There is no point in stating the obvious. The Republicans continue to put party and power over law, facts, and your nation. The screaming and histrionics by the likes of Nunes, Jordan, Gaetz, and the rest of the Republican Keystone Cops is actually (or it should be) embarrassing for Americans in that having no excuses or justifications what so ever in dealing with the glaring proof of Trump`s abuse of power; they can only and continually try to shoot the messengers. If this continues; there will soon come the day when you will officially have to admit the world must now refer to your nation as the NON-United States of America. Once again Abraham Lincoln`s words are prophetically proven true. The only power on earth that can destroy your nation is a cancer within. The Republican Party has become that poisonous entity that is hell bent on making your Constitution a worthless piece of paper; that just gets in the way of a sad Authoritarian dictator named Donald Trump.
12
"Mr. McConnell appeared to put aside any notion of impartiality as a juror in the coming trial.
“There will be no difference between the president’s position and our position in how to handle this,” Mr. McConnell said."
This, in a nutshell, is why McConnell has been a far bigger threat to our democracy than Trump. This one individual, kept in office by a very small sliver of our national populace, been the sole arbiter of who gets placed on the Supreme Court, what proposed legislation is even debated, and here he gleefully admits that he will see to it that his Senate does not uphold its constitutional charge to check the powers of the President.
Trump is childish, corrupt, abusive, etc., but he would not be able to act on his most base instincts, were it not for the continued cover from McConnell. McConnell is truly the person most deserving of our spite.
16
The stark difference between the career diplomats and true patriots in our government, and our corrupt “representatives” in Congress really makes this a frightening predicament.
Those who want a dictatorship in America will not relent.
They are determined.
10
How shameful.....
The Dems contempt and true hatred of our President was on full display yesterday.
Calling for adjournment, without telling Collins, a ranking member of the Committee, shows how low the Dems really are.
The vote doesn't matter - It's all "for show" - the Dems are so consumed with containing the narrative that they need to have the vote in morning "primetime TV" (they could have had the vote last night - but, nooo! Got to keep clinging on as long as they can!!)
But let the Dems have their "moment"....its been years since they have had anything for their party so, hey, fine.
The Dems know (but refuse to accept) - what EVERYONE knows - their 'holy grail" quest to impeach and remove a legitimately elected President will never come to fruition.
As soon as this circus passes in the House, as it surely will, it goes to the Senate, where,
- The dems lose the narrative
- the dems lose on impeachment because, rightfully so, our President will be exonerated of any false claims against him and will be acquitted, and therefore innocent under our laws
- the dems lose on removal of our President from office
- and best of all - the Dems will get beat once again by our President in 2020, plus those Dems in the house in conservative leaning districts will lose their seats to a Rep (due to the pressure put upon them by the Dem leadership in the house to vote for impeachment) and potentially deliver the House back to the reps!
4
Face it. Democrats lost this round. They lost the Russian collusion fight too. Their hubris led them into the latter. Their leftwing pushed them into the former.
In this round, the GOP provided just enough evidence and argument to challenge weak impeachment charges. For example, an OMB statement that proved there was no nefarious withholding of aid. A foreign president's statement that he wasn't coerced. A charge that it was despotic of the democrats to try to impeach for obstruction when they had recourse through the courts.
If Pelosi is smart, she'll cut her losses and try to regain the ground she's lost against Trump.
12
Me thinks... the Goal was not to get actual dirt on Mr Biden. I think the real goal here was to divert from the fact that Russia may have tampered with the 2016 election, by making Ukraine look bad. Mr. Trump constantly claims that Ukraine has some obscure server. If Mr. Zelensky had publicly announced he would investigate the Bidens, that would not have looked good on Ukraine and Mr. Zelensky. So I believe that Ukraine has found themselves between the Rock and the Hardface. So, Ukraine looking like "the bad boys", who does that serve?
5
The issue of impeachment is, unsurprisingly, becoming extremely partisan in nature. Both sides are willing to ignore the story and facts being presented, and rather, going along with what their party is supposed to vote. This itself is no surprise, as it fits with the theme of the entire Trump presidency thus far. What I find surprising is the action presented in this. They are belligerent, stubborn, and borderline juvenile in defending their side. While I think it is possible the Republicans could be trying to bring up valid points, those are immediately drowned out with their delivery - they yell their point with hostile language. This, in my opinion, furthers the divide amongst members of the house. The Democrats are not likely going to listen if they are being yelled at. If this trend continues, the case and any further debates are likely to be much more of a show than anything resembling effective democracy.
136
@Emma:
Uh.. Let's not dodge the fact that Trump is admittedly guilty of both charges. How can you not understand why the Democrats continually point this out?
92
@Emma Collins does sound like a tobacco auctioneer doesn't he? And all of the deflection from the issue at hand makes most of the Republicans sound silly. Truly, I am concerned about the 2020 election. Will Trump call out the national guard if he loses? Or will riots take place? And I am concerned for my grandchildren's future.
47
@Emma
"Both sides are willing to ignore the story and facts being presented..." I don't think that's the case at all. Democrats have presented a slew of facts and Republicans are ignoring them. Your false equivalency is frustrating and ultimately no more a reflection of reality than the Republicans' grandstanding.
101
So much ado about nothing, these are people who have become rich on the taxpayer's dime for doing very little of what they were hired to do.
7
@Ed Sumara
While supporting our Very Excellent (albeit planet-killing) Military Adventures in the most cooperative, bipartisan way possible. I forget now, which Impeachment Testifier person was also invested in selling Raytheon missiles to Ukraine ? And why is Fiona Hill the new darling of the left when she is such a strong advocate, as per her own testimony (at about hour 4.5) for sending fracked US gas halfway around the world in order to damage Russia's economy ? At the expense of outgassing methane (see NYT article yesterday) and ruining our own water tables. Where is the environmental outcry ? It's all a dog and pony show.
1
The Republicans have one thing right about this: Hunter Biden is at the very core of Trump's almost certain coming impeachment trial.
If Hunter Biden had not decided to take that board position with Burisma, then Trump would have no reason to beg Zelensky to announce an investigation into him.
But Joe Biden has been beating Trump in all the polls, so Trump needed foreign help to bring Joe Biden down.
So Trump's solution was to use investigating the Bidens as quid pro quo in withholding military aid to Ukraine, in return for dirt on the Bidens.
So looking at this impeachment from the perspective of cause and effect, Hunter Biden is the critical cause for Trump being impeached. But it all proceeds from Trump's hubris, thinking he could get away with it.
Even if the Senate acquits him, Trump's place in history will be in the garbage bin, because he sold out his country for his own political benefit.
And that is what he fears most.
1027
@ernieh1 I endorse your comment although I offer a metaphor more appropriate than garbage bin. Cesspool.
75
@ernieh1
So incorrect. It started with Joe Biden demanding the corrupt Ukraine prosecutor be fired. That, and less, would have been enough to start the Republican propaganda machine. Remember what they did to John Kerry, a war hero ? A corrupt, disgusting project called Swiftboating.
112
@ernieh1:
Donald Trump is the critical cause for Trump being impeached. . .
198
They have better things to do and should be doing. This president has been fabulously successful for our economy, shutting down war zones and bringing our kids home. He finally brought China to its knees. He gave Ukraine missile defenses that Obama would not. He has made NATO stronger. The USMCA deal is incredible. Don't ask "who can beat Trump" ask "Why would you want to beat Trump". Stop hating the man for being an Alpha man. Enjoy the ride and the earnings in your retirement accounts.
14
@Mike
While simultaneously proposing cuts to Medicare and Social Security, not defending preexisting conditions, cutting food stamps, rolling back environmental regulations, calling global warming a hoax. The tax cut for average Americans has been absorbed by the tariffs of trade war, Trump tells us China is paying the tariffs.
Trump has weakened NATO, not strengthened it, everything he does seems to appease Putin.
Just because your 401K is doing well does not mean that half of America which is living check to check is doing as well.
33
Life, liberty, and freedoms are worth more than any ministry value.
2
@Mike So you are saying that as long as you gain personally, you don’t care what criminal or ethical lines he crosses, or how those actions threaten our democracy?
Sounds familiar.
6
Hypocritical Republicans single out Hunter Biden for making money, while Ivanka is raking in million$. The day after she had dinner at Mar-a-Lago with President Xi, she was granted 3 lucrative trademarks in China. Now it's up to at least 16, incl. one for voting machines...
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/06/ivanka-trump-gets-initial-approval-from-china-for-16-trademarks.html
Hunter Biden is a lawyer and an adult. He can do what he wants, regardless what his Dad thinks about it. If Republicans want to investigate Hunter Biden, though there is no evidence he did anything wrong, they need to investigate Ivanka.
1502
@Mark McIntyre
So we can't investigate corruption unless we investigate everyone for corruption? I don't think that's how it works.
If Hunter was just a random adult making money, sure, no problem.
If, on the other hand, he's making money based on actions his father takes on behalf of America, wouldn't you call that a problem?
Especially if his father used America's clout to ensure an investigation into him is dropped?
19
@Fletcher okay, if you think there was corruption there then have the US legal system investigate and if Hunter or Joe are guilty so after them. I think this has already been debunked but you can investigate through official channel - Rudy and anything but this. And, please then lets keep the Trump matter separate. It is clear he was involved in a shake down using the might of the US for his personal gain - NOT ALLOWED.
179
@Fletcher:
Why aren't you applying the same standards to Trump's family? Haven't his children been making a lot of money off their father's political connections as POTUS?
270
I watched some of the hearings (boring), I cannnot fathom why the Democrats would feel it is wise to move forward with this silliness, all the work and sweat that went into this and we all know how this ends, Mitch told us.
So....WT- are we delaying anything for ? Is this how the Democrats feel democracy works ? This whole charade will be long remembered, personally I will NEVER vote for a Democrat.
1
Oh, for all eternity the stupidity of the Republican's party will be on display for all the world to see and hear forever. C-SPAN archives to be viewed by billions. .
The level of corruption by the GOP, Ivanka, Donald Trump Sr.Jr, Rudi, Pence, Jordan (sexual enabler) Nunes, Collins, Barr was precious yesterday. All stooges for Trump what a magic dictator Trump is.
The real world can only feel sorry for these tired ignorant men who feel that if you talk loud and fast that you are saying something of merit and people will listen to them. Alas, the talking tongues all involved in the Trump attempt to cover up their massive cover up,
The Constitution was stepped on by Trump and his cronies and now we must go into history doing the right thing for the people who will come after us. America is not going down for a draft dodger and Sean Hannity who is a supporter of everything Putin.
Ivanka is making money hand over fist, be delighted when she is asked to testify about how much money she has made off her daddy's name.
The only thing not coming around again is the stupidity of the GOP who will be resting in peace.
Trump= =Corruption=Putin
Nancy= America =Democracy
3
This impeachment stuff could be a new gig for me. In fact, impeachment could be a real job incubator. Until now, I never thought government could create jobs but this impeachment initiative could have legs in the long term, a whole new industry. Kind of like a startup.
Who thought it was a good idea to allow the poster boy Matt Gaetz, of all people, to bring up Hunter Biden's substance abuses issues?
2
Reading these comments, with folks still seemingly believing the fake Trump Russia collusion nonsense fairy tale, it makes you wonder if stupidity is really that popular a major.
2
Having watched and listened to hours of the hearings I have the nasty feeling we are seeing the "Reichstag fire" in slow motion.
I hope I am wrong.
2
Repubs show over and over again that they place no value on democracy with their vote manipulations and outright vote cheating as we saw in NC, their making the vote difficult in areas that might or could vote Dem and especially gerrymandering and let’s not ignore that they do zilch for the people...just the wealthiest who don’t need their help...but the people do.
They also show their corruption and lack of values to allow this president, the most corrupt in my life, with so many Russian connections to continue in office, when if he was removed, they still have a repub in Pence.
There appears to be no Profiles in Courage, honesty or integrity in this once Grand Old Party...only what looks to me to be only fascist values as they support this president who only values some of the worst dictators in the world.
1
Regardless of what they may be saying today, McConnell and the Senate and House Republicans must realize that they will have to face re-election in 2020 and 2022 and supporting the incompetent corrupt Trump will come back to haunt them in the future. They may think their constituencies support them today, but November 2020 is still 11 months away.
1
Repubs and trumpers in general are repeating the you-hate-trump mantra as though all this is the result of reflexive partisan politics, or worse: adolescent pique. Is it possible that so many people hate trump—a feeling that goes back decades wherever he's pushed his schemes—because he is indeed hateful? We're talking about a real estate developer here; goes with the territory.
3
Whining about delaying the vote after spending a day delaying the proceedings to relentlessly repeat lies and discredited Russian propaganda is typical of today's GOP. I wonder how much illegal Russian money has found itself in the wallets of these stooges.
I have no doubt that the GOP thugs got a standing ovation from Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. I hope that red-state voters join the civilized world in taking a much less charitable view towards the whole shameful performance.
Mr. Nadler did exactly the right thing.
1
There are no facts. Simply cut and paste based on hearsay and assumption to fit a hypothetical model the Democrats have pushed forward like some kind of actual happening. This whole thing would have been laughed out of any local traffic court.
1
Cowards. Do it, let the chips fall where they may. This kind of garbage started with Teddy Kennedy and the Bork hearings. I thought the Clinton impeachment was nothing but political bull. The entire federal government has become a joke. Starting at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, running through the Capitol and infecting every federal agency.
After this impeachment fiasco has ended, the grand jury will be serving up indictments in the FISA fraud and Steele/DNC/FBI/CIA set up. Wait for it.... Got to get the timing right. The impeachment was an attempt to placate the far left and distract from the real crimes. It's coming... McCabe, Strozk, ....
2
Bill Clinton set the gold standard for impeachment. Trump did not even come close to Buba’s acts.!
2
Let us Hope that these petty and craven days are waning, and better, more generous times lay ahead. -C
Note to Mr. Collins.
When you are given the gift of time to "reflect" and "search your conscience" it is really really *really* not a good look to foment, bluster, and rage against the indignity of that.
Seriously. STOP and think. Your true colors are showing.
1
How can Democrats live with themselves? Do they wonder what they have done to this country? Can we get done already? What a farce!
2
There’s a mug shot of Rep Gaetz of Florida after he was caught driving under the influence and refused to take a breath test. And his father apparently is or was a powerful state politician in FL. It’s been brought up after he brought up Hunter Biden. Interesting when politicians throw stones at others!
https://youtu.be/uwNhtP6svxI
1
Ask any jailer or nurse, the lifers in any
institution are bound to get bored and
do stupid stuff.. The lifers in the
Watchington Institution for the
Criminally Insane are just bored.
Trump's the new kid on the block. He's
gotten a little full of himself, plus he's a
short timer. Trump's getting out pretty
soon and that's bound to create a little
resentment among the lifers. The lifers
have got nothing to do for the rest of their
lives but sit around and watch each other
getting older, more senile, crooked and
decrepit every day, like a living picture
of Dorian Gray. So the lifers got
to stick a shiv in Trump while he's
still on the inside, just to keep
themselves entertained.
This is nothing new, this is standard
prison yard politics,
Republican representatives have become this era’s Pearl Harbor attackers
A collective, no dissent, dark, deceptive, all-in attack without regard to consequences
Remember these are the same fools who claimed evidence of Bigfoot and collusion for two years.
Doug Collins, Jim Jordan, Matt Gaetz, Louie Gohmert, Andy Biggs...what a sorry mess the Republicans are.
1
Oh!
The Republican propaganda signs are back up!
Gonna start soon!
(...and, yeah.... I feel so left out that my side never got to put up propaganda signs, too....)
1
The committees have been presented fairly to the people of our country. Democrats have followed the timelines and testimony of career civil servants. The republicans are yelling about nothing. Their tactics appear to be from the Trump business playbook, provide mediocre management, blame others for mistakes, make sure the loyalists are favored, (as long as they stay in line), stonewall when disputes that do not favor become apparent, tie everyone up in court. Delay Delay Delay. I commend the Dems for following the Constitution of our republic. Their colleagues from the other side of the aisle should understand smoke when they see it.. PS it quakes, so it must be a duck.!!!
Listening to the Republican chorus of nonsense ans lies was pure torture. I doubted they ever reasd the US Constitutuion and its impeachment provisions. The articles will pass the House. The Republican double talk made them look stupid and dishonest and that will not work in the Senate without some parliamentary tricks to avoid a Republican massacre leaving many Senator too damaged for reelection. Fun and games in the New Year unless enough Republicans abandon Trump to save themselves and the country, frankly. Like Nixon, he is not a hill to die defending. If Trump survives, the Consitition is a dead instrument protecting a tyrant and the Republicans will get the blame for decades. If Trump cannot be removed per the two articles, the precedent set will doom the country's future, and we will not have failed to keep a Republic as Ben Franklin feared.
If I find out that you know that someone broke the law how is it wrong for me to encourage you to report it to law enforcement?
