear and present danger-those who do not see it now will regret their short sightedness come November 2020-pay attention Democrats!
38
@JANET MICHAEL Democrats have also been completely negligent when it comes to the important issues and problems in the world that you cite. The two party system has failed the American people. Think independently, vote independent!
Sadly, Trump will win re-election easily by cheating and interference from Russia, as he did last time. I have no hope that this nightmare will ever end. Republicans no longer have an morals, ethics, or backbone to stand up to this heinous person, who will continue lie, cheat, and bully his way through life. I am stunned by their naivete.
32
@Stephanie
They are not naive, they are simply trading their personal ethics for power and money. Happens all the time, particularly among the current Republican party.
3
@Stephanie - Yes, Trump will win and gloat. There will be drama and horror.
Wake me up when the tanks are rumbling down the interstates.
1
@Stephanie For congressional Republicans, it's not naivete. They know he's guilty. They're simply all corrupt.
3
We clearly live on different planets.
7
What the majority of Americans consider a flaw in our system, the GOP considers a feature. That will decide the fate of the nation in 2020 and beyond, whether we remain a republic or become some toxic blend of an authoritarian corporate fascist state and theocratic apartheid vassal state to Russia.
It's not even hyperbole at this point. The GOP's rampant complicity in all of this puts it squarely on their shoulders. Voters need to punish the GOP at the polls and wash them out of office in a blue wave.
However, the saddest truth of it is that should this necessary correction happen, and the host of needed reforms be enacted, it's only the beginning. The GOP war on democracy is a real thing, and won't end with one election.
40
@Daibhidh You're right that it won't end with one election. The Democratic party seems incapable of learning from their own mistakes and are once again featuring un-electable candidates. The two party system has failed the American people. Think independently, vote independent!
Why should Trump's temper tantrums threaten the 2020 election?
Is the Federal Election Commission now defunct?
Are the news media no longer independent?
Do we not have a Congress capable of passing election reforms, or at least alerting states and voters to problems?
Can we not regulate Facebook like any other normal company?
Did Democrats not win a majority of the popular vote in 2016, and a majority of the House of Representatives in 2018? Can they not make a convincing case for even more more support in 2020? Is it that difficult to present a credibly better alternative to four more years of Trump?
Absolutely Trump needs to be impeached. If Republicans had taken control of the House last January and Trump were a Democrat, they would have done it by last spring without doubt. But if the party that was ready to remove Clinton, in the Senate, for lying under oath about an affair, is not ready to remove Trump for treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors including obstructing justice and abusing his power for personal gain, can at least some Republican voters not find a moral compass by voting for Weld,?
Are Democratic voters incapable of deciding on a worthy replacement among the circa one and a half dozen remaining presidential candidates, and organize to expand their numbers in Congress and in state legislatures too?
20
@Sage Actually I believe the Federal Election Commission is short enough people to have a quorum, so yes it isn't functioning.
7
@Sage Wait a minute - are we in a parallel universe where the senate voted to impeach Clinton? Last I checked, he was acquitted. The two party system has failed the American people. Think independently, vote independent!
@MJWacks
No, the Senate did not vote to convict Clinton in 1999. He served out his term, though his VP then lost to the much less qualified son of the president who Clinton had successfully defeated and replaced.
But I did not say the Senate removed Clinton, I said the party (e.g. GOP senators) were ready to vote to convict (asin fact most DID vote) Why Democrats aren't talking about the hypocrisy of that same party (in a few cases even the same members of Congress) now willing to let Trump off the hook for toweringly worse crimes is a mystery of anemia or acute spinelessness hard to unravel.
1
Why would Trump so much as lift a finger to reduce or eliminate Russian interference in the 2020 election given that Russia, admittedly, favored and helped Trump get elected in 2016? Why would he not work for the interference to continue?
35
The American people will, just like in 2016. Until I see evidence that Russians, Trump, or some other entity hacked voting machines and added votes for Trump causing him to win the election, it'll be the American people deciding election.
That they submit their vote subject to a multitude of influences has never invalidated their choices before.
9
@LR ....The actual votes that people make may well not be affected. But there are other ways to influence the results. Social media is rampant with stories that range from half truths to complete fabrication; and there are any number of "news" outlets that often convey more opinion than fact.