Take this quid pro quo thing. They both did it, Biden and Trump. The difference is that with Biden they were cool. Everything went unsaid, everyone knew what was expected of them, and they all implemented their little scheme. Sneaky.
Trump could have done the same thing. But
Trump, on the other hand is brash, uncouth, can't resist shooting off his mouth. Couldn't resist putting it to Zelensky who probably would have done what was expected of him.
2
How do we know the Democrats’ latest coup attempt is falling flat on its face?
The most watched video of the proceedings is Moe Nadler drooling on himself.
Go Moe.
Finally, you’re a star.
I still remember Ken Starr walking to his car each morning waiting to be interviewed by the press. He always has a little smile on his face sometime like the cat in the Alice in Wonderland. He always looked so important.
We now have a bevy of Republicans all looking for their place in the sun. Bevy may be the wrong word as I think this group is closer to "knot". (a group of toads)
It is certainly the case that people have gone collectively insane to grant power to a rotten man like Trump. Many of them are celebrating him. It is crazy.
I burst out laughing when Republicans started bawling about the hardship of having to make last-minute changes to their travel plans. Well shucks, fellas... it’s almost like you have a real job or something! There is nothing sadder than a spoiled little politician who can’t get his three day weekend. Boo hoo.
The Hater President, Trumpy's greatest accomplishment will be his impeachment. The House Republicans have demonstrated that in Trumpy's place they would commit his same crimes. Not exactly a sign of a bright future for the country. The House Republicans demonstrated craven, cowardly and erratic behavior in a hopeless effort to curry favor with Trumpy. He blames them for his impeachment and his is correct, they have done him and themselves a disservice.
Trump inherited a healthy economy. Tax cuts and slashing environmental policies resulted in more growth, to be paid for in the future. No major investment in infrastructure.
I’m not surprised at anything the republicans do or how low they sink. They have been a minority party for decades, their primary tactic: separate people. Reagan said it perfectly: ‘Welfare Queen in Harlem with 5 kids from 5 fathers driving a Cadillac.’ The message to whites: your problems are because of blacks, muslims, hispanics, etc etc.
This narrative kicked up a few notches with the election of Obama. The racism was thinly veiled. However, ‘food stamp president’ … ‘You LIe’ … Tea party coward spits on John Lewis … Blatantly racist posters of Barack and Michelle … made the message clear. The republicans absorbed the tea party because they need the votes.
During the republican primaries their cowardice was glaring. Trump said and did horrible, cowardly, racist and sexist things. He enjoyed huge cheering angry crowds at rallies when he described their problems, promising to ‘fix it’.
Terrified by these crowds, not one republican objected to any of his behavior. Not one. They fell in line.
Fell? Correct that; collapsed.
The republicans remain crouched and wary, in denial as they proclaim the greatness of Trump.
2
All of this is the sad result of the Electoral College system, which basically rewards narrow-mindedness, bigotry - and losers.
The two clowns in the "Get Over It" t-shirts sum it up.
Get over it?
No, we won't.
Trump's alter ego Boris Johnson just won his big election. The demolition of the UK and the EU are therefore assured. Putin has reached his second objective after the self-destruction of the US. This is the collapse of the West. Champagne or some bubbly from Crimea flowing in the Kremlin. Thanks to Murdoch, Fox and our GOP traitors (actually "collaborateurs as the French would say). Well done! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Congress authorized 391 Million dollars of military aid that Ukraine needed to blunt Russian attacks on its people and territory. We the people through our elected representatives agreed to spend this money to protect Europe and the US from Russian aggression. Trump held up the aid and a meeting with the President of Ukraine which would show our support, to attempt to get a favor, the public announced investigation of his 2020 rival Joe Biden and fake Ukraine interference in the 2016 US election. Russia interfered as 17 US intel agencies concluded after months of work.
After the whistle blower was set to spill the story to Congress Trump released the funds. No amount of GOP spin can eradicate the facts. If you do not see the abuse of power, the corrupt elevation of personal interest over country, the shame and dishonor of trying to get a foreign power to meddle in the 2020 election to help Trump win, as Russia did in 2016, then you are a hopeless fool for Trump, and not loyal to the US Constitution. The GOP is left with the inane argument of Nixon that when the President does something that makes it legal. It would if the President was a king or emperor, but that is not our system. We have laws, norms, and traditions that do not put Trump above oversight.
The GOP pandering to Trump has erased any claim to principle, morality or legality for them. They have drunk the Kool aide and become apologists for a would be king.
If Trump wins in 2020 we have a king.
1
What is wrong w Doug Collins? He is soooo out of control and making a fool out of himself. There is a reason the Gov of Georgia Brian Kemp did NOT ask him to take Senator Isakson's seat who is retiring only a year into the last election due to health reasons.
I heard Biden tonight at a small, private reception in SF tell me the odds of him (Biden) winning Georgia are v high. Collins shd be wiser than he is acting if he wants any kind of future in politics. Even Georgia Republicans are put off by him.
1
This blue state resident is sick of subsidizing and sharing a country with the court of Red State losers that worship Trump.
Let the Red States and the Blue States go there separate ways. We have nothing in common except our hatred of one another.
2
Me too! The Red states need to stand on their own!
1
I remember the Republicans proclaiming that with the election of Geo. W Bush dignity would be returned to the oval office and that jackets would be worn.
Jim Jordan shows up to work without a jacket and in torn jeans?
He' so cool and defiant that I'm totally convinced that nothing he says is worth listening to.
If he can't take himself seriously, why should I?
https://static01.nyt.com/images/2019/12/12/us/politics/12dc-impeachscenes-02/12dc-impeachscenes-02-superJumbo.jpg?quality=90&auto=webp
2
Watching the ranking Rep's and other Reps' disingenuous squawking after Nadler ended the day was painful. After dragging out the proceedings unnecessarily saying the same things over and over again, and nothing new popping up for hours, it was definitely time to call a halt. Vote today.
One thing I have to say, though, is the Republicans need to learn how to ply their obstruct/delay/annoy tactics with straight faces. Their constant smirking might start to turn off supporters who think this should be serious business and don't find it particularly amusing tweaking Democrat noses just for the fun of it, especially when they lie. How do you know when one is lying? When a smirk comes with a twinkle in the eye. Main culprits: Jordan and Gaetz.
What the smirks tell me is that they know they're riding a ton of manure as they continue to support Trump's anti-Constitutional wannabe-reign. And that; the most chilling thing about this whole affair. If they're looking for a "deep state", they need to realize - it is them.
Dear NYT:
It looks like Rep. Nadler and the D leadership wanted to shine a brighter media spotlight on the Judiciary Committee vote on the two Articles, and didn't want this to happen after the 11 pm news break.
This had nothing to do with giving Members even more time to “search their consciences.” What malarky!
More importantly, this story fails to scrutinize the detailed back and forth over the fact allegations underlying the two articles of impeachment.
The GOP demonstrated that all the material facts underpinning these allegations were either based on inadmissible hearsay or were contradicted by direct evidence: the "quid pro quo" testimony of Amb. Sondland, OMB's reasons for delaying payout, and whether Ukraine was aware of the delay. All of it contested!
The GOP defended President Trump's request to the new Ukraine president to work with our Attorney General to investigate two instances of apparent corruption: 1) alleged interference in the 2016 election, and 2) Burisma's hiring of Hunter Biden at shortly after Joe Biden took charge of US policy re Ukraine.
There is strong case that Joe Biden knew Burisma was under investigation at the time he demanded his firing.
During this period, Burisma's US lobbyists and layers sought to kill the investigation.
The Democrats' position is an obstruction of justice.
3
I’m not surprised at anything the republicans do or how low they sink. They have been a minority party for decades, their primary tactic: divide people. Reagan: ‘Welfare Queen in Harlem with 5 kids from 5 fathers driving a Cadillac.’ The message to whites: your problems are because of blacks, muslims, hispanics, etc etc.
This narrative kicked up a few notches with the election of Obama. The racism was veiled, but ’food stamp president’ … ‘You LIe’ … Tea party coward spits on John Lewis … Racist posters of Barack and Michelle … made the message clear. The republicans absorbed the tea party for their votes.
During the republican primaries their cowardice was glaring. Trump said and did horrible, cowardly, racist and sexist things. He enjoyed huge cheering angry crowds at rallies when he described their problems, promising to ‘fix it’.
Terrified by these crowds, not one republican objected to any of his behavior. Not one. They fell in line.
Fell? Correct that; collapsed.
Now, crouched in denial, the republicans proclaim the greatness of Trump.
Everyone knows the eventual outcome is - impeached in the House, No removal in the Senate. Why go through this exercise? I don't particularly care and I am not watching. This artiface is wholly performatory and everyone's motivations are transparent.
Go ahead with this childish playacting. The nation does not care.
I knew Republicans played dirty politics from the time of the Clinton impeachment when they went for sex because they could not get evidence on any other thing. They used a poor girl from Arkansas and a rich Hollywood "innocent"(no nice girl would save the dress). To keep screaming and yelling about Hunter Biden and Hilary Clinton to deflect from Trump is just as low or lower. Trump and his actions are the subject of this impeachment-nobody else. Do they have tapes of tawdry sex play to put on the internet this time where any enterprising 10 year old can read it. We have not forgotten how low Republicans have gone in other impeachment situations. They are despicable.
From Atlanta feeling shame for Mr. Collins' behavior defending the indefensible. Sad.
2
@Arkemano
Nonsense.
He should be applauded and Nadler et al should be censured.
But no matter really - this poorly acted, clueless show by the Dems will end once this goes to the Senate - and die the death it deserves.
1
The overnight break was surely a gesture of respect for the president so that he could wage more of his Twitter warfare with a sixteen-year-old with Asperger’s (who is winning).
2
If the Democratic Impeachment were porridge, we'd all starve to death due to a lack of substance in what we've been forced to eat. However, I suspect the 'humble pie' which Mitch McConnell will serve the Democrats in the Senate will be a rich dessert which they (Democrats) will gag on!
2
The Republicans are obstructionists and aiding and abetting Trump. Pass impeachment along party vote and send to the Senate.
1
@fc shaw
Where, rightfully, it will die!!
1
An important takeaway is the contrast between Nadler’s 1998 statement on the house floor and his actions today. “Both parties must support impeachment, he said in 1998, or else it would divide the country too much”. Today?
3
Some part of me has to believe that there are a few Republicans rattling around somewhere who shudder each time they see Collins' or Jordan's hand fly up.
I will give them this...their "show" has been jaw-dropping. The room seems to come to a spellbound hush as each man's mouth begins to move. What craven gem, what risible rant, what ludicrous "idea" is about to be launched? The audience leans in.
As the night wore on (I conceded defeat at 10:45) even their tirades started to wind down. But the content--the content--my god! Just think of the material some future Lin-Manuel Miranda will have to mine.
Ribald burlesque joins Freudian comedy which holds hands with outright tragedy and the three do a jig around the flag, the one crushed on the stage No need to send in the clowns...they're already here.
1
Mr Trump's toxic and corrosive influence continues to thrive.
Angry Congressional Reps make noise.
The Swamp abides, the Swamp abides.
1
Watching the uncivil, screaming posturing of the Republican minority shills, over and over during yesterday's session was painful. It must be really hard to prove 2+2=5 but they are giving it their best effort. However they do it without shame for their hypocrisy and boorish behavior. I don't know which one is worse, it is unfortunate that simple manners and courtesy are now lost along with civil political discourse. We are all the losers in this situation.
1
I disagree with statements that suggest the Republicans think the proceedings are unfair. They know that Trump is an immoral, self-serving monster who is incapable of running the government and willing to jeopardize our democracy and our lives to advance his personal interests.
The Republicans are not stupid; they know what’s happening and are enabling Trump to continue to put our country at risk to protect their jobs.
I think they should be impeached. They are flagrantly violating their oath of office.
1
Can Republicans at least acknowledge that Donald Trump is an incredibly flawed and malevolent human being? We can quibble about a lot of points in the abstract but all of this has to be attached to the fact that he’s been a crook and con artist his whole life. Republicans defend a version of this man who does not exist. They must be secretly terrified of his dangerous personality disorders and history of unethical behavior. Considering this process without including the character of the man seems crazy. The “President” they are defending is the wholly disreputable Donald J. Trump. That is where they dishonor themselves. Ignoring the man and his unsavory history.
1
@Alan
Apparently, they cannot. We need to start investigating--in an official way--why.
Every GOP member on that committee is in clear dereliction of their sworn oath. The more they shout, scream and stomp (do they think that they're at a rodeo or country western concert?) the more preposterous they become.
Their foaming at the mouth hysteria is driven by one salient fact: They know they're lying, know they have not facts or truth to marshal, and know that they don't have a leg to stand on.
They're slouching toward Yeats' Bethlehem as things fall apart.
What makes this charade worse is the simple fact that every Republican, I say again, every Republican knows Trump did exactly that of which he is accused. The whole affair is vintage Trump and fits his character (or lack thereof) to a T. Bully your target and then lie about it. Never admit error and never apologize. Bluster, deflect and always, always attack.
Hey Jordan, Gaetz, Collins, Meadows, Ratcliffe, Gohmert et al just say "the President did attempt to get concessions from Ukraine by withholding military aid. He shouldn't do that and has been so advised by our leadership. That said, we do not believe his actions, though wholly inappropriate, warrant impeachment. Now let's get back to the people's business."
Why don't the R's adopt this approach?--because they fear the wrath of an erratic child in the White House. What a waste.
The Times has covered this sham trial not as an independent and objective publication, but as the lawyer of the House Democrats. People so naive to take only their news from here, where every single supposed news article is curated to shape the narrative to help the Democrat have been fooled, but most of Americans were not. To me, an independent, formerly voting for Sanders and Obama, this has been the nail in the coffin for the Times and the Democrats credibility. Democrats'
1
When I witness a pack of frightened Republicans try to protect Trump knowing full well he’s corrupt it confirms to me this country is going down the tubes.
The impeachment must---and will---happen, I pray. An America without a check on executive power is a dangerous place to live.
The "not my President" movement of the democrats, culminating in this rushed impeachment based based on very little actual facts, may have inspired many of the left but totally turned off average Americans. More attention should have been paid to Prof Turlly's warnings. I believe the true results of this exercise will be seen in Trump's 2020 reelection.
2
Weep. Weep. We had to change our flight reservations. There's a danger we might fly coach.
1
“This impeachment is going to fail,” said Representative Mike Johnson, Republican of Louisiana. “The Democrats are going to pay a heavy political price for it, but the Pandora’s box they have opened today will do irreparable injury to our country in years ahead.”
Nah - there's Congressional oversight - the Pandora's Box that needs to be closed is separating children from parents.
History will eventually record that Trump clearly committed the impeachable offense of shaking down a subservient and desperate ally for a fabricated political investigation into his chief electoral rival. And then, in a second impeachable act, he blatantly obstructed congressional investigation after a whistleblower exposed his plot.
That Trump did so during the run up to his re-election campaign added both to the injury to our democracy and also to the urgency of removing such a president from office.
Republicans know full well that Trump's clumsy and illegal misbehavior fits him like a glove. They've heard the same testimony given to the public, and doubtless know even more.
Republicans know the damage this whole process has already done to Ukraine. They know Trump's supposed concerns about Ukraine are simply Russian talking points passed to him via Konstantin Kilimnik, Paul Manafort, and Rudy Giuliani.
Worse, R's know 'Burisma and the Bidens' is just the 2020 version of the Benghazi and email server witch hunts meant to damage Hillary going into 2016.
Look, I get it. At some level it's all just political hardball to gain an electoral advantage over the Democrats. But do they really have to trash our constitutional democracy and abandon yet another ally for the sake of such a small, petty, and incompetent president? A man who had been universally despised by the Republican establishment?
They could have Mike Pence as president in a matter of days if they chose to.
1
There is a real probability that the full House will not vote to impeach. But one thing is clear right now, impeachment has failed, it was a gross overreach. In 2020 Trump will be re-elected in a landslide, similar to Boris Johnson victory in the UK. And that victory will be sweet.
1
@Mark V Dream on.
This is a bitter stalemate. I thought Nadler, Deutch, Richmond. Johnson of GA, Jackson Lee, Demings, Cohen, Jayapal, Jeffries, Cicilline, Swalwell, Lofgren and STANTON were simply magnificent. Regardless of final outcome, DT has brazenly abused power and obstructed Congress...House is doing their duty to our country.
3
This is not the Republican Party of my father. They have gotten downright filthy. Willing to distort the truth, willing to follow a degenerate over the cliff. I would not worry so much if I did not care deeply about my country. We have to lift ourselves out of this abyss. The Republicans were so high and mighty during Bill Clinton's impeachment but they avert their eyes from anything Trump does. I never want to hear about family values and Christian Republicans again. They have lost the high ground (if they ever had it).
3
Let the Dems get their way in the House - they’ll hit a brick wall in the Senate - we’ll see how badly their noses get bruised when they face off with the President in the 2020 election....