15
@W.A. Spitzer And we believe this just started in 2016? I don't believe that's the case. Politicians have been putting out deceiving ads in print, radio, and TV since I was born. It's the norm. It's wrong, and I always thought they should be held accountable, but deception has been a part of politics since he beginning of, well, politics. We, as Americans are just learning we re no better. We should have realized it eons ago. But, for some reason, we didn't.
3
@W.A. Spitzer Are you sure the actual votes won't be affected? I don't have that much confidence.
4
The first time Trump meddled with an election using foreign interference he did it with the less than first rate help of Jared, Eric, the coffee boy and Manafort. This time he has his own Attorney General and a Vice President, Chief of Staff and Secty of State who are already complicit in the ongoing corruption. How much more effective will the attack therefore be this time around?
116
What is "monthslong?"
In my small mind I first read "month-slong,"
and it took me a while
to realize what is meant is "month's-long."
Our English language is changing,
and it seems it isn't for the better.
So is "monthslong" an newly-invented word?
6
Trump is a clear and present danger to our country. Who will stand and protect us from him? The US Senate must put party aside for the sake of our nation.
124
@BeTheChange Why would Senate Republicans do that? Their goal has always been complete control of the government. Why would they willingly do something that lessens their grip on the reins of power?
27
@BeTheChange But they won't. Republicans are united in their thirst for power and don't give a damn about our democracy.
10
@BeTheChange That is a fat chance, the GOP has shone it 's colors raw power and control is what is happening and it will not back away, if this republic is to survive it better get these people out ASAP.
4
Everyone knows that Ukraine hackers will decide the election. At least, that's what Trump and the Republicans are espousing.
7
@qisl
Ridiculous. "Everyone knows." Give me a break.
Well, we must recognize the Senate and the electoral college as undemocratic representations of America. We're so bad at citizenship that we let the 'founders', of 250 years ago, lead us (much to the dismay and probably anger from many of them).
Isn't one-person, one-vote democracy? Sure it is. I taught US Government in a public high school. Democracy at it's essence is the vote. So, we're electing Bush and Trump, though they lost the real election by millions. We are not good Americans; we are lazy, and therefore, bad citizens. That's the facts.
Policy. Policy not 'candidate'. The House and Senate should lead, not the President. The legislature should make the laws and policy. We're personally lazy, so we kinda like a king-like leader that's brash, bragging, bullying: he's an in-charge kinda guy. 'You're fired'. Yea, strong leadership; so, we can watch tv and deal with other things. Let the king lead.
The clear and present danger is Americans, led by the Republicans and their one-issue voters of abortion or guns or immigration. That's the main three. Trump makes them as emotional as possible. Democrats must be better at making their own case on each.
Let us expose this reckless charlatan, traitor. Then, we must begin anew. And then, the apathetic citizen must also be exposed.
66
Hey, who picked the Ukraine president, after the coup?
This op-ed reflects the hysterical paranoia about Russia. The Cold War ended decades ago. The Warsaw Pact dissolved. And NATO should have. Instead, it expanded (contrary to promises made to Gorby) to Russia's borders. And we worry about "Russian aggression"?
5
@Tom Couser What coup? A popular uprising by the general populace is not coup, and it's at best disingenuous to suggest it is. And besides, it would make not difference if it were.
Let me be clear: we are not Ukraine, we are the United States of America. And we aim to maintain our democratic republic.
The efforts on the part of the President of the United States to undercut the will of the American people by soliciting the help of a foreign nation in our election, and simultaneously undermining the ability of a NATO ally to defend itself against an illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine's territory, deserves better than your casual false equivalency. Russia committed acts of war in interfering in our election. The current president is encouraging more interference. And, while he's at it, he's obstructing justice. Congress has the obligation of oversight, and he must submit to it.
Not just adequate grounds for impeachment, but an imperative.
40
@Mark
If by a miracle Trump loses a second term, he'll scream 'Coup!' and instruct 'his' army to keep him in power. And Republicans will lie down and roll over. Just IMO.
@Tom Couser NATO is not invading countries and killing their people.
1
Impeachment 1.0/2019:
> Articles of Impeachment 1.0: Limited number.
> House Action: Vote on Articles 1.0: Impeachment 1.0 of Trump.
> Senate Action: Sham trial.
Impeachment 2.0/2020:
> IF new witnesses (e.g. Bolton) and new information (e.g Trump’s taxes) become available, Schiff holds new public hearings to gather more evidence on a broader scope of impeachable offenses.
> Articles 2.0: Based upon 2019-20 evidence, broad in number and distrib. 1 mo. in advance of 2020 Election Night.
> House Actions: determined by 2020 Election:
>> IF Trump loses the Presidential Election: The day after the election, the House votes on Articles 2.0: Impeachment 2.0 of Trump.
>> IF Trump loses the popular vote, but wins the EC vote: The House holds on their vote of Articles 2.0 until after Trump is sworn in: Impeachment 2.0 of Trump.
> Senate Actions:
>> IF Trump loses the 2020 Election, there will be another sham vote, but the public record would be clear about the broad scope of Trump’s impeachable offenses.
>> IF Trump, loses the popular vote, but wins the EC vote in the 2020 Election and IF the Democrats win the Senate by a sizeable majority (could happen), the Democrats have an insurance policy in place to remove Trump from office at the start of his second term: The Articles of Impeachment 2.0.
6
The accompanying photo, wherein we glimpse the sad, unruly truth about Trump's lack of hair, is a perfect metaphor for the man; he's a phony and a con man, trying desperately to hide his shortcomings from the rest of the world under a cheap cap.
It isn't working.
95
@Concerned Citizen. The post said, "metaphor".
3
The accompanying photo, wherein we glimpse the sad, unruly truth about Trump's lack of hair, is a perfect metaphor for the man; he's a phony and a con man, trying desperately to hide his shortcomings from the rest of the world under a cheap cap.
It isn't working.
8
Sadly, Russia will elect the next President of the United States. You must destitute Trump, it is the only option for avoid that.
4
It's actually beyond me why trump isn't being charged with election interference for his demonstrated actions. The damage to the US election is already done. trump has already solicited interference while contemporaneously sowing doubt about the results of 2020. He's roped the media into promoting conspiracy theories about Biden which have already had a significant and negative effect.
Columnists must stop playing the game of pretending that the integrity of the 2020 election is at stake. 2020 is already tainted and the results will not be supported by a large percentage of either party.
If this Democracy isn't already too far gone thanks to the disgusting republican enablers in congress, removal from office is the only thing that will save this Democracy.
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@Chris -- Two wrongs don't make a right, but there was a lot of election interference by both establishment parties - The Clinton Democrats and Trump Empire.
Trump ran on a lot of what the corporate media failed to share, namely Senator Sanders' strong stance to #StopTPP -- Obama/Hillary Clinton's "gold standard" trade deal, which Sanders called, "another lousy trade deal like NAFTA that does not protect American workers." Sanders won the Democratic Primary Elections in New Hampshire, Wisconsin and Michigan; Bernie also won Indiana and came within a small fraction of 1 point from winning Iowa. Clinton lost all of those states in the general election, along with the Southern swing states she needed to win to have any pathway to the presidency.
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@mjpezzi ; When have Democrats solicited foreign interference in our elections? Democrats don't even have anything equivalent to Watergate let alone asking foreign governments. That's what's called false equivalency.
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@Chris -- 2016 was always going to be Sanders or Trump. They both drew crowds all over the USA of 30,000 and 40,000 vs Clinton's average crowd of 300. I remember her NYC launch of about 2,000 with empty "overflow" zones with big screen TVs. Besides a total lack of enthusiasm for Clinton, the rustbelt states were heavily into the #StopTPP movement supported by Senator Sanders.
When Clinton's former campaign manager/ DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz was booed out of the Florida delegates breakfast and the Democratic National Convention, she resigned as DNC chair -- and Clinton immediately gave her a job on her campaign (at a time when Democrats knew the DNC had been turned over to Clinton during the primaries.) Wasserman-Schultz also reopened the door that had been closed by Obama, once again allowing federal lobbyists to make direct "donations" to the DNC. Guess who was named as the new acting DNC chair? Donna Brazille --The former Democratic National Committee chair and ex-CNN contributor, in a piece published in Time magazine, acknowledged funneling inside info to the Clinton camp before two debates with Bernie Sanders.
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I fear it may be too late. The security of the 2020 elections may already be in doubt.