1
@JMS So, the House should ignore Trump's obvious impeachable offenses? I'll have to side with the 500 American law professors who say he committed those and the well organized materials of the House Democrats. In other words, I CARE about our democracy.
I'll give the NY Times and its readers one hint as to what's wrong with this picture: there is no mention of political parties or congressional "minority" and "majority" in THE US CONSTITUTION. These divisions are inappropriate for a newspaper to make. Focus only on individual lawmakers to help restore your democracy that has ended.
The republicans sound like climate change deniers. They ignore facts and evidence and just denigrate those who oppose the president.
1
If a President Hillary had done any of the things that DJT is accused of, would any Republican hesitate to...aw forget it, we know the answer.
1
The problem is that the Democrats are trying to equate the request for an investigation of a Democrat, whose obvious conflict of interest might or might not be criminal, into "treason" and "an abuse of power." What would really be "treason" and "an abuse of power" would be the FAILURE to investigate such an obvious conflict of interest.
As for the abrupt violation of the agreement to finish Thursday evening and delayng fo the vote until a better TV viewing time (a motive somehow the NYT failed to note in this article), that just shows how untrustworthy Democrats have become.
The bottom line on this sorry spectacle is that the Democrats likely will pay a heavy political price (as polls in battleground states are already reporting).
1
Only one side of the aisle is dealing with the facts of the Ukranian extortion attempt. The other side, the Republican side, is somewhere off in political la-la land, where no one is able to see, hear or smell anti-Constitutional intent.
1
I see that the GOP members of Congress can dish out "bush league stunts" but they can't take them.
Can you see my tears?
No?
That's because I have none.
1
It must be understood at this point that Republicans do not argue in good faith.
1
Let’s hope that there is still a bit of conscience left in all the representatives, Democrats and Republicans alike.
Problem is, anyone thinking about his or her re-election is dealing in self interest, just like the fake President, the subject of this impeachment hearing. So if that’s the case, everyone who acted like him will have to keep silent about defending the constitution as you have lost that right!
3
@Quentin Hack
Please.
Every member of Congress, when elected, has the same objective - to win re-election. It my not be their primary objective (but I bet the majority of their actions relate to their considerations of winning another term).
So to say "anyone thinking about his or her re-election is dealing in self-interest..." is plain ridiculous...
1
In my view, the essence of Trump's actions with the Ukraine, was that he was colluding with Vladimir Putin. It was a double whammy, interfere with the U.S. elections and materially weakening the Ukraine's ability to fight off the Russians. Trump can never seem to stop doing Putin's bidding.
4
As I watched most of the impeachment proceedings, I kept wishing the Democrats would more emphatically correct the Republican's contention that 'no crime, let alone high crime, was committed' by pointing out that the 'height' of the crime refers to its being connected to a high office. So the president's abuse of presidential power by leveraging that power to withhold aid and a White House meeting from Ukraine from his high office of the presidency is indeed -- is in fact the epitome, of a "high crime."
3
All I want for Christmas is John Bolton on a platter. We need the testimony or the evidence that will force Senate Republicans to turn their backs on the trump autocracy. Without it, their absolution of trump’s crimes will poison their party and our system of government for decades to come.
4
Even with Congress in their pocket, they could not get it done.
In this past week:
New trade agreement with Mexico
A start of a new trade deal with China
A budget,with bipartisan support
The Democrats worked into the night to fail to do the one thing they have done for 3 years.
Sounds like a great week for Trump, not so much for Team Blue
5
Yes, but one has to get some pleasure watching Collins get tipped off his rocker when he was told by Nadler he had to return the next day.
It wouldn’t have mattered if the vote was taken last night or the next day, the Republican cult would have complained either way. Either they would attack a Tuesday night vote as “pushing through a vote in the dead of night” or current excuse of “you’re just waiting for the next day to get more viewers”. This ‘damned if you do, damned if you don’t’ circus is just another GOP bullying tactic, as they continue to attempt to defend the indefensible conduct of a corrupt administration.
23
Mr. McConnell stands firm in his conviction that the United States Senate is an arm of the presidency, except when the president is a Democrat. Then the duty is to work his hardest to make sure that the Democrat is a one term president . It's sort of like his conviction that in the last year of a Democratic presidents term no Supreme Court nominee will have be given a fair hearing, but in a Republican's term it's a given that he can have his nominee confirmed up until the last day he's in office. Remember when senators were United States Senators and not partisan hacks?
26
Mr. Gaetz of Florida and other Trump sycophants lied about Biden and his son. He accused Biden of having intervened in Ukraine by having the former Russian friendly utterly corrupt prosecutor fired.
Unfortunately there is a rule that one lawmaker can't accuse another of lying. But lying about a private citizens non-stop seems quite alright.
Not only the US through Biden, but the EU and the IMF were telling the then president of Ukraine, Poroshenko, that they had to fire the prosecutor because he turned a blind eye on corruption.
10
Seems like the entire GOP party is cut from Kavanaugh cloth: Rich, entitled, and red-in-the-face with faux fury.
I don't remember a time when their party didn't bully every member into line with the threat of endangering their next electoral race. Seriously.
17
"red-in-the-face with faux fury"
Well said.
Hey, not fair! I have reservations at the ski resort! This means I won't make my flight!
Never mind that he was elected to serve the country.
8
"Search their consciences?" First off, I challenge anyone to identify any Republican with a conscience. Second, any Democrat who has to reflect on whether to move forward with the articles of impeachment is just as much of Traitor as their GOP counterparts.
8
I’ve not heard more insufferable babble from the GOP side as in this impeachment inquiry. Rep. Collins, is one of the leaders of this dumb down group along with screaming Jim Jordan . Not sure what in the English language they do not understand, “I need a favor, though”, means exactly what it sounds like, a bribe, to get a desperate country to do trumps bidding in taking down an opponent.
Biden has been so smeared by this, in a more heinous way, then others, (Jeb Bush, Hillary Clinton, Elizabeth Warren, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz),and many others who were marked by sophomoric names. At least the name calling on these individuals were home grown by trump. The Biden take down has been orchestrated by trump and his ilk to do putins bidding for a repeat of 2016 and foreign influence in our free and fair electoral process.
8
I have the feeling this whole impeachment
business will amount to nothing
The Democrats simply don’t have the votes.
Here’s a couple of comments I’ve heard
in the past couple of weeks:
‘Trump is crazy, but...
My 401K is doing well.
You want President Pence?
I’m absolutely sick of the impeachment coverage.
It’s 24/7! Don’t we have better things to focus on?’
The election is less than 11 months away.
At this point, I see Trump winning a second term.
Sad.
3
What do mean? Democrats easily have enough votes to impeach. And that will amount to something. Specifically, a public record for history that Trump’s actions were not condoned by all Americans. Just republicans.
2
"Search their consciences," he says. First the Republicans will have to find them.
11
How interesting that the writer of this "news piece" says that Mitch McConnell show no signs of impartiality. Really? What about the Democrats who have wanted to impeach Trump since he was elected? What about Nancy Pelosi who recently confirmed this in an interview stating 'This has been going on for 22 months!" When referring to impeachment.
This is an unbelievable sham impeachment process and this country will be the worse for it.
I am ashamed of my country.
7
Would you lend money to Donald Trump? Would you leave your daughter in a room with him? This is Donald Trump we’re talking about. Has he ever done one, good, selfless thing he in his life? Would you want your son to grow up just like him? That’s what this is about.
1
@Rozie Anyone who educated themselves on Donald Trump prior to the election knew he was unfit for the office. From day one, he has lied and worked to enrich himself and his family at the expense of the American taxpayer. He buddied up with dictators. What's not to impeach?
@Alan
Alan: really??? Those issues are impeachable? I guess the constitution has changed then. Thanks for the update.
Both sides are using the impeachment as political fodder.
However, the question still remains, is what Trump did wrong? Personally, I feel that using taxpayer money to extort political favors from our allies is wrong. I suspect that pretty much everyone else in this country thinks the same thing, some of them are simply refusing to admit it.
As for whether or not it is impeachable, that train left the station when the country impeached a president for lying about his sex-life.
I won't make any predictions about the long-term viability of either of our two political parties, but, I will predict that none of the current Trump-era republicans will be remembered in a positive light by future generations. There are no Eisenhowers or Reagans emerging from this era. All they can hope for is that history will not remember them at all.
74
@Michael Nobody was impeached for "lying about his sex life." Clinton was impeached for a crime: lying under oath about a material fact in a court case. Lying under oath is a serious matter, particularly for a lawyer -- for instance, Clinton lost his license to practice law for an extended period, even if he was not given jail time.
@Michael / No the train didn't leave the station by Clinton. If you can't estimate the depth of the gorge separating a minor private relational misstep to the assault on your countrys election system and the assault on your constitution, you need to see a shrink.
2
@Michael All of the TV footage of the Republicans, (especially Gaetz, Collins, Ratcliff, and Whiner-in-Chief Jordan) emoting at the committee hearings will be available for their opponents campaigns in the future. Good luck boys. You will have to defend your behavior to your children as well.
2
Meanwhile, maybe the impeachment is working. It arguably led to an improved NAFTA and a budget passed.
3
Trump will be impeached in the House and acquitted in the Senate. Everyone knows that. But the Republicans better enjoy Trump getting away with all of this if he does, and he probably will, because by 2024 Texas, Arizona and Georgia will be in the blue column.
So all this that is happening right now, what with Republican lawmakers echoing Russia’s claim that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 election, is sure to seal the doom of the Republican Party.
I’m not conceding 2020. I’m just saying I see a lot of mass delusion and cult of personality on the Republican side and a splintered Democratic Party that can’t find a candidate who can consolidate the party.
My heart wants to see large scale reform. So that’s why I’m for Warren. I’m going to vote my heart. But my head knows America is not ready for a Warren or Sanders. I sure hope I’m wrong.
7
I enjoyed watching the Democrats' dignified and principled arguments and evidence calling for Trump's impeachment and eviction from the White House. I also enjoyed the Republican's whining and squealing and shucking and jiving, they could not have betrayed their guilt more if they tried. And it is a collective guilt that the Republicans share with the Trump family for Trump has had a corrupt and corrosive influence upon his followers and they have willingly followed him into a moral abyss. I am glad that the House of Representatives on behalf of the people have utilized our Constitutional powers to impeach Trump. Let that be his legacy and then let us vote him out of office and evict him from the White House by Election Day 2020.
13
“So the president must be impeached to safeguard the security of our elections, to safeguard the separation of powers, both of which are essential to safeguard our liberties.”
What a joke. Despite headlines to the contrary, there was a cabal of federal agency heads that illegally tried to take down a duly elected president. Having failed to do so one half of the legislative branch is now trying to do the same thing. How is that safeguarding our liberties?
6
By a cabal you mean ethical, career professionals, decorated veterans and Trump appointees? I guess to a criminal, honest people are a ‘cabal’.
@tim k
How about adding voter ID to the safe guard.
Also purge the vote roll of deceased persons.
Bill Clinton lied about his involvement with Monica Lewinsky. He lied under oath while being videotaped. That was not enough to find him guilty in the Senate. Mr. Trump’s charges are based on interpretations by government employees who never spoke to the president directly - except for the EU Ambassador who said Mr. Trump said ‘no quid pro quo.’ The Ukraine president said he felt no pressure from Mr. Trump. The aid was delivered, there was no investigation of the Bidens.
The Dems are wasting our time and millions of dollars just because they don’t like the president. If their love of the Constitution is so strong, where was their rage when Eric Holder provided no documents on Fast and Furious? Where was their rage when the IRS refused to grand 501c status to conservative groups? Where was their rage when Mr. Obama asked the Russians to hold off until after his re-election when he’d have more maneuverability?
And if you want a current example. Where’s their rage against AOC who pleaded on Twitter for Brits to vote Liberal in their election? Isn’t that tampering with foreign elections?
5
AOC is not the president. And if we don’t have ‘first hand’ evidence it’s only because trump has stopped all executives on his staff to testify. What are you talking about?
2
No it is not. Seriously. You know the difference. Have some respect for your common sense.
I am an immigrant and naturalized citizen. I left my family and my country (the former Czechoslovakia) as a teenager to escape the communist regime. That regime was based on a lie about a communist utopia that never existed. Maintaining that lie required banning free press, free speech and critical thought and having a convenient "villain" to fight against - capitalism.
Maintaining this regime also required a particular type of rulers - a demagogue-in-chief and those willing to support him by lying to themselves and the people simply to stay in power. I would have never imagined that a similar scenario will play itself out in the United States, my new home I love.
Thank you, democrats, for impeaching this president and fighting for democracy. I just hope that most Americans understand the danger of letting liars rule. I wish I could explain to those who don't.
18
Censure him and move on to the election in 2020. Impeaching him only plays into his hands. Since the beginning I have wondered if his actions with Ukraine were calculated to cause this ruckus. Chaos is his element. Congress appears dysfunctional and chaotic. That works well for him and his autocratic tendencies. Why waste time arguing about what happened during that phone call? Move on. Get back to work. At least make it appear that Congress can accomplish something. You are playing his game and we will all lose. Wake up!
2
I have only one word for the behavior of Doug Collins and Matt Gaetz in these hearings. And that's filthy. Anyone who is remotely impressed by their juvenile contributions and nonsensical diversions to a bona fide crisis of democratic rule should have their high school diploma or GED revoked pending a redo of secondary school civics with a minimal passing grade of D plus.
How could these third-rate, John C Calhoun wannabees have ever made it to Congress? It must have been a special form of voter suppression where eligibility was inversely related to IQ in their districts.
They shout with feigned outrage and posture as "real" patriots. It's a substitution of lunacy for logic. The public should take that behavior as a real insult to their intelligence. What a shameful disgrace on full display. No wonder the entire world is either laughing or crying. I'm embarrassed and I'm not even a member of the Republican Party (or the Democrats, either).
10
Watching the ranking member splutter and rage before the cameras at around 11.30pm yesterday, I couldn't help but think that if he and his colleagues had wasted a lot less time lying, slandering people, and making preposterous and irrelevant claims during the "debate" (sorry, English language!), they would all have been able to catch their trains and planes this morning. I can think of a few choice words their President would have for such people were the shoe on the other foot.
6
This political theater is over. Lets move on to the election and doing something for the American people.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told Fox News Thursday night that he will coordinate the defense of President Trump in any impeachment trial with White House lawyers, and proclaimed that there was "zero chance" the president would be removed from office.
"The case is so darn weak coming over from the House. We all know how it's going to end," McConnell said on "Hannity." "There is no chance the president is going to be removed from office."
1
When the history books are written Republicans will discover how wrong they have been. They are protecting the most corrupt president in the history of the nation. Probably as corrupt as Mayor Jimmy Walker and Boss Tweed of New York City. Trump got away with a lot of malfeasance in his past. Now it's all coming back to haunt him.
"Double, double toil and bubble." - from the song of the witches in Shakespeare's Macbeth. All of Trump's troubles are now bubbling up to the service.
4
@Wayne
History will also show how dems. always have a double standard and will do ANYTHING to gain power. Pathetic people.
Senate Majority Leader McConnell has made it clear that the impeachment trial in the Senate will be a sham as he has already stated that it will be conducted entirely in accordance with the President's wishes. This is a complete dereliction of McConnell's Constitutional duty - and not for the first time. Hopefully Chief Justice Roberts will assert his authority to rein in the worst of the Republican's behavior.
8
The “sound and fury”of the republicans, “signifying nothing”, is pathetic and sad to watch. The refusal of republicans to impeach trump is mind-boggling. trump has failed to live up to his oath of office. That must never be tolerated. Therefore we must not suffer these republicans any longer. Our country is being placed in danger because of them. Vote Blue. Love Democracy. Save America.
8
@MLE53
funny that's how we feel about the pathetic democrat's. Except the dems. always have double standards.
The Republican party of Reagan is dead replaced by the party that more resembles fascism than democracy. Repeated lies have replaced the truth. Fiscal responsibility has been subverted by a president's will to spend unlimited funds to build a useless wall and conservatism now means religious domination of public freedoms.
The current Republican party no longer stands for a realistic alternative to the Democratic party, but is now molded into the image of a misogynistic, narcissistic, insecure and totally corrupt president. I've listened to the arguments from the Republican party during the past couple of days and I believe that they feel that they have no choice but to perform for Trump looking for advancement of their political careers or feel that they have everything to lose if he is not reelected so they might as well toss reason aside and go for broke.
This is a sad and dangerous time for our country that has been building to this point for the last 11 years. I'm very much worried what this country will look like in 2020 no matter what party wins.
6
GOP spends years and million$ harassing the Clintons with Whitewater and try to impeach Clinton on a purjury charge about lying about a sexual foible. (Clinton should NOT have lied - that was wrong)
don the con abuses power and brags about it, obstructs Congress and the investigations and brags about it publicly, he surrounds himself with corrupt subordinates and they are convicted, he violates the Emoluments clause with hotels overseas as well as the terms of the old post office (now hotel) prohibiting any government official from holding the lease.
Faced with overwhelming FACTS about abuse and corruption, the GOP rants and raves about process, lies about the evidence, and ignores their oath of office.
The Presidency, the GOP, and SCOTUS have all been sullied by the GOP's decision to turn their back on the Constitution.
7
What a sorry group are those Republicans. They simply refuse to deal with the reality of a criminal president. If Obama had done what Trump has done—and continues to do—they would have tarred, feathered and run out of town a sitting president.
To these people, Trump is golden. What a textbook case of mass delusion. Lie after lie, misdirection after misdirection, diversion after diversion. They will stoop to nothing to keep Trump where he is.
The Democrats will likely lose in the Senate but they can take heart that they fulfilled their duty to the Constitution. The history books will be kind to them.
8
“There will be no difference between the president’s position and our position in how to handle this.” - “Mitch” McConnell
This should be front-page news. It should be on T-shirts, signs, and television ads throughout the 2020 election cycle. In his most solemn, constitutionally-defined duty as leader of the Senate, Addison Mitchell McConnell has openly abdicated even the appearance of fairness and impartiality. Every time he gives a press conference he should be asked what he meant by that comment. And whoever is running against him in Kentucky should bring it up in the media daily, and in any debates. The man would be immediately excluded as a juror in any criminal trial and yet is presiding over one of the most important trials in the nation’s history.
7
Any republican who votes for impeachment will be excommunicated by his party. But he will be honored in history.
7
It is appalling that Sen. McConnell - the jury foreman - is conspiring with Trump's attorneys - the defense. How Chief Justice Roberts can permit this unethical behavior is beyond me. However, I suppose there is no recourse.
21
I tried to listen to some of the impeachment process on the radio, but I can't listen to Republicans and their screaming rants defending their president. It reminds me of when I first heard the hateful Rush Limbaugh bleating out of my car radio.
Meanwhile, the enemy is doing as much damage as possible, cutting food stamps, promoting global warming, etc. It's great that the Democrats moved forward in the impeachment process, and I hope we win this battle, and the war.
22
This move to delay the vote has nothing to do with searching your conscience. It was done for TV. Nadler has turned the process into a farce.
6
@cleo
It was to allow the Republican members to attend the White House Christmas party.
This whole country has sunk into a fighting, arguing, divided mess since the last election. It is a sad, pugilistic mess. We have seriously lost our way. We are at a tipping point. Seems a whole bunch of folks like the fighting, name calling and hate which is even sadder. What about integrity, honesty, kindness...are we going to allow those qualities to become anachronisms? Ultimately, it appears this will come down to our vote in 2020. POTUS sets the tone as the leader of our country and the free world....do you want to live in a world like we are experiencing right now for the rest of your lives and your children's lives? Choose wisely; we have the power to choose our destiny.
16
Thank you and well said. Raising little ones in the midst of this chaos is truly frightening. Why are so many people in this world so full of hate and ignorance?
I am glad people are fighting back against this totally ridiculous impeachment. I really do not think that we need four more years of Trump but the Democrats, by putting on a circus, could well bring that about.
There ARE things wrong both with Trump and with some of his policies. But the phone call to Zelensky is hardly one of the big ones. And "inviting political interference from Ukraine" is largely the Democrats' interpretation of Trump's motives. It is not convincing.
2
@Ludwig
POTUS and others said he did it. “Get over it” as Mulvaney said.
Defying the Constitution is no big deal? Got it.
If such an innocent call, why put it on a highly secure server? Why defy subpoenas?
1
If the phone call as you put it to Zelenskiy was no big deal, then the democrats can call their allies around the world and ask for “favors though” as well. Ask every nation that hates this bigot we have in the whitehouse, every nation that wants to protect the environment and save the planet, ask them to involve themselves with our elections.
If the bigot can do it and it’s not against the constitution it’s far game for all candidates.
If the bigot can defy ALL congressional SUBPOENAS for a trial, then nothing is unconstitutional.
We then have no constitution.
That’s why this is a circus. The republicans don’t care, they took an oath to something they don’t believe in.
They took their oath to donnie the would-be-dictator and king.
These strange people desire to weave plantations, indentured servitude and sharecropping back into contemporary corporate colonialism. Racists continue to argue that the president spoke to Ukraine with the Royal We when shaking down the Ukraine are void of a conscious vote of care and consideration for The Constitution.
This is because of The Federalist Society. This is because of the NRA, and this is because they take issue with The Gettysburg Address.
The Declaration Of Independence and the history of patriots surrounding the writing of it are of no consequence to them, it fits right in with their desires to weave plantations, indentured servitude and sharecropping back into contemporary corporate colonialism.
It is The Gettysburg Address they take issue with here, mostly. I dare anyone to ask Collins and Jacobs and Johnson of Louisiana about The Gettysburg Address and what equality means to them.
8
@Guy Walker very apt analogy between the Confederacy and corporatism, I foresee Margaret Atwood’s Gilead rising over the ashes of American democracy as we watch in horror!
When I grew up in the 1950s , Republican politicians were men like Eisenhower, Rockefeller and Dirsksen. They were honorable men who put their country first. What passes for republican thinking now is a far different thing. It is embarrassing. It is dangerous.
17
How is it possible there isn't one republican willing to stand up and tell the truth? Just one to say it's unacceptable that trump has forbidden testimony and documentation? That trump's whole association with Ukraine, from hiring Manafort right up to his personal lawyer and other cabinet members over there making personal deals is intolerable. How can they live with themselves to not call out this president for his very apparent impeachable offenses? How can their families support and trust them?
15
Ranking member Collins has a short memory if he believes Nadler’s abrupt adjournment was “the most bush league stunt he’s seen in his life.” We all recall the Republican’s marching into the closed Intelligence Committee proceedings and ordering pizza delaying the proceedings for hours. At least Nadler had the authority to do what he did.
15
If the Republicans are miffed that they have to come back another day, perhaps one thing they might reflect on after going home would be the endless hours of grandstanding they put on all day knowing full well that their endless string off baseless arguments and motions would not be accepted. But these are members of The House, and add to that Republican members, so assume big egos and a love of hearing their amplified hollering voices filling the room.
7
This impeachment proceeding is a Hail Mary by the Democrats. They have been against Trump since before the election; were aghast that he won; hate his non-presidential approach; and were shocked after two years of guilty before innocence accusations of colluding with the Russians when Mueller said “no collusion”.
Now comes this new opportunity to get him. The problem is that to much of the country the facts don’t meet the standard of high crimes and misdemeanors. Instead, it’s become another chance to remove a president from office whose re-election next year is likely. This whole show makes Democrats look desperate and will hurt them in upcoming elections.
3
This entire process will expose how to the world broken this country has become. From a dictator wannabe at the top, to a Congress that has become ineffectual with both parties inflamed and controlled by the extremists, and a nation of people that are letting it all happen based on lies and misinformation that are spread like wildfire in this digital age.
3
The President's noisy protests wring hollow when considered against his on the record of lies, cheating, bullying, self dealing and famous forgetfulness with pivoting and more to make his points.
The complaints that nothing has been done while this process has been engaged and that there was no opportunity to air his points, are there for all to see. Many others are in Moscow Mitches "in-box".
Along with more noise, and that there was no opportunity to air his points, clash with his refusal to have any of the (obvious) deliberate orders not to expose key individuals who could have shed more light on controversial points. If there was nothing to be added, why didn't they freely speak up? More likely that they might be pivotal but could support an inconvenient disclosure under oath.
The two challenges on the table are fact-based and there for all to see. I'd be surprised if a possibility of deadlock based on "Party" were an un-biased reality in the outcome.
4
Nadler is right. Cooler and more reasonable heads of conscience must prevail. Giving those naysaying Republicans the opportunity to consider the health of the nation over their reelection is exactly the right move. Now, with a good night's sleep, they are more responsible for their votes. They got the second change they asked for. That how civilization is supposed to work.
8
Trump's best strategy at this point might be to go, "Oops. Sorry. Didn't know we couldn't do that. It won't happen again." Immediately half the nation will forgive him.
3
MIKEinNYC 1/2 of the country sees nothing to forgive. Let’s get some of the other crazy 1/2 to convert...we’re good
Trump claims the process is unfair when he/his counsel was given every opportunity to participate in the impeachment proceedings. What he really means is, "I was caught and I can't stand that someone is trying to punish me for my wrongdoing."
6
I am certain of one thing: once a Democratic candidate has been selected, the Republicans will begin plans for impeaching that candidate.
4
More posturing from the Republicans. They condemn the process but not the facts. That's all they have.
6
Watching the amendment vote makes me think we are headed to civil war or civil unrest, and the prospect is terrifying. It’s as if the pot is slowly being brought to a boil, and I don’t know if we’ll be able to turn it back down.
10 years from now, will we look back on this moment and think, “Wow, that a very close call for our country”? Or will we think, “That was one of the last times before everything went completely off the rails”? I hope for our country and all of us that it’s the former.
6
Democratic "defections to be narrow?" That's the problem with the D party. We don't see the GOP having "narrow defections" ever. The D's constantly fracture their vote. They will lose until the finally "get it" that you can't win in the public eye if you don't stand unified with a simple message. Look at 2016! The vote was fractured and DT won. Want him to win a second time? Keep at it.
6
@Ken So many Republicans left/are leaving the party. I think that does mean quite a bit.
6
@Ken I see this as Democrats having minds of their own and Republicans being lemmings.
1
Asking Republicans to search their consciences is a bit like asking toddlers to check their manners. It ain’t happening.
Any Republican that breaks ranks now will be viewed with scorn by colleagues, staff and constituents. The very choice to be remain a Trump Republican already speaks to a weakness in character and an inability to put ideals ahead of self-interest. These are the inflexible, tribal rule followers who are unable to distinguish between patriotism and avarice.
The world is watching. As long as they don’t know something we don’t, they will all be out voted out of office in due time. Demographics will ensure it. As more younger people enter the voting arena, the Republican brand will continue to diminish.
Having said that, I must also voice a sliver of concern about something I heard yesterday. Apparently Mike Huckabee is touting the means with which to keep Donald Trump in office for a third term. For those whose brains have not yet been zombafized by trump/Putin You will notice that we have term limits
. A third term, achieved through I don’t know what kind of manipulations, would be dangerous precedent. Or perhaps a dangerous President is more apt. Either way it would be the beginning in the end. Were it not for the overt cheating I’ve already seen (from Merrill Garland to voter suppression) I’d dismiss it but we should remain vigilant.
10
Republican complaints about delaying the vote until morning so that more Americans can watch part or all of the hearing in replay, or listen to same, ruins their arguments that impeachment is rushed. It is our right—and duty as citizens—to keep informed. To insist otherwise reveals that their oaths of office were lies.
12
The false outrage of the Republicans is mind-boggling. I don't know how they keep it up, day after day, screaming into the wind, trying desperately to turn conspiracy theories into facts.
It reeks of panic. I think they should panic, because they are writing their own legacies, which are not pretty. They will be forever known as lawmakers who put their party, their leader, and their positions of power over their country's constitution.
That is how it looks from where I sit, in the Great Wite North.
14
Trump’s election was an unexpected windfall for congressional Republicans. They know what’s around the corner. They also know that Trump is utterly unfit for the office of president.
Look at the gasping and grasping—vividly on display last night at the impeachment debate.
10
I have already helped six people to register to vote with Dems in 2020, since last Friday, since my return from overseas to one of our big tossup states.
10
At the crux of all of this is trump’s entanglement with Russia and Putin. That visit from Lavrov (Sp?) was a signal to Republicans, especially McConnell to stay aligned with trump. God knows (and the Kremlin, but NOT Americans) what else did Lavrov bring with him from Putin to trump! That trump supporters don’t acknowledge this anti-democracy, pro-totalitarian event, where McConnell’s incriminating response in fealty to trump ensued, is chilling. It’s a shame that the Supreme Court can’t switch the jury in the US Senate like they did in the movie The Untouchables when the Al Capone character bribed all the jury members. In the real world, when a jury goes on record as being biased it’s a mistrial. Why aren’t Democrats addressing this to Americans??
5
This what happens when voting districts are carefully drawn to group voters by party affiliation rather than geography. Reps have to reflect the hyper-partisan views of their constituents.
7
Once the vote is taken Friday in the Judiciary Committee, if it is possible to table the forwarding of the two articles to the full house, or at least postpone a vote on them there, until after the Holiday Recess, it would give everyone (Senators included) both time to cool off and to receive full input from the voters back home what THEY want, not what the Swamp King expects.
20
@The Lone Protester your comment reminds me of what many of Lincoln’s advisors were telling him before he made Grant the head of the Army, and then, when Grant took charge, Sherman and him gave the Confederacy exactly what it deserved.
This is America at its worst and at its best, with the former obstructing the latter. Unfortunately, this time there's no in-between. And that's the way too many Americans want it to be since they can perpetuate this stalemate regardless of its catastrophic consequences for our democracy.
Presidential defiance of the law for personal gain at the expense of everyone else is the root cause of this dysfunction and its resulting paralysis is rapidly becoming a foregone conclusion.
11
"Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would refrain from pressing Democrats to support the articles, instead encouraging them to follow their consciences on a vote heavy with historic and political weight.
“People have to come to their own conclusions,” she said. Republican leaders, however, began an all-out effort to keep their members in line to vote “no.”
Note the difference . It is past time for Republicans to decide to they love their Pres & party, more than they love their country.
Having lived through Nixon, Clinton & now Trump-- I fear for the constitution & the Rule of Law.
Our country is at a perilous time. Every person must search their own selves, let their congress member know their concerns, & then hold them accountable in the next election.
10
@graceD.
"Search" for what? Trump'$ actions speak for themselves.
Even with the conclusion never in doubt (A 24-17 party-line vote), the Democrats decided that they could not pull the impeachment recommendation trigger last night, since "Democrats did not want to give Republicans the ability to claim they had moved the articles of impeachment in the middle of the night when Americans were not watching."
The White House was 'concerned':
"Earlier, as the debate ground on through the night, a tuxedoed Mr. Trump hobnobbed with Republican lawmakers at the White House’s congressional Christmas ball.
“'We’re going to have a fantastic year,' he said."
6
@rcrigazio I think it was more like because prime time ended around two hours prior. It is clear the Dems are enjoying the stage a little too much.
When I copy and paste, that sentence comes out “Earlier, as the debate grinded on through the night, “
I often wonder if Republicans have mirrors in their homes. I imagine it’s nearly impossible to look themselves in the eyes without immediately averting their gaze.
Stunning, unspeakable hypocrisy.
87
@CVP I believe they have funhouse mirrors. And oddly when they look into them their images look normal. That's what happens when you have to contort yourself 24/7 in order to defend Donald J Trump the 45th president of the United States.
@CVP
Such hypocrisy. Hillary set up a "War Room" to attack Bill Clinton's sexual assault victims. She tried to destroy their reputations. They were victimized by her all over again.
And she won the popular vote. Democrats didn't care. How many proclaiming #MeToo voted for her? Democrats have zero credibility and are in no position to lecture anyone on morality. Trust me.
1
A cornered animal, fearful of death... will fight viscously. The Republicans appear to be doing the same thing. Are they a party in decline?
51
We won the last election. We’ve brought balance to the Supreme Court. This impeachment will never pass the senate. So how in decline can we be?
2
The infighting is amongst the Democrat, you should be asking this about the DNC.
There's no point in giving Rs a chance to search their consciences before a vote. (Or maybe Nadler had just run out of gas in listening to the crazed narratives of his less than collegial colleagues.)They've long since thrown whatever moral integrity they might have had into a trash bin. It's infuriating even listening for a few minutes to the deranged disinformation and attack dog rhetoric of these miserable soulless traitors who will more than willingly sell out their country for their party's mad authoritarian wrecking our democracy.
I remain pessimistic not just about the outcome of this impeachment and later trial in the Senate but about the future of our country when so many elected leaders are this morally bankrupt and venal.
85
@TRJ
Hands down the best and most accurate depiction of this nightmare. I will copy and carry with me. TRJ you are 100% spot on.
If I follow the logic of the GOP's impeachment defense of Trump to its conclusion, they are saying that because (1) there was rampant corruption in Ukraine and (2) that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election - not Russia - withholding military aid was justified in order to give Trump time to suss out true intentions and capabilities in handling the aid package.
If the GOP really believes Russia is innocent of the 2016 election meddling, then they should support Trump in providing presidential pardons for all the convicted parties in the Mueller report. The GOP should also support Trump in his claim that the US lift sanctions against Russia for invading Crimea and Ukraine. That probably also means the GOP agrees with Trump that Russia should rejoin the G-8.
Finally, if the GOP finds it acceptable for the President's personal attorney to receive funding from Russian billionaires (via an associate with ties to organized crime) for said "investigations" above, then should we anticipate GOP-sponsored legislation that legalizes acceptance of money from other countries to finance election campaigns of US candidates?
So, at what point along the path outlined above does the GOP lose distinction as a legitimate political party and morph into an amplifier of Russian disinformation, an enabler of corruption and foreign influence, and a supine bystander to Russian organized crime directing US policy?