We already know that we will be fighting off foreign interference from Russia, including potential vote count manipulation since the Republicans don't support paper ballots.
We also face the prospect of voter fraud, voter suppression, misinformation and, sadly, the neglect and indifference of our fellow citizens.
While Congress fiddled, Trump burned through the Constitution. And while these hearings and reports and movement toward impeachment are better late than never, we still don't know what Trump and Putin have already agreed to in practice or principle for the year ahead. Right now, it's not looking too promising.
20
Who will choose the next President- Trump, Russia or us? Seems to me it's us vs Trump and the Republican party. Both are doing their best to dismantle the democratic process.
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@dg
And with Ivanka's voting machines in place, it will be a slam-dunk for Republicans.
If Hillary had selected Bernie as her VP we wouldn't be having this problem. Surely Bernie would have gotten her the 100k+ votes in the Rust Belt to get her elected.
Even that intellectual giant Ronald Reagan knew in 1980 that he had to put his greatest primary rival on his ticket to make sure that his backers had a reason to show up at the poles on election day. This is called "Expanding the Base" and its Poli Sci 101. This almost give credence to accusations that challenged Hillary's judgement.
Apparently Hillary & her donors rather Trump win than give progressives a seat at the table, even when the seat is a nothing burger seat such as the VP - a virtual minister without portfolio.
Still waiting for someone to ask Hillary why she didn't make Bernie her VP choice to expand her base. Even Larry David play Bernie on SNL during the primaries thought this was a good idea - 6 months before the election.
3
@Tim Kane If the corrupt Democrat party didn't do everything they could to undermine Sanders and coronate their queen, Bernie Sanders would now be President. Seems there are a lot of short memories on that topic. The two party system has failed the American people. Think independently, vote independent!
1
@Tim Kane Democrats prefer Democrats on the ticket. Not hard to understand.
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The work to return the country to some semblance of sanity, order and lawfulness is being done by many different people working in a variety of ways. There are elected officials in the House carrying out their Constitutional responsibilities. There are civil servants in government agencies from the EPA to the State Department to the FBI enforcing regulations and laws. Perhaps most importantly are the volunteers in Town and County and State Democratic organizations and in organizations such as the Sierra Club and Planned Parenthood and the Sea Shepherd and others working to get out the vote and fund campaigns.
The wave in 11/2020 will be big and will sweep from sea to shining sea and when it is over we can begin the work of building a safe and sane planet for future generations.
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There are multiple potential problems with the elections. Here are some:
1. Voter suppression.
2. Voting machines without paper backup -- and evidence that Russia attempted to penetrate voting systems in every state in 2016. Reportedly, they didnt change votes, but they may be able to change voter rolls.
Google it. You'll find multiple articles, including those describing a Senate Intelligence Committe report, identifying vulnerabilities. Moreover, Republicans seem to be committed to blocking any improvement.
3. The now-familiar bombardment of misinformation in social media.
But, it all pales in comparison to the distortion of events peddled by Fox News. Yesterday, the big story on Fox was the remark about Barron and Barons. Not the crimes.
3.
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@RickP "Yesterday, the big story on Fox was the remark about Barron and Barons"
The first 30 minutes of Bret Baier's news hour was a live broadcast of the impeachment hearings. Since I don't watch the extreme right-wing opinion side, I'm not sure about which show you're speaking.
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@RickP
If conservatives become convinced that they can not win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism. The will reject democracy.” ― David Frum ...
We are watching them turn their back on representative government in real time. History happening in front of our eyes. The crumbling of a nation.
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@RickP I would elevate the pressing need to take on #3 NOW. FB, in particular, has been directly responsible for murders in both Myanmar and the Philippines, where FB was the only way for people there to access the internet.
This is no exaggeration, and I mention it because our media has ignore these facts. Fb has huge user numbers, has refused to disallow false political ads, and is poised to wield tremendous, undemocratic power in the upcoming election. It MUST be broken up, and regulated. Separation of the platform from the content provider is a rational, and necessary, first step, It has become a propaganda machine of previously unimagined power, and that's precisely why the traitor in the WH recently had Zuckerberg and his wife to dinner there (along with Peter Thiel). Goebbels would have understood.