47
@Bob I thought a great rebuttal to this supposed defense, made yesterday by one representative on the committee, was that Trump didn’t hold up $ in 2017 or 2018, when the previous [corrupt] Ukrainian president was in office.
3
Unfortunately, we have long passes that point. The GOP is passe.......
At least this impeachment, and Trump being only the third President in US history to be impeached, will guarantee a Progressive in the White House in one short year. The American public now knows the truth about Trump. They know he will fight any Congressional demand for documents that may show his administration in an unfavorable light, unlike the transparent Obama administration dealing with a hostile Republican Congress. They know he will try to use pressure with both domestic and foreign leaders to advance his chances of reelection. The public now knows, and particularly, the swing states now a much better grasp of how Trump plays politics and how the Democrats play politics. Impeachment, on top of the Republicans ramming proven sexual predators onto the Supreme Court in such an indignant fashion, will show move all the swing state voters to mover over to the Progressive candidate. This impeachment is the greatest political achievement in the history of the Progressive Movement !!!
7
I don’t agree. I think this is going to end up propelling President Trump into a second term in office. His base is going to fired up, and a number of Democrats, unhappy with whoever the Democratic candidate turns out to be, will either vote third party or not at all.
I hope and pray I’m wrong, but I truly believe we’re in for four years of an even more off-the-rails presidency.
10
@ERT
ERT, you are absolutely on target with your comment. This is exactly how the election will likely play.
That is, unless Hillary Clinton joins the race. I forecast last year to family and friends that 2020 would be Pence v Clinton (Trump impeached, Biden faltering and Clinton emerging at the 11th hour.)
If this happens I will forever regret not taking big bets with everyone I know ...
But I fear your assessment is the dismally accurate one.
.
2
Dream on. Trump will get a landslide victory.
1
Like the Republicans weren't planning on mugging for the Fox News viewers about "Secret ballots thrown in the middle of the nigh" if the impeachment vote hadn't been postponed until the morning.
25
Our "Mafia-Don-in-Chief" (Trump) will continue to have good people of good conscience "rat" on him --- in the interests of the Public Good. Thank goodness for that.
Those people who have no shame ---generally --- have no conscience --- and generally --- no humility.
One of the most shameful aspects of the toxic rot of trumpism is the arrogance of certainty that most "trumpians" have nothing to learn from Trump's indecency, dishonesty, and complete lack of humility.
No one is above the law. Their day of reckoning is before us.
Like children they shout and stamp their feet.
18
I grew up outside (at the time) of Greensboro, right down the road from Guilford College. Man I miss those days.
2
Just as voting for the Iraqi War remains a vote most politicians regret, so will voting to support Trump against the 2 articles. Trump is doomed, even if the Senate dismisses the articles and he makes it all the way to the 2020 election. He can't help but make things worse for himself and an historic turnout against him will seal his fate. At that point, all of his GOP supporters will be left naked, exposed for their sustained level of hypocrisy. That stain is not something one recovers from.
27
Let’s got on with it. And we thought Nixon was a “long national nightmare”....
8
How ironic that some Republican on mike sourly called Nadler "Stalinistic" when the hearing was abruptly adjourned, yet each and every Republican had just spent 12 solid hours joined at the hip to Trump for whom they are nothing but willing Stalinistic puppets.
34
So the Great Benjamin Franklin fought for and insisted on impeachment being added to the Constitution.
Now trump and the former republican party are calling impeachment unconstitutional. (ridiculous)
History has certainly showed us what a wise, savvy, and intuitive man Franklin was.
What do these "trump loyalists" think history will show them as?
Benedict Arnold/Britain
Donald Trump/Russia
= traitor to the US
19
This is only about 6:3 next year.
3
How is anyone supposed to govern when our partners are content to sail the ship into a rock if they don't get their way? I don't see any solution to this other than a monumental thumping come election day. So far Republicans keep getting rewarded each time they become more authoritarian. America needs to wake up and read the writing on the wall or we're going to lose one of the best systems of government ever created.
28
Did anybody, anybody anywhere ever doubt that Trump was and always would be about Trump?
Is there anybody who can doubt that Trump is Trump the most important thing on earth, that everything he does has to be the benefit of Trump?
Throughout his public life this has always been obvious so how can anybody be surprised?
Throughout my life, while holding no politician in any great esteem I would never have expected a Trump, a Boris Johnson, or as we have in Australia, a 'Happy Clapper' attempting to turn the clock back to the late '40s, early fifties for New Zealand, late sixties for Australia. The antics are those that we used to laugh about in 'Banana Republics'.
It seems that we just hadn't progressed that far yet!
10
As the planets only resident genius, I will simply state the following points instead of all the people below who get gratification from mostly stupid comments and recommends.
1. The president MUST be allowed to make foreign policy as they see fit, they have been democratically elected to this position.
2. If the President decides a quid pro quo relationship with another country is the best course of action then it should be applauded.
3. If the President asks another country to investigate corruption, this should be applauded. If any precedent is set that prevents the President doing this then this can be applied to every person and company within that country which is a slippery slope to a dictatorship. Any person or company in a democratic country MUST be allowed to ask of anyone for an investigation into corruption.
4. As soon as the President is prevented from any foreign policy decisions in future, you are in for a 'World of Pain'. China will exploit any weakness, North Korea will exploit any weakness. As soon as a single precedent prevents a President from doing a foreign policy, this means that any future policies WILL BE impeachable offences. When you deal with other countries in the world, you absolutely 100% and I mean 100% need to be able to negotiate in every single way possible without the threat of impeachment for any decision.
Thank you for your time, have a good life.
7
@Matthew -Australia
No Matt- though the President may make lawful foreign policy (as defined by our laws- not your wishful arbitrary laws), - he swore the oath Jan 2017 to uphold the Constitution. Sorry for your misunderstanding of our laws and our system of checks and balances.
29
@matthew
Absolutely right. The weakest link in the democrats' case is the rights and privileges afforded Constitutionally to the Executive Office.
Democrats have argued as though it decides unilaterally, when in fact our Constitution very clearly lays out the powers afforded to the other branches.
2
so literally any quid pro quo would be fine with you? there is no scenario wacky enough to give you pause? trumps request was for a PERSONAL favor. Can you imagine ANYTHING?, how about using our military to invade so he can turn Greenland into his personal post flooding resort? or is there no line for you?
Ravens for the Superbowl? Far more interesting than watching the House make sausage.
3
I keep wondering why all of the Congressional Republicans support this man. I think it's about the Federal Bench. Confirming the Federalist Society/Heritage Foundation picks for lifetime appointments is key. The racism, xenophobia, propaganda, corporate tax cuts, caged children are simply icing on the cake. They cut taxes for the wealthy, and now they're gutting SNAP. What have we become?
I would love to move somewhere else, but it seems that almost every country has lost its mind.
Wait until the climate change refugees start arriving in full force.
All I have is my voice and my vote, and neither is secure. These are terrible times. Terrible times.
21
I understand the temptation to leave this country, but we must not leave. We must stay and fight for the best (if flawed) system of government so it is never gone from the world. Knock on doors, make calls, text voters, volunteer with campaigns if we can. It’s our duty to save this country.
Impeachment being a political process ..my guess is Nadler is getting push back from moderate democrats who are faced with poll numbers going the wrong way ....
Watch C-span. Rebroadcasting of town hall meeting ...... Impeachment is no where to be found. Zip .. zero questions. Also -- with endless congressional hearing available you can see how our government works on both sides. The tone of these hearings is the norm and not unusual across almost all of them.
8
This is truly frightening.
Republicans have no problem with a lawless, authoritarian President.
This is surreal.
Is it because he is their President?
I am not surprised that we are here though.
Reagan started chipping away at America, and things have only gotten better for the rich since then, while leaving everyone else behind.
Corporate control grips America and has corrupted government, and it’s not enough.
Can our Republic survive?
12
The Democrats are weak - hopelessly weak - in setting forth such a narrow list of impeachable offenses. He’s committed enough crimes to occupy another 6 months of hearings! After all, what’s the rush? Just to get Trump acquitted in the Senate? And why approve the Trade Deal this week? What are the Democrats doing? Is THIS how to beat the perfidious Republicans? I think NOT.
3
@ManhattanWilliam Tonight’s Russian-pretending-to-be-a-New Yorker style is just the first name, dear, with no add-ons— i.e., “William,” not “ManhattanWilliam.” You must have misread the memo, poor thing.
Present the articles of Impeachment but vote ONLY to Censure in the House. Some GOPpers will vote aye on that. Have Dems then introduce a sober act of Censure on the merits of this case in the Senate. Then you have both a red flag planted in the ground to deter against future Presidents acting this way and you have a mortal hypocrisy trap blazing on each GOP Senators front porch. Let’s face it... There is a silly but nonetheless cogent (and politically viable) argument for Republicans to vote against removal in the case of an Impeachment being delivered. (You know the script they’ve already rolled out...process is unfair, they have been seeking any excuse to change the election result, Hunter Biden, blah blah blah). On the other hand, No Senator will have an easy time going home having sanctioned Trump’s actions in this case by voting no on a Censure. With such a vote ... for Censure ... you will see cracks in the GOP edifice. That would be the win for the nation. Pursuing this fool’s errand of party line Impeachment risks everything needlessly and may just lose our future instead.
4
Democrats on the House Panel: Up is up, down is down.
Republicans on the House Panel: Up is down, down is up.
Repeat endlessly, and pointlessly. Since the Republicans obviously are not interested in truth, the only responsible thing for Democrats to do is quit saying up is up etc and get on with directly accusing Republicans of lying -- lying to protect a disgusting and would-be autocrat. Republicans have become our National Socialist party. Additionally many in the media should recognize that their role is to be played by Republicans, and they are doing that very well. For example, saying the country is polarized suggests that reasonable people disagree about what is debatable. The cheerful intellectual laziness and spinelessness implicit in playing along with that might lead to our undoing yet.
4
No matter what happens with impeachment, I could not possibly have a lower opinion of trump. Biden however should have handled his son's job situation better. It doesn't matter if no one proved Hunter did anything wrong, it looks corrupt. Don't insult the people by saying otherwise.
8
@roy
True. Malfeasance by one entity does not absolve the same in another.
1
Mr. Collins has an all-fired nerve, along with his party, in refusing to face the facts about Trump.
Republicans appear willing to do anything to stay in power, no matter how corrupt.
The cowardly bully-in-chief who fires and insults anyone who gets in his way, is busy assembling a group that has no interest in the truth or in governing for all of us.
Meanwhile, blaming victims is very much in fashion.
Lies are in fashion.
The corruption of Trump who has demonstrated over and over his subservience to Putin and envy/collegial feelings towards the worlds dictators who have the power to jail, torture, and kill their opponents is more than worthy of removal.
But the truth no longer matters to them.
As to Trump, he "needs" to stay in office, as he faces a raft of prosecutions for his many corrupt actions, crimes, and misdemeanors once he can no longer exploit the obscene power of the presidency.
10
Looking this from Europe, one question prevails: is there a single honest person in the republican party anymore?
17
Looking forward to the conclusion of this and returning to the principle business of Congress: balanced budgets, common defense, reasonable legislation. This last happened for two week in the mid-50s....
3
We’ll see if Republicans will take their oath of office seriously, or continue to put Party before Country.
11
This is what the Republicans excel at obfuscation and delay. Any thinking and reasonable person realizes what Trump did was criminally wrong. Yet, Republicans refuse to admit the obvious and just create a giant fog machine designed to gum up the works of impeachment. They are now inextrinqularlly linked to Trump's past, and God help us all, future transgressions.
9
Me thinks that the delay was a response to overwhelming Brexit vote.
4
Trump’s election was an expected windfall for congressional Republicans. They know what’s around the corner. They also know that Trump is utterly unfit for the office of president.
Look at the gasping and grasping — vividly on display tonight at the impeachment debate.
5
Putin outrageously claimed that 90% of Ukrainians want to be Russian in a press conference 2 days ago. Present were Zelensky, Merkel, Macron and Putin. He lied. Ukraine fights daily to stop Russian attack. They need U.S. aid to support them.
No one during the hearings asserted the importance of Ukraine as a block against Russian invasion of Europe, which is their goal. (Look at a map to verify)
Trump continues to do as Putin wants. Without the whistleblower, Ukraine would never have gotten their Congressionally approved aid, and Russia would have stepped up their attack.
Trump's withholding military aid until Ukraine investigated Joe and Hunter Biden is a fact. These two things defied Congress's allocation of military aid (a Constitutional violation--Trump ignored Congress).
Trump asked a foreign power to interfere in the 2020 election (against campaign laws). He signaled to Russia that he supported their attack of Ukraine, then Europe -- U.S. allies (an abuse of Presidential power--Russia is not a U.S. ally).
Trump's actions were illegal. He must be impeached.
18
Nadler realized that the Republicans have valid arguments and it was influencing the outcome against what these Democrats want.
He feared losing the vote and called it off so Pelosi could have a "chat" with them. She'll tell them they'll regret voting against her wishes if they don't do what she says.
Simple as that.
5
@Randy L.
Democrats are also getting an earful from their constituents in a torrent of calls. Many have said the opinions are running 50/50 between "impeach" and "get back to work".
2
Valid arguments? Missed that. The best question posed by the Democrats was this. If Trump was so concerned about corruption in Ukraine, why did he wait until this year to become concerned after giving aid with no strings for the last two years? Especially when a new anti-corruption president has been elected? What changed?
It appears the Republican congressman, defending Trump, are interested in creating a fourth branch of government - the Russian Duma/propaganda wing.
It is shocking to see the lack of concern or acknowledgement by any of these Republicans, after watching true American patriots come forth and risk their reputations and careers to warn our citizenry of wrong-doing by this President.
These actions by the Republican House members should raise a
“Red Flag” to all patriotic Americans.
14
From these Impeachment Hearings, one thing is very clear: Charges against the president should be taken out of the Congress and placed in a Constitutional Court. Need for an amendment to the Constitution - Set up a Constitutional court.
----
It is impossible to expect such deeply partisan politicians in the House of Rep and Senate to handle these charges in a detached, impartial manner.
-----
Majority Leader tonight announced he is working with WH to defeat the charges. The Constitution has been turned on its head.
6
The question I have is whether a vote tomorrow will have given GOP members of the House enough time to mull things over. It's not a matter of searching their consciences, it a matter of searching FOR their consciences. Missing in action, I believe, or perhaps just AWOL.
7
I am seriously impressed by our media folks and people in the hearing who stayed awake during this long, long process.
When I worked in Silicon Valley, I would just doodle on paper in our boring meetings, and occasionally nod my head or laugh to indicate how interested I was.
It apparently worked.
2
I don't understand why it is not made clear that Zelensky said he "felt" no pressure. That does NOT mean that pressure was not applied. It means he was able to not feel under pressure, because he doesn't respond to blackmail.
This seems so clear, and so carefully worded that I cannot believe that main stream media does not insist that is understood.
5
Yesterday’s proceedings had the feeling of a catharsis.
2
Trump's tweet does not deny he asked for an investigation, now he is only arguing that he meant for "us (our Country!)" not him. Regardless of which Trump argument you defend the results are the same. Trump would have personally benefited from a public condemnation of Trump's political opponent by Zelensky. Our allies sent us a message as to their thoughts when they excluded Trump from the Paris talks a few days ago. If the GOP closes their eyes and there are no consequences to Trump then shouldn't we expect this example, one of a pattern, to be repeated - and then where are we.
26
McConnell announced tonight on Fox News that he and the GOP are in lock step with Trump and there's no chance the Senate will vote to convict him. Just like with Merrick Garland, McConnell simply pulled the plug on the entire process tonight. Since when, before any trial, has the head of the jury announced they're in lock step with the accused and there's no chance they'll convict him? Can McConnell say this? Can he be removed from the trial for saying it? Is anyone going to push back against that?
Today was terrible to watch -- Republicans making noise and screaming "sham" a thousand times. Where are we as a country right now? And to think that Nixon resigned for what amounted to a drop in the ocean compared to Trump's treachery. This is a very serious process, deeply rooted in the Constitution, and the Republican strategy is noise, cynicism, and accusing the other side of what they are clearly guilty of. It was a sad day for the USA.
109
Yes, of course it’s been a difficult process; but all patriots have known difficulties before. trump, mcconnell and others in the camp of those who place themselves above our rule of law cannot, and will never, prevail in our country for long. Our tenuous democracy is strong because it allows those who would see it weakened... to first destroy themselves, in full view of our free press, our legal system and the American people. It’s up to all of us to do our duty during difficult times; when we don’t, our nation suffers and the rest of the world along with us. Congress is made up of Americans willing to serve and in that service some get to like their power so well that they value it more than our Constitution and the values that inform it. Most Americans can spot charlatans from a mile away; we’re very good at it because in a free society our welfare depends on it. Nonetheless, when we choose to ignore facts and simple truths in favor of some other set of beliefs, the country stumbles for a time. But always we right ourselves. We will again in the face of today’s Republicans, who like the Democrats of Lincoln’s era, are now standing on the wrong side of our constitution. Vote out these scoundrels and then do what you can to help achieve a more perfect Union.