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Trump's supporters don't care about this high minded stuff which is why he retains support. They care about same sex marriage, abortion, gun control, the Ten Commandments, blacks, Hispanics, etc. And Trump's supporters see conspiracies by liberals behind everything from climate change to the impeachment. The system isn't really designed to contain a demagogue and maybe no system of government is. Historically democracies don't last and this one may be coming to an end unless there is mass voting against Trump to stop him and the Republicans from setting up an autocratic state to further white supremacy, tax reductions for the rich, and the rollback of regulations on corporations.
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@Bob
Mass voting against Trump and the rest of the GOP will require immense effort and money. I urge you and every other person reading this to volunteer and donate as much as you can to the coming election campaign.
The future of democracy depends on our collective efforts.
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@Bob
True that.
But there is no adherence to the Ten Commandments, nor the words of Jesus in any of the actions of trump, the republicans or his evangelicals. It's only lip service to ideals that they abandoned long ago in their greed for power over the rest of us.
11
They care about the Ten Commandments? Anyone who truly cares about the Ten Commandments does not support or vote for Trump.
9
The electoral college picks the President. The USA has never been a true democracy and it still is not. Not until we directly vote for president will America be a democracy.
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@Concerned Citizen
Are you serious? One man, one vote is pretty simple, no? The technology is here; let's implement it!
1
This op-ed gets to the absolute heart of this investigation. The Republicans keep saying that the 2016 election shouldn't be "overturned," and that the American people will have a chance to voice their opinion about Trump via the 2020 election. But if Trump isn't removed, or at least restrained, it's very likely that the next election will be a sham. Is there any doubt -- any-- that Trump will again try something underhanded if he is allowed to remain in office? Only next time, even he is likely to be smarter about it.
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@Royster
And impeachment does not "overturn" an election. Mike Pence would become the president, and his position is a direct result of the 2016 election.
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@Royster
I doubt he can get smarter.
1
Just a few years ago, the Republicans told us that the Russians were our biggest threat. Today, they have embraced the Russians (better red than blue!), and given our independence and our democracy away. Trump is a foreign agent. And a credulous under-educated voting block can't see what's happening. A truly nightmare scenario, except it is real.
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@PT
Yes, democracy is at state, for the nation, and the world.
We are not the United States of Trump (UST), not yet!
Think of a new Trump (Murphy's) Law:
"If anything can go wrong, Trump will make it go wrong"
If we overcome Trump we can have a new democracy.
I am reminded of the "Democracy" song of Leonard Cohen.
"Democracy is coming to the USA"
Perhaps the Times can discuss the "Democracy" song.
"Democracy is coming to the USA" (After Trump)
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@PT
From the standpoint of the modern Republican Party, what's not to like about Russia? Russia is an authoritarian oligarchy that has marketed itself as being a haven for Evangelicals, a place with gun rights freedom, a petroleum based economy, AND they are white (mostly). Again this is marketing but enough Republicans have bought into this notion.
As for the oligarchy, what's not to love for our own home grown billionaires to only have to pay protection money to Putin in exchange for absolutely no regulations, no safety net and a dystopia for everyone else except the well connected. Bet that sounds like nirvana to them.
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@PT
Just a few years ago, Obama laughed when Romney suggested Russia was a threat, saying "the 1980s are calling".
1
The better questions are these. Will the Democrats choose someone with wide appeal? Will enough Trump supporters see through his constant lying? Will people who have previously been too lazy or disinterested to vote be mobilized by the fear of a second Trump term?
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If Russia can get into the vote tallies in the various states then our election is obviously in serious trouble. Russia could also mess around with voter rolls. That would also be great trouble. Mandatory paper ballot backup would help in case of hacking vote results, but not in case of hacking voter rolls. However I think China will hold the final say. If China decides to hold of on any interim trade deal until all tarrifs are off, and the December 15 tarrifs come on, and all the tarrifs stay, Then that could be trouble for the US and therefore Trump. If Trump's only out of the trade war he started is unconditional surrender to China via the removal of all tarrifs as a condition to an interim deal...that would be a very weak and bad look for Trump. Either way it seems the outcome of our election is in the hands of Russia or China. It was the same in 1968 when Nixon got the widow of Chaing Kai Chek to get the South Vietnamese not to participate in Johnson's peace talks.
8
What should be even more concerning is what if China, our most important adversary and competitor, unduly influences the 2020 election?