1
@Vexations
We are on our way to dual dictatorships, ‘IT’ and Mitch!
It seems to me that the dems are thinking that they are losing votes for impeachment. If more than 10 dems defect, the game is over, Trump will get a second term.
10
Not following how you are concluding this. It is pretty clear Trump is guilty and will be impeached. There may be some Dems that are worried about their political careers and therefore do not vote their conscience and instead vote for their personal future. But that looks like a very small number. Further, for Trump to have a second term he must be elected. I don’t think he will be. A lot of the centrists and working class folks and suburban women are changing their views now.
7
No. They just wanted to hold a vote in the day so Republicans can’t claim that the vote was held in the middle of the night. I know you want to feel that the President is winning. He’s not. And the country isn’t either. The President conspiring to rig our elections with a foreign government and one major party turning a blind eye and supporting it. This is the tragedy.
11
@Diego I gave you the wrong impression. You can't see the blood draining from my face when I think that that monster will get a second term.
I had watched the hearing on and off all day and was staying up to witness (and celebrate) the historic vote, so I felt cheated by Chairman Nadler's recess. I would have slept so much better with that vote under my pillow. It has been a very stressful three years being shocked on an almost daily basis by Trump's words and actions and fearing that our democracy will slide into autocracy as all the constitutional guardrails are destroyed and a Trump cult takes hold of the Republican Party. That cult behavior was on full display in the hearing and it was almost unbearable to listen to Republicans, but I held fast on the promise that clear-eyed, patriotic Democrats would build a protective wall around our Constitution and democracy with their votes. I am disappointed but I'll be back tomorrow.
11
@abigail49 Be of good cheer! Come what may, we will all save the Constitution.
3
The GOP members are all well aware of the Case in front of them. It is such a shame that they have all felt it right just to ignore them. They all have a strange conscience. Their constituents, must surely, be reviewing and evaluating their decision for November, 2020.
15
There is no case. The market is making new all time highs. The only people who believe there is a case are are small group of people who only speak to one another and CNN, kind of like a cold.
1
Giving Trump credit for the trend line in the economy since 2008 is debatable at best. But assuming it’s true then the price for gutting the Constitution for future generations is your 401k? That’s a poor trade and a sad commentary on your priorities.
2
@Gregory
I do think that in the miasma of impeachment debates, Democrats (and I am one) are failing to assess the great pleasure of people delighted with the appearance if a robust economy.
This pocketbook largesse will prevail over the morality of the Ukraine deal for Trump supporters and probably for some Democrats.
It's ironic that the GOP likes to talk about the damage being done to future presidents because the Democrats are exercising the Constitutional mechanism for addressing malfeasance by Donald Trump. It's hard to visualize what kind of presidents they want us to have in the future, assuming that the behavior of Donald Trump is their model.
I take the opposite view about Trump's legacy. No one has any reasonable expectation that Trump will be removed from office by the Senate. No one has any reason to believe that Trump will be chastened by this experience - in fact, he has every reason to expect that no Republican will ever hold him to account for any actions he might take. The purge is already underway in Justice and State. It has already occurred in the EPA and other agencies. The courts might hold him off over the next year, but if he wins in 2020, they will not only be increasingly impotent in restraining him, they will increasingly prevent actions by others to reverse the damage he has done, long after he is gone.
I believe that only a 2020 electoral defeat for Trump and his henchman (and I use that word in its most derogatory sense) will save the country. If he and his enablers win, our democracy will be reshaped in the image of Turkey, Russia, Hungary - fake elections, fake courts, real oligarchs, real oppression of women and minorities, real misery.
So, again, what future do the Republicans want? And why do they want to be the party that ends America?
49
@Mike Iker They can try. But truth outs.
1
The “Impeachment’ drive has been a debacle for Democrats. Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff and the rest of the Democratic leadership are far more interested in promoting policies which enrich their supporters- the Pentagon & military contractors, Wall St, big Pharma, Comcast, Verizon, than working people. Thus, the Dems are ensuring a Trump victory in 2020, just as the British Labour party did for Boris Johnso in the UK.
12
Corbyn like the dems are so detached from a real
reality that’s why they have lost major elections.
2
@Solar Power
Democrats in the House overwhelmingly approved a taxpayer funded $738 Billion military appropriation, giving Trump everything he asked for. No doubt, the Senate will do likewise.
Bottom line- Democrats are in agreement with Republicans and Trump on all major issues- support for the Pentagon, Wall St and large financial interests.
The ‘Impeachment’ drive is political theater going nowhere, as Trump will never be convicted by a 2/3 vote in the Senate.
Well done Mr. Nadler. Good move to postpone the vote on the articles of impeachment! It gives members a chance to reflect and consult their conscience. In his respect, the chairman appears positively charitable, by giving his Republican colleagues the benfit of the doubt on the much debated issue of whether they have a conscience to begin with. That it means Contemptibles like Collins, Jordan and Gaetz may have missed their flights home just adds to the pleasure of doing good in the world!
31
The average Republican has no conscience. And half of them have even less than that.
3
To provide 400 million dollars of additional weapons to Kiev confirms this civil war active to keep Russia under pressure without any chance of a peaceful resolution. Russia never recognized the Kiev revolution by anti-Russian oligarchs as the legitimate government especially as the Kiev regime requested NATO membership.
Crimea Russian historically was reunified by Russia to retain their naval base. Crimea people voted to stay in the Russian sphere. The Russian-speaking part of Eastern Ukraine believes it should be allowed some form of self-autonomy. The Minsk peace accord approved a compromise as agreed under the auspices of Germany and France but not pursued by Kiev because the civil war gives Kiev some legitimacy. The war set in perpetual motion but now only useful to sell more weapons? Corruption in Ukraine exists as proved in the recent US hearings linked to certain high US officials.
3
When history refers to Donald Trump, it will always be noted that he was only the third President of the United States to be impeached. It will be in every story written, prominent in every biography, an asterisk in every list of presidents, and finally, the headline in his obit. It will forever be its own badge of dishonor. If it angers and distracts him, or makes him out of rage push the boundaries of his office to the extreme, he will prove once again just how unfit for office he is.
On a personal level he will never get over this, regardless of how rigged the Senate trial may be. That is its own just punishment for this egotistical, narcissistic manchild.
Likewise, the Party of Lincoln and Reagan will go down in history as a domestic quisling that turned itself into a cult of personality by refusing to put country and rule of law first — another indelible stain.
The Republicans keep saying we can fix this by voting him out next year, but it’s clear they’re convinced that won’t happen. Let’s prove them wrong and send this man packing, in 11 months and counting. Let’s make it a Nixonian and Reaganesque landslide in reverse. And, let’s always remember those men and women in Congress who violated their oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution. Trust me — history will NOT be kind to them, either. Throw them all out as well. We still have the power to take back this country. We must now use it or lose it.
74
It is the height of hypocrisy for Rep. Collins to say Democrats ambushed the Republicans. The Repubs have done nothing but harangue and try to ambush Dems on the Committee, and have done nothing but deny clear evidence of Trump's crimes.
On the Senate side McConnell has already announced the Republican verdict of innocent before hearing the evidence.
By undermining fairness of our elections, Separation of Powers and the Constitution itself, Republicans have given away all semblance of decency, honesty, the rule of law and our democracy.
They are behaving in a treacherous manner and will have to be stopped by Americans voting in sufficient numbers to overcome their gerrymandering, voter suppression, campaign law violations, and even calling on foreign powers to undermine Democrat candidates, all designed to keep them in power by cheating.
56
Impeachment in the full House is all but certain.
But I would humbly put my two-Cents-worth suggestion: Table the impeachment vote. Negotiate with president Trump that he could avoid the indignation of impeachment, if he declares that he would not run for reelection. If he breaks his promise, then the Dems could have the vote to impeach him. There maybe a decent chance that a plurality of 51 Senators would vote to convict him, for his removal from the U.S. presidency, though less than 67 votes have no legal value.
Trump is a spin-maestro. If he's impeached and not convicted, he would loudly claim that Dems TRIED to impeach him, but he was acquitted by the Senate. And that either party with a one-vote-majority can impeach a president of the other party on cooked up causes. That means nothing. And that his impeachment was just a futile exercise.
5
Is it an impeachable offense not to show up and do your job, if you are a President? Probably not. Nonetheless, the A.P. notes, "The president’s @realDonaldTrump account had tweeted and retweeted 115 times by late Thursday night...." If his tweets average a minute to put together, that means he is spending a significant percentage of each day we pay his salary engaged in nothing but personal mental grooming. And if you throw in the time spent raking his combover..............
26
I have been glued to news media through multiple lauded, respected mainstream channels since Trump was elected President. I have felt not only riveted by every aspect of this presidency, but also somehow responsible for witnessing and understanding what has been happening in our federal government since the election.
That ended two weeks ago. I have been horrified by the response Republicans have launched to the investigation and to the latest hearings. I have also been very disappointed in the approach Democrats have taken, ultimately, to this one (seemingly) final chance to impeach a man who should not have been elected to begin with.
As the rhetoric ramped up and the articles of impeachment narrowed down, I listened to the polling response of the American public and finally realized that whatever it is that has happened to our country is completely beyond my ability to comprehend or alter.
I will vote for the Democratic candidate for president in 2020. That person will probably lose. I don't know why. Why terrifies me is that I don't believe Americans voting otherwise really know why, either.
My life has to go on now without something I realized way too late way central to my own identify: an honorable country of citizenship.
27
They don't like me. They're persecuting me. They have it in for me. Those are the usual pleas of the wrongdoer. It doesn't surprise me to hear Trump's lackeys emitting those whines on his behalf.
27
Very fitting that our monster-in-chief will be impeached on Friday the 13th. Good riddance to this ghoul.
53
@Daniela
Being impeachment is just the accusation.
There would still be a trial in the Senate.
Your farewell is premature.
3
What did you expect?
Every investigation of the Trump Administration demonstrates multiple counts of high crimes and misdemeanors are warranted.
House Democrats, to attempt to do away with cries of “too close to an election” agreed, foolishly, not to put off their holiday recess and fight for material and witnesses Trump has illegally (SCOTUS: Nixon and Clinton impeachment rulings), hoping some of “The Party of Trump” would agree to negotiate two out of a potential score of bills of impeachment.
Instead, they got hours of repeated parliamentary procedure and “amendments” that would prevent trial in the Senate.
Shame on the Democrats for not forcing the high court to do its part in forcing the White House to obey Congressional subpoenas.
Shame on the Republicans in the House - each and every member placing their Party and its Leader above the Law and refusing to break rank and demonstrate that the nation is more important than one man who would be king, and turning the solemn hearings of the last two months into a circus.
Shame most of all upon Donald Trump, the overwhelming loser of the popular vote, holding onto power by denouncing Congress, the Courts and the Executive Branch he oversees as “scum” - and whipping up his base in an attempt to destroy close to 250 years of Government by the People, Protected by Law.
Dear Republican Senators - I know some of you are extremely honorable and honest people.
It is time to obey your oaths of office-remove the madman.
17
They are forgetting the Kids in Detention. That is a Crime Against Humanity and he could be Prosecuted at the Hague. Look at all he has done. Google Obama Migrant Children and you will see President Obama was very humane and concerned about the kids. Republicans won't believe that but it is true. The Source is Time Magazine. If they include that then we are on our way to getting him Impeached and Convicted. They are not using all of their resources!!!
2
Ha! Republicans tried to push this to the middle of the night and got played. Well done, Dems. Vote in broad daylight. It doesn't matter what the Senate votes. Dems'll vote for what is right, and that is to impeach this selfish, immoral, ignorant, unbalanced president.
34
I truly believe all Congress people earn their money having endured so many difficult debates. The Democrats earn from the taxpayers they serve, the Republicans from big money and oil, gas, and coal.
10
Newsweek is reporting that five domestic editorial boards have called on Donald Trump's impeachment. These include USA Today out with a scathing editorial, The Boston Globe, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Washington Post with daily calls for impeachment.
The New York Times, one of Trump's frequent targets, has not explicitly called for impeachment, but in September its editorial board published a piece supporting the House Democrats' impeachment inquiry. It would be helpful to We The People if the NYT would call for impeachment both by the House and the Senate. This is a homeland security matter of grave concern. We absolutely need all the help we can get to remove Trump from office at the earliest possible date preferably this year. A clear minded, thoughtful editorial would carry more weight than all others in the US and possibly the world. Please publish now. It is time.
20
Nobody cares what editorial boards opinions are except those who read them.
8
@JimH - - - I have friends in New Zealand and in Hobart, Tasmania that posted the USA Today editorial on their Facebook pages. They follow Trump's actions more closely than many Americans because they know he is hurting the entire world. Americans may not care but the world does.
30
“Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the majority leader, dismissed the case against Mr. Trump as “pretty weak stuff,” predicting there was “no chance” it would garner the 67 votes needed for conviction in the Senate. In an interview with Fox News, Mr. McConnell appeared to put aside any notion of impartiality as a juror in the coming trial.
“There will be no difference between the president’s position and our position in how to handle this,” Mr. McConnell said.
His comments came hours after he had met in his Capitol office with Pat A. Cipollone, the White House counsel, and Eric Ueland, the legislative affairs director, to strategize on the process.”
So much for separation of powers.
26
No doubt the writer is correct that if the vote was taken in the middle of the night, the Republicans would claim that the Dems were too frightened to do it when people were watching because they wanted to hide their votes.
And if I heard correctly, one of the Republicans accused Nadler of using Stalinists techniques. If so, I think Dems can throw back that the Republicans are acting like those Germans who knew Hitler was wrong but turned a blind eye to his crimes because by doing so it helped their careers.
18
Congressmen and Senators will vote to keep their jobs. Period.
5
Looks like Representative Nadler stole President Trump's thunder and his ability to claim “the crooked Democrats voted in the middle of the night to impeach me,” tweet. Representatives Collins and Gohmert appear angry for same reason plus they had plans to fly to Europe.
19
I never thought I would be waiting on John Bolton.....Please Mr. Bolton, throw them all under the bus.
15
The whole Ukraine thing is to make Democrats feel that Joe Biden is the only opponent who can beat Trump.
Joe Biden showed incredibly poor judgement in letting his son take a 50K a month "board position" when he was president. It stinks to high heaven of what we as a nation don't stand for. ( And yes Joe, I can do more push up than you). At the same time Trump is 10X dirtier. He's is this antithesis of what we stand for collectively as a nation.
Trump is laughing right now. Both side should put soemone out there with integrity.
Please.
10
@eldorado bob What do you mean "letting his son take a $50K a month" job? Do you think Joe Biden has authority over a grown child? This is really Hillary's emails all over again. It's really the death throes of white privilege, not any rational grappling with corruption. If the Republicans were really concerned about corruption, they'd impeach the apotheosis of sleaze oozing around the oval office.
Face it, they all loved being on tv. If the ratings weren't so awful (and they broke for deeply discounted comerclal time) they could stretch the impeachment hearings into as many episodes as The Sopranos. And that would be good. What else do we have to do until November?
4
Never believe everything you read and hear. Always consider the source. You and I do not know everything. There are many facets to this case that have not been addressed (intentional perhaps).
3
Stalling, grandstanding and wasting time: Turns out two can play that game. Come back to Capitol Hill on a Friday and work?! Who knew the Republicans were such weenies? What a pathetic bunch these two-bit purveyors of lies and propaganda are. Friday the 13th indeed.
15
Did all the Judiciary Republicans imbibe some kind of toxic drug before the hearing today? They were ranting and raving like lunatics. Unbearable to watch and so unbelievably disloyal to our nation. Terribly sad. They will be the ones to pay at the ballot box next November. Clips of their juvenile tirades will be replayed over
27
The GOP has surgically had their spines removed by the occupant of the WH. They fear him at all costs even to the loss of their collective souls. They stand for nothing anymore and are the sad props of the occupant of the WH.
This is a travesty for our country and may push us headlong over the cliff of democracy. Although people may be entitled to their own opinions they certainly are not entitled to their own set of facts and the facts for this case are crystal clear.
17
Trump incompetent president, focused soley on personal benefit, excluding benefits to US Citizens who contribute to government via taxes. Hillary had many more votes but old fashioned electoral college gave the vote to Trump. Clearly demonstrates that Electoral College no longer represents US voters. The time has come to re-organize presidential voting.
12
The voters elected Mr. Trump knowing very well about his lies and character.
The Democrats must not adopt the articles of impeachment without bipartisan support. Even if the facts say otherwise, having half the country not buy into the process will not help our democratic processes.
7
What you just said amounts to, “no president can ever be impeached.”
14
"Truth is mighty and will prevail. There is nothing the matter with this, except it ain't so." Mark Twain.