More important than the futile attempt at impeachment, would be to pass the laws being held up in the senate for election security.
9
This question should scare all of us, D and R alike. Foreign interference is a threat to our democracy, not just one party or another, not just just one politician or another.
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@Exhausted
Yes, it should scare any thinking American, and yet here we are. Not a single Republican has stood up to be counted.
3
@Exhausted
And you know, the US has repeatedly interfered in foreign countries' political systems covertly in the past. It has propped up systems. It has helped overthrowing regimes too, "regime change," never completely unilaterally, for sure, there's always internal friends. This has happened in Latin America, for ex. (banana republics and not so banana republics. Remember the overthrow of Allende?). So perhaps we are getting the feel of some of that poison now as we sit in the victim's chair. And who knows if Russia may be taking its vengeance now. Or perhaps the chickens are coming home to roost. We helped elect Boris Yeltsin (candidate friendly to the West and US) in the 1990s, the father of the disastrous fast paced (and often corrupt) privatization program that saw the rise of Russian oligarchs. They are now helping the likes of Trump in the USA, not completely unilaterally either, for Trump has always had his friends and followers.
1
I predict that if Trump narrowly loses reelection, he'll use his Justice Department to claim the election is invalid due to foreign interference and non-secure voting technology. He'll then declare the election invalid and refuse to hold another until his Justice Department is confident of an accurate result. Of course, they'll claim for years (if allowed) that they still lack sufficient confidence to hold the election. Trump becomes President for life.
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@Jim exactly right. Trump is not going to leave. He will have to be forced, physically, from the WH. And who will do the forcing? Well, unfortunately for those of us that actually like this country, the same people that absolutely love him.
So, will they remove him when the time comes? I have my doubts.
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@Jim
When the alternative is to accept a loss and face a potential jail-term...you bet his isn't going to go peacefully. He will call his supporters into the streets (however successfully or unsuccessfully that turns out to be). It hurts to consider. We need an overwhelming turnout to legitimize these efforts by Trump and his cult-following when it happens. Because it will happen.
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@M.A.A
To M.A.A and Jim:
I said this yesterday and at other times.
Please stop being afraid of this punk.
When the election is over, it is all out of trumps tiny hands. He does not certify the results.
As to who will do the escorting out?
The Capital Police the DC Police and the Secret Service will not be dissuaded from their sworn duty by anyone. They will be the ones.
The only thing left is the actual scenario on that day. Again, I still believe he will go out like Norma Desmond at the end of Sunset Boulevard.
And for the exact same reasons, wait and see.
54
When I go in the voting booth, there is no Russia behind me, no Mr. Trump behind me, no-one behind me. I can cast my vote without any external influence. Only uniformed citizenry can be persuaded to vote for external interests. Uninformed or uneducated citizenry deserves the government it gets.. always.
4
trump will buy the election unless Bloomberg does. Since Bloomberg has much more money, I am optimistic.
13
Right now it is looking like Russia will have the biggest say in who is the next President -- the GOP controlled Senate refuses to move legislation that would help prevent Russian interference in the 2020 election.
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@Gone Coastal Trump asked China for help, perhaps they will step up and help elect a Democrat since they are mad at the US for the support in Hong Kong.
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@Gone Coastal "Right now it is looking like Russia will have the biggest say in who is the next President"
I predict that the Democratic primary voters will have the most say in who wins next year, only history tells us that it will probably be unfortunate for them.
6
The republicans and the religious right don't care about any of this, the country they've always wanted is within their reach - and the rest of us will pay the price.
No matter what Trump's presidency will go down in history as the bottom of the barrel of presidencies, and there's a good chance he'll see prison after 2020.
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@dugggggg
As much as I'd like to believe that a stay at the Ol' Graybar Hotel is waiting for him, right now I'm happy if he just leaves the WH, by vote, impeachment, 25th Amendment...whatever works.
I'm looking forward to the end of the Donald J Banktrumpcy "presidency".
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@dugggggg What they want is power. That's it. Nothing to do with religion. Religion is a vehicle to power.
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@dugggggg
Shouldn't we already doubt the history this admin will cook up? Consider 'alternate facts'--let that sink in and imagine the GOP's historical, unchecked account. Expecting history to shine a bad light on #45 requires that he not only is defeated in 2020, but that GOP also loses all available senate seats.
10