This is why I'm afraid for our country.
14
First, the House should vote to impeach him. The public will ho-hum and assume Democrats blew it. We should then tolerate about ten days of presidential braggadocio and Republican spin, to really heighten the drama. A few weeks before proceedings
start in the Senate, some patriot should release Trump’s tax returns.
26
@John Deel If only. Seems it's the only was to bring down this crime boss.
I long for the day when people regard taking responsibility as an act of moral courage.
I sincerely wish the Republicans would stop this act—going for the “look” rather than the substance. If they would once truly listen and engage in a meaningful process, I would be amazed and pleased. I hope that at some point in the not so distant future they are exposed for their bad behavior and lack of character.
It is a show to them and they must assume we are stupid to believe their B rate acting jobs.
20
I had a root canal done about 7 hours ago. I got a prescription for Vicodin, but didn’t fill it. Yet here I am, a political junkie (like Hunter S. Thompson) here for my fix. That says something, even if I don’t know what it is. I’m watching Schiff on Colbert simultaneously, by the way.
8
@Ben
Don’t feel bad for staring at the toilet bowl spectacle. Sometimes we have to look at our own waste in order to recommend the right cure. Personally I’ll vote for the ones pushing cannabis reform while the whole thing flushes down the tube.
7
This was my first root canal. It’s weird, the putty and the taste. I don’t like it, but the procedure was easy. My tooth got cracked. But, although I am well into middle age, I have never had a cavity. The dental surgeon was amazed. I have thought about it all day—why are my teeth so healthy? I have three explanations—I was allergic to milk as a child so my mom gave me calcium pills every day. Maybe that was even better. I also had my molars “sealed” as a child, a sort of protective lacquer. And I have always been extremely conscientious about brushing, gently covering every square millimeter of my mouth. I get it—this sounds extremely vain. I didn’t want to write it. But if it helps someone, it is worth it.
1
cast...
Mr. Nadler said. “I want the members on both sides of the aisle to think about what has happened over these last two days and search their consciences before we case our final votes.”
6
Bottom line - Trump was so afraid of Biden's poll numbers he used the power of his office to pressure the new president of a vulnerable ally into becoming his (word for a female dog). Or as Colbert says even more succinctly: There's just one thing that you need to know, Trump said "Do us a favour, though."
9
What is fascinating to observe is how the Republican’s own argument of backfiring is backfiring on them. While Republicans like Matt Gaetz consume the Republican agenda with accusing the Democrats he won’t even pass a Cannabis banking bill which will cost him the election. Meanwhile Democrats show they can chew gum and impeach at the same time and Nadler passes the MORE Act to legalize cannabis out of the Judiciary during impeachment proceedings!
It’s like watching Bugs Bunny hand the shotgun to Daffy Duck and say “Duck Season.”
8
Republicans keep banging on about irrelevancies. It's clear that they'd like to take some sort of revenge on the whistleblower, perhaps by outing yet another CIA agent as the Bush administration did? But the REALITY is that virtually all facts derived from the whistleblower complaint have been corroborated indepenently––even by the president's own appointees. But this is clearly just a talking point to convince the gullible that they've somehow been wronged on this score. Are they really saying that we want to punish people who report the truth?
11
@Solar Power
Yep. Punishing the truth isn’t just what Republicans have been saying, it’s their entire agenda and identity now.
9
Silly, totally bipartisan.
As soon as Biden becomes president, Republicans will adopt articles of impeachment and also wait to fill in the “high crimes” blank.
Sad.
8
@Prof Emeritus NYC
No they won’t. Dems are pushing cannabis policy while Republicans sit on their lies. The House and Senate will be blue. Part of me wants to see Trump win under a Democratic Congress just to watch him be the first President to be indicted. Right after inaugeration.
5
There should be no surprise that the Republicans are portraying anger. They know Trump did it. It's documented. The Republicans are simply trying to overpower the existence of real evidence with their Psychological warfare confusion generating false anger. Graham was pretty good at it during the Kavanaugh hearing. So the Republicans made a strategy of it. They know their Television audience is moved by hate and anger just as it helped elect them and Trump. It's a dog and pony show with angry emotions versus facts. The Democrats have to finally understand two facts in this story; people are addicted to Television and the Republicans know it and utilize it. They are the military.
6
Of course he will be impeached. That, plus the bankruptcies, etc., etc. is the culmination of the trend that has earned him the name "the Charlie Brown of Billionaires."
8
As a native Ohioan, I was repulsed by Jim Jordan’s rude and shrill behavior toward the chairman and the entire congressional process.
Jordan exemplifies the stubborn know it all attitude of Ohio that I detested when my family moved to California in 1961.
When the four students were killed at Kent State University in 1970 the governor of Ohio, James Rhodes, thought that the student demonstrations were incited by communists only because J. Edgar Hoover had told him that. Rhodes’ vapid attitude was typical of the republicans in Ohio.
The very young students were politically naive and wouldn’t know a communist if one punched them in the nose. The students were demonstrating against the illegal American war in Vietnam developed by Lyndon Johnson. The four students were killed by Ohio national guard soldiers, many of whom were also college students in nearby Akron, Ohio.
11
McConnell must recuse himself from the Senate trial since he has a conflict of interest with his wife being in the Trump cabinet. There should be no contact and coordination between the Republican Senators and the executive branch if the trial is going to have any semblance of independence and seriousness.
The trial must not be a short swift political charade but must be conducted with a commitment to the law, the constitution, and facts. It must be run by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court with that objective in mind; to preserve the Constitution and honor Justice! Ideally witnesses should be called in to testify under oath including all cabinet members involved in this affair and the President himself.
The missing subpoenaed documents should be obtained during this trial so that a definitive decision based on the facts are made!
The public should require the highest standards of justice and integrity and they should expect all Senators regardless of Party to render their judgments based on the facts and the law not on partisanship!
13
@IN Payday for McConnell: Write checks now Amy McGrath for Senate.
8
Agreed. McConnell is an abomination, with no honor and decency and respect for the truth and for the law. Hard to believe he has become the leader of the Senate. His corruption and cynicism are of the highest order. He must be defeated!
13
@Val I second your call for people who want McConnell out to donate to Amy McGrath’s campaign.
In the Judiciary Committee impeachment hearing tonight (12-12-19), Rep Gohmert (R-TX) said,
"It's not obstruction of justice when you know you're innocent."
The new legal standard?
I can't wait to use it.
15
@Texas
Somehow I don’t think a DA would go easy on obstruction outside the Kangaroo court. And what defendant gets to tell the Jury what to do? What a mockery of Justice.
4
@Pass the MORE Act: 202-224-3121
Indeed! But if such defense works for the president, it MUST work for me. And I'll take it to the Supreme Court.
2
Regardless of political consequence, I pray for the sake of our entire nation the Democrats - at least - uphold their oath of allegiance to our Constitution and impeach this would-be dictator. Let those in both houses who vote vote to retain him in office be judged by history to be the towering, self-saving cowards that they are.
15
The US Senate is currently deeply divided about Impeachment of Donald Trump, but perhaps it will unite on this issue by 2123 - just it stood together today, to unanimously acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. Granted, 104 years is a very long time to wait, but In it's tireless service to good journalism, the Times somehow forgot to mention this momentous event
4
That happened? Didn’t hear about it either. Well done. The Armenian genocide has always bothered me, how it is politically used. As a Polish Jew, it hits close to home.
4
Ok, google time. I keep reading this different ways.
1
Yes, okay. Well done is right! It’s about time, no matter what Erdogan thinks.
2
Here's a very small index of how far out of touch our congressional representatives are: Congressman Jamie Raskin gave an impassioned and well articulated statement about the reality of our current situation with our president and his cronies and the nonsense that GOP leadership espouses in defense of his crimes.
But guess what? I can't send him a note to thank him for his honor and patriotism because I'm not in his "zip code"...
Our country is being managed by morons who can't create an "instate" box and and "out of state" box... and I am sitting here in Seattle wanting to thank him for his courage...
It's an index point of just how out of touch all our politicians are, Dems and GOP alike. You're all about YOU! when our lives are all about us... Don't you get it?
6
@Bob Use the old fashioned method and send him a letter
7
Brilliant move by Nadler.
Simply put, the GOP, like little children, screamed and whined and unnecessarily drew this out for no reasons whatsoever other than to satisfy their most rabid base and Trump himself.
Like petulant children who got their way, they couldn't stand the fact that the vote would be done in the light of day for all to see, this after Republicans were looking for 'new' toxic talking points such as 'the Dems passed this in the darkest hours of the night'.
Nice try Trump sycophants. That dog don't bark.
21
A few Republican Senators need to step up and show courage and prove there are still some Republicans with virtue. I don't hold my breath though.
I've always known politics to be a blood sport and it was showcased in these hearings however, I have never seen such blatant disregard for facts. Even more egregious is denying facts that are in your face. Why am surprised since the majority of the Repubs in the house and Senate were elected on issues of climate denial, conspiracy theory and tea bag birthers. Tea bag hypocrites by the way since debt no longer matters to them.
The one undeniable fact is this is the first man elected to be President who ruthlessly disregarded norms and made no pretense to represent all Americans. That alone should be grounds for impeachment. Along with selling his country out, he purposely doubled down on disenfranchising the majority of Americans who voted against him. Yes he lost by millions.
17
This article implies that the Republicans actually believe Trump is innocent. They do not, so I wish they would just spare us their impassioned defensive statements and beyond-bogus "indignation."
17
What a sad day for America. Instead of offering real arguments about why Trump's attempted political kneecapping of Joe Biden does not warrant impeachment, much less any substantive effort to present counter-evidence to the narrative that emerged from the depositions and witness testimony, the Republican Party chose to continue its effort to gaslight the American people into believing that Trump's conduct was perfect, and that this is all a "witch hunt," a "sham" and a "hoax." It was the most irresponsible display of political dishonesty I have ever seen. Every one of those Republican committee members knows that Trump's extortion of Ukraine was a serious abuse of power, and every single one knows they would impeach a Democratic president accused of doing the same in a heartbeat. There were Republicans I respected in the past, some I even voted for. I never imagined that the Republican Party would descend to such complete disrespect for the constitution, for the American people, and for the truth.
24
We are witnessing the collapse of US institutions from within.
16
The Republicans, to a man (or) know they are blowing smoke. They know their President is corrupt. They aren’t stupid or blind. But they are, like most who work in service to Trump, corrupted. They also know their constituents aren’t blind or stupid. That’s why they are working so desperately to confuse the issues and distract concerned viewers from the obvious realities of this sad narrative. Their faux indignation is a perverse reflection of their total debasement by Trump and their surrender to the insanity of membership in Trump’s cult. To all of them I say this: there are worse things than admitting your party elected a corrupt idiot who no longer deserves to hold office. And, it’s this worse thing you’re doing - with great fake passion. The world is watching and it sees through you (GOP toadies.) And when and if the Senate acquits, it will be no more a surprise (or display of justice) than when a famous football star walked out of court a free man after committing two murders. Why? Because the jury didn’t care about evidence. They were bamboozled by the dream team and the urge to close ranks around one of their own in the wake of the Rodney King beating. The Senate in 2019-20 seems little different from OJ’s jury years ago. And does Trump care - as long as he gets off? Not one bit. Congratulations GOP: you support the most cynical, corrupt executive officer in the history of this nation. I guess it’s ok if your 401k is doing well. Impeach, convict, remove Trump.
25
I would love to see the NYT explore and expose the conspiracy theories that are driving the Republicans' denial of the obvious facts. Plus, is Russia paying them to repeat Putin's propaganda about election interference? Their behavior seems to be treasonous, in very stark terms. How is it that they are ALL willing to sell our democracy down the river?
11
@Daphne Way Because 40% of Americans are brainwashed by the autocratic Trump and will follow him, zombie-like, off the edge of the cliff. GOP politicians are far too craven to do any other than try to secure their political futures.
A dark day for our Republic.
10
The party-line debate continues. Voters opinions are well known; more support impeaching and removing Trump than don't by a slim margin. Yet Republicans in Congress are unmoved and claim he did nothing wrong. We can expect a short, sweet trial in the Senate and Trump will keep his job.
The ultimate arbiters on this whole mess are the voters. We get our say in November 2020 about Trump, every member of the House, and over 1/3 of the Senate.
9
And the final tally shows... Democrats blew their chance. Trump not only prevails, he will gain money, support, momentum and votes. Nadler was the quintessential beaurocrat, watching him wreaks of Division of Motor Vehicles. This is where we are: what doesn't kill Trump makes him stronger. And he is stronger tonight.
10
The arguments are clear; the Democrats facts versus the Republicans "Shock and Awe" emotions.
10
The House's resolution on impeachment should read:
"Do you honor the oath of office that you took to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America?"
7
If I were Donald Trump, I'd resign on Friday and enter the 2020 race. Would be right up his alley to scorch the political landscape even more.
2
And face many many many state and federal indictments and suits... No way!
3
The never ending hysterical partisan hate from Democrats will be their undoing.
Trump is a political judo master and becoming a more sympathetic character every day to Independents like me. He will get re-elected and Democrats will never understand how it happened.
10
No, it's easy to understand: a lot of people support fascism and candidates who appear to the worst in humanity, since that's how Trump got elected in the first place.
24
Meanwhile Trump does his tired comedy routine at these vaudeville show campaign rallies. His coarse vulgar schtick only appeals to the lowest common denominator of the electorate. Is there not a shred of integrity left among conservatives?
37
This is a shameful moment fo the Democrat Party, whether they realize it or not.
I cannot wait to vote for President Trump next year, for a continuation of his policies and the superior results that they have provided to the US economy.
I strongly support an investigation of the Bidens' conduct vis-a-vis Ukraine and China in 2016.
10
In New York, your vote means nothing. Electoral College, baby. Or do you only like it when it helps your “side”. Because that’s what we are now, sides. Left and right.
8
@James Stewart That has been investigated. You just don't like the outcome. Neither do the Republicans. It is throwing shade away from the president. It won't work.
6
@James Stewart
It's telling that the most frequent argument I see made for voting for Trump is the strength of the economy. This is still Obama's economic expansion, the one that was set on its course by Obama's team from the wreckage of Bush's global collapse. That is not opinion, that is a matter of economic fact. Can you show me the recession that separated the Obama expansion from the Trump expansion? Can you show me any discontinuity in economic growth, in job growth, in wage growth, that indicates this is not a straightforward continuation of the economy Trump inherited? Can you show me any improvement in the deficit (of course not, it's gone up)? Can you show me anything more than a 0.5% growth blip in 2018 that resulted from his $2 trillion flop of a tax cut? Can you show me any improvement in the trade data as a result of his trade wars? Can you show me any discernable improvement in any economic measure that can be attributed to his environmentally disastrous "deregulation"? The answer to all of those questions is no, because there is absolutely no evidence that Trump has had any positive effect on the economy--he's coasting on what he inherited, as he always has.
14
McConnell has made it plain that he intends to violate the oath re: the conduct of the trial in the Senate.
Nothing will stop him from embracing this stunningly cynical course of action. But the Democrats should continue to call him out on this, and call for his recusal. It does not matter that they won’t win. The country, and indeed the world, must have a clear picture of how profoundly immoral McConnell is, and how deep the rot goes.
40
My hopes: I wish there were more impeachment articles on the table; actually all of them--as they deserve a full vetting and public hearing. It's that important. Secondly, I wish the Democrats were not rushing to get to a vote -- but instead would extend these hearings and pursue fuller investigations through next year, actually right up until election day. That would give these matters the seriousness deserved and educate Americans. It would also reduce Trump's daily bully pulpit news appeal and power. The Democrats need to counter Republicans' baseless points and diversions--after each Republican speaks, the Democrats need to come back hitting harder with the facts. And finally, they need to make the point, if Trump has nothing to hide why is he withholding documents and preventing people from testifying? Keep hammering away.
9
Sure, because all last year you wacky kids complained that Mueller was taking far, far too long. This year one things, last year another thing, next year yet another.
Let me clarify something: if you can’t figure out which side you’re on after a couple years of this lunacy, well, you never will.
And could we PLEASE stop with the, “I get it, but the common folk need TIME!!” jazz?
9
@ Robert- I, for one, have never, ever complained about how long this is taking or the amount of money it costs. Anyone remember Whitewater, which was something like 6 years investigating, and they had to get him on a lie about a personal relationship?! Or Benghazi, which had no fewer than 8 congressional hearings? Every time I hear The GOP’ers whine about time or money, I laugh out loud and yell “Benghazi” at my TV. It could take years and millions more, so long as the truth comes out, and our history and our country, doesn’t have an asterisk.
1
Everyone knows the Republicans are going to save his posterior in the Senate. So what's the point, exactly? The record? Trump is a mastermind of turning the tables. Give him a week and he will turn this around and get himself elected in 2020. I fully understand the Democrats motivations; the man is a menace to the US and cannot be trusted to run the country. But they have underestimated how crooked the other side is. This exercise in self-righteousness is bound to back fire. I am more worried now than ever. Not only our system is broken but it cannot be fixed. We have no mechanisms.
12
Now that we know Representative Gaetz is a convicted criminal shouldn't he be recused from any consideration of determining the criminality of this president? After all birds of a feather flock together. And these two are as thick as molasses.
10
The President of the United States serves the American People... the citizens of this nation. Trump has failed at the American public... citizens who align and support both the Democratic, Republican and Independent Parties. Trump serves himself and he has violated the oath he took to uphold the American Constitution to serve his own interests. He must be required to be accountable for his actions and WE THE PEOPLE deserve to know ALL THE FACTS. Proceed. Many people will be watching. What is important is that Americans have access to ALL THE FACTS, to enable them to make informed decisions in the upcoming 2020 Presidential Election. Trump is used to people and institutions serving him and his whims. If he didn't want to serve the American People, he shouldn't have run. EVERY AMERICAN CITIZEN should be asking themselves WHY TRUMP is so beholden to Vladimir Putin. PROCEED... I believe that the American People both Republicans and Democrats will make responsible decisions focused not just on the their own personal interests but the interests and wellbeing of their children and grand children.
19
Very important to note that the Republicans’ defense why Trump should not be impeached is:
“We know that Trump asked for Russia to interfere in our elections and that this is illegal. All we are asking is for our Democratic counterpart to join us in putting Russia’s interest over American interest the way Trump has been doing it.”
16
It is very disappointing that the most serious charge Trump, his children, his lawyers, his vice president, former campaign managers and various assorted associates were not brought up on charges of treason for tacitly or actively pursuing Russian help in the 2016 election.
The charges stemming from the Ukraine extortion only strengthen the case to indict Trump in the Russian interference case and shows a clear pattern from the general election through this year of Trump actively pursuing foreign help to remain in power.
Just today, we learned that Mongolian officials were at Mar-a-Lago just before Trump, Jr. was retroactively given a license to hunt an endangered animal.
Mike Pence has been fully on the side of Trump. Just last week, in an effort to scuttle congressional oversight, he classified the materials one of his staff testified about in Congress.
We aren't dumb. We see what is happening in front of our eyes. Why not go after all these things? Do we not want this man brought to justice the only way he can be?
Come on!
25
Mitch McConnell went on the Hannity Show or as I call it Trump advisor number 1, to state he is working with the White House lawyers. The fix is in.....but then I got to thinking why would any sane person go on the Hannity show to shore up the base.....unless they are worried..... Republicans intimated their own. McConnell is already hedging his bets, but in doing so, he is electing a king....not a president. But he may win the day and end up losing the battle because I know a lot of people who voted for Trump are appalled at the shenanigans of the Republican Senate. Especially the screaming squadron known as Gaetz, Collins, Jordon etc.
22
@Edgar That base no longer has the power to send Trump back in 2020, its been bleeding heavily and will continue to do so.
11
@DG Sorry was typing too fast intimidated but I have noticed the bleeding. Family members who were True Trump.....not so much anymore. The wind is changing at McConnell's back. The longer they keep Kushner as the campaign whatever, the better for the Democrats. Not the sharpest pencil in the box.
8
@DG I certainly hope you are right about that.
3
What is troubling is the way broadcast networks are not covering this. The spectacle of the Republicans acting like the vandals they are is something everyone should see.
It would also be handy if there could be a warning caption crawling underneath every time they repeat a lie. In fact it might be simpler just to note when they are actually saying something that’s true.
22
@Larry Roth
It's the same old but true line, Larry "how can you tell if a politician is lying? His lips are moving" Sad but true. We really need term limits on Congress
3
So suspenseful. Wonder how the vote will go...lol.
2
If after this painful, exasperating reduction of our democracy we are witnessing McConnell shuts it all down without a trial it's time to march.
Our sons, daughters, parents and grandparents did not fight, and in some cases give their lives to allow these larcenists to steal this country through deceit and cowardliness.
No time to be scared, although this is scary. Time to let our politicians and the world know that we are well aware of what is taking place here.
To our town greens en masse, if the process is quelled by the true tyrant, McConnell. Our forefathers are rolling in their graves, let's roll to the streets and be heard. Pick up your pen, keyboard and shoes and act. We owe it to all those who fought to give us this wonderful device, freedom. Let's protect it and hold it close before it is gone, perhaps forever. Our voices still count along with our votes, for now.
37
@johnrs77
You are right, but unfortunately, the sad truth is that GOP/Conservatives don't care a whit about demonstrations or mass protests. Protests are made up of people, and they long ago stopped caring about or listening to anyone, let alone We the People.
However, the GOP sure foams at the mouth when it comes to money, so here's what would certainly get their attention -- we need some smart legal minds to figure a way for the American Taxpayer to lawfully send their Federal Tax money on April 15th and/or their paycheck withholding taxes to a valid, National Escrow Account instead of paying the IRS. Those funds could be held hostage until the federal government gets back to the business of governing, re-establishes majority rule, and stops with the GOP power games of the last 40 years.
With revenues withheld, it would be pretty hard for the Gov't to borrow in the capital markets, so if you want to get the Republicans' attention, then ....
Starve the Beast. Hit 'em where it hurts. Hit 'em where they live! MONEY.
(Hey, I know it's a pipe dream, but............. ya' never know until ya' try!)
3
Go, go, go!
Time to impeach, even if this corrupt man is not voted out.
Put it on his record, at least.
14
I have never seen such a battle from our bellicose morally down low opposing party the GOP. They are corrupt from their head to their toes. They have no shame and certainly no respect from many. Because they do not assume the responsibility of Trump’s actions as president their integrity is very suspect.
25
Good. Couldn't happen fast enough.
6
Succession of power
The Republican Party has become an embarrassment.
39
We are tired of Republicans who think they know what is better for the country when in the meantime they’re spending all their energy covering their hind parts and selling their souls for an aberration of a president who is only interested in himself .In the meantime these Republican clowns in Congress are blaming Democrats for not getting anything accomplished.I would maintain that ridding the country of a fascist president who remains a narcissistic tyrant is accomplishment indeed. This has become one of the most disgusting and disgraceful displays in modern American history These Congressman who have betrayed their conscience and consequently their oath of office should know better the stench from their hypocrisy is going to make it impossible to breathe .
34
regardless of this outcome, when his TAX FORMS are released the GOP defenders are going to look really stupid and complicit. What Russian payoff is he hiding? Ukraine issue is one of many likely keep Putin happy deals. Heck, drop the charges and censure him as the worst president in history.
18
Does this really matter? The Dems will impeach President Trump, but the Senate will not remove him from office because the GOP has the majority there.
The impeachment proceedings will only galvanize Trump’s supporters, resulting in a re-election. If you think that’s ridiculous, why would Bloomberg even consider jumping into the race at this late stage?
He knows the Democratic field is so weak that even impeachment will not stop Trump from a second term. Unfortunately, Mr. Stop & Frisk billionaire from NYC is hardly an attractive choice for minority voters.
2
This would be interesting if we didn't all know how it was going to end. For all they do the Left is failing to get the public excited and The Right and proving it just don't care. The three year drama of Mueller has made the country numb.We have become so tribal that compromise is no longer even contemplated. Knowing that the Senate will not dethrone King Trump is making this whole thing a bad B movie. The election can't get here fast enough so we can end this torture.
5
What a spectacle. Not their best moment.
3
Brilliant!
Kudos to Nader for recessing the Judiciary Committee until tomorrow morning! Brilliant! Now the Republicans know how the rest of the country feels when “45” spins his word salad daily in speech and on Twitter. Thank you for “socking it to the audience of one.” Another sleepless night “45” love it! I guess he’ll have to count sheep if he can get past “1”. Let justice reign!
17
Connelly's basic problem with the committee rules is that he is not allowed to run the committee. Sorry, Mr. Connelly, as you Republicans are always saying, "Elections have consequences."
What a rat.
13
If the Repubs want to focus on Hunter's qualifications for the Ukraine job, let's talk about Jared and Ivanka's qualifications as advisors to the POTUS. Zip, zero, none!
20
To those few House Democrats considering turning tail in order to maintain your "power" position, please take a nice, long, hard look at the denial, the twisted logic, and the infantile tactics of your colleagues across the aisle. Read a few of the over 90 tweets Trump thumbed out into the twitter-verse just today. Do you REALLY want to join them in allowing our Constitution, our elections, and the Rule of Law to be destroyed because of THIS man? Yes, this is a very tribal battle. But, it is only so because one tribe has completely sold out and the other is trying desperately not to. Obey your oath. Impeach. And then lean on your colleagues in the Senate to remove this abusive tyrant from office.
45
@Leslie Um, well, you don't want to force moderate democrats to vote for impeachment if their vote isn't needed and it would mean losing their seat to a Republican. If they're with you 90% of the time it is far, far better than allowing a Republican to take the seat and vote with you only 10% of the time.
Nancy Pelosi gets this.
2
Trump is most corrupt president ever and threatens the future prosperity, security and democracy of our great country. Get him out!
37
Republicans are juggling chainsaws. Sooner or later...
18
Whether or not this impeachment succeeds or fails, I don't think that any of the reactions and arguments presented by Conservatives in this article look very good to any future Moderate/slight Right-leaning voters. I know of a handful of people who completely support this type of partisan support, since "their team is winning" right now in this large game of politics, but there are vastly more people who are completely appalled by the way that Conservatives in Congress have been shouting out baseless and ad hominem arguments in order to deflect discussion away from the actual point.
Of course, the remaining year in this presidential administration leaves open another whole year where the unconstitutional grabs for power and infringements on our system of checks and balances that have so completely characterized these past few years can continue to happen, and they'll all have to be combatted in the courts yet again if this impeachment does fail (which it likely will, since we have a Republican majority Senate), but in that case, I don't foresee a strong support base growing for these people. I see the exact opposite happening.
At this point, perhaps the smarter long-term move would be to jump ship and agree that our president has committed these unconstitutional acts, or at least to switch to coming up with an original and actually productive argument about why Trump shouldn't be impeached. At least then it would seem more like they have the sake of our country in mind.
7
Here's what the republicans don't seem to realize: That one or some of them vote for impeachment, they'll ultimately will be hailed a hero.
The funny thing is, it's simply doing the right thing.
19
Republicans will not address what Trump did with respect to using his legal authority for his political gain and putting into question the soundness of promises made by the United States. When he ordered the military aid to be held back so he could use it as leverage, long after the government had confirmed it to be released, he asserted his right to interfere with the process because he wanted. Presidents have much discretion but not to serve themselves. Trump sees Presidential discretion like some people see cash businesses as a license to break laws. That’s what Republicans refuse to consider.
11
If the TV ratings turn out to be low for this day, please don't blame the viewers. I suspect many, like me, were exhausted after about one hour of repeated lies from the GOP. Either come up with new material or stay quiet.
25
Isn't it odd that the majority of the NYT readers support impeachment and the majority of the WSJ readers oppose it. I no longer receive the print edition but I do like to see how the opposition is doing on the internet. It hasn't changed nor do I expect it ever will. I predict it will get a lot worse in 11/20 when President Trump is re-elected.
6
@Donald Yeah, well, I'm a businessman, and it is no surprise that money-obsessed WSJ readers don't put moral or ethical behavior high on their list.
6
@dmckj I didn't think anybody in ME read either paper. As to morals & ethics, they will get better when the House is taken over again by the GOP.
Argue back this. Why is joe Biden’s alleged historic 2014 corruption in Ukraine relevant to 2019 military aid to an ally at war with our enemy? Republicans keep harping that the president was concerned with corruption in Ukraine before releasing military aid. But historic incidents that are resolved and old news are completely irrelevant. The republican defense is a totally illogical smokescreen.
18
The Republicans are complaining about process while obstructing the process with loud juvenile posturing. It seems at least some will not go so far as to deny Trump withhold aid to Ukraine for a "favor" that would have been for his personal political gain. Replay of 2016 pleas for Russia to release HRC's emails.
The Republicans are making a mockery of our democracy.
12
I listened to random minutes of today's hearings and the GOP was ridiculous. "You need to win at the ballot box", said one. Well, how do you win at the ballot box if the president uses his power and the funds congress has allocated to force other countries to help him? GOP, if you want a fair fight at the ballot box, why do you keep trying to prevent people from voting? You really don't care.
Gohmert claims that in all his years practicing law, he's never had a case where the victim didn't know a crime was committed. So now I can steal without fear of punishment if no one finds out about? On what page of the bible is this deemed acceptable?
Used to be that things Trump touched died. Now is seems the GOP has adopted this maxim as well.
I cry for my country. The GOP is the most destructive group of people on this planet.
20
The Republicans seem keen on bringing up the Clinton Impeachment as a proper investigation because there was an actual crime.
The Democrats should turn that parallel around on the Trumpmen.
Because the "crime" Bill committed had nothing to do with the Whitewater Investigation that had started years prior and was a blip in the eventual Starr Report.
Unlike Trump, Clinton had the courage to testify and got tripped up, under oath, on questions about his fidelity to his wife.
But Clintom was investigated from day one and for years, and people in Clinton's White House were surveiled by the FBI.
Voting to impeach Clinton WAS somewhat bipartisan, but all that shows is that there was a time when Congress didn't apologize for and defend the POTUS of their party no matter what he did.
Clinton's impeachment was viewed unfavorably by the public because he seemed to be persecuted for a private affair unrelated to the public events he was being investigated for, and the crime was his attempt to conceal that private affair. Sleazy, but not politically corrupt.
Trump's impeachment, OTOH, is the extraordinary culmination of repeated abuses of power, the most recent of which threatened the integrity of our elections and national standing.
And Trump has a pattern of corruption in all facets of his life that goes back decades.
Democrats have never needed to seek out things to impeach Trump for -- he repeatedly provides reasons to impeach on his own. He is corrupt, and he needs to go.
14
Trump would easily trade any and all of his GOP defenders for "a favor". To hear and see them think of Trump as their country is very sad.
5
Everyone knows what's going on. Trump is the embodiment of Deplorable. The Republican Senators have abandoned the Constitution, the Country and are shameless. Our Democratic leaders have been outmanoeuvred by a GOP that has thrown out the rules.
2020 Trump & the current Republican Senate must be soundly defeated. There is no other solution.
15
i’m thinking that dems should have thrown the book at him: main articles dealing with ukraine and obstruction, and obstruction as outlined by mueller
subsidiary articles dealing with inviting and welcomibg russian interference in the election, accepting Putin’s word over intelligence agencies’ , leaking classified info to Russians, emoluments violation, nepotism and overriding security clearances of relatives, inciting supporters to “send back” american citizens and representatives of congress because of their race..
ukraine and ukraine obstruction barely scratch the surface of trump’s impeachable offences, degradations of the presidency, and violations of his oath of office.
4
I see nothing but a train wreck heading off a bridge. Impeachment is not popular around the country and is underwater in the polls. Nancy Pelosi committed to impeachment when there is no substance, i.e., no high crime or misdemeanor. Now, she can’t pull back without upsetting the base. This will end up with a quick acquittal in the Senate and will fuel Trump’s 2020 campaign.
5
then you have nothing to worry about
3
As the debate today demonstrated, there is nothing on this planet as ridiculously hypocritical as a Republican Member of Congress.
Keeping in mind that the R's labored for years to catch and impeach Bill Clinton for lying about a consensual affair, listen to them shouting about "sham impeachment", "no evidence", "Hunter Biden", "abuse of power","political motivation", and of course "Hillary Clinton."
And then, there is Matt Gaetz, the icing that fell off the cake as it was thrown out the bakery door.
12
Both Trump and Zelensky have agreed that there was no quid pro quo and no pressure.
In other news, a drug dealer was arrested with 10 kilos of cocaine in his car.
“Cocaine? No that’s not mine. I have no idea how they got in my car.” he’s quoted as saying.
4
All of this is Obama’s fault - for getting elected, twice, by a majority vote.
4
Reading this commentary, I remember when watergate happened. I was nine. I drew pictures of the president as Pinocchio with his nose wrapping around my drawing paper. I wonder what children think today.
3
Remember Nancy Pelosi said “with Trump, all roads lead to Russia”. Its all for Putin; why?.....because Putin owns Trump. Don jr. said all our money is in Russia. They are loaned up to their eyebrows. Trump is only about saving himself not the country not his base nobody but himself. It seems catastrophic but he is exactly that; a catastrophe.
7
The lion-like Republicans on the judiciary committee looked awfully sheepish when Congressman Ciccilini asked them to raise their hands if they would elicit a foreign nation to help them win an election. So, if they would not commit that flagrantly corrupt act, why are they not outraged by that very same act committed by Trump? This is the epitome of hypocrisy.
26
I have been helping people to register with the Dems.
15
I have come to the conclusion that there is something seriously wrong with republicans thinking. I don’t think their synapses are working. In other words, when faced with facts, republicans can’t make the connection between facts and consequences. Republicans are living in a la la land. Trump and all republicans must be removed immediately.
25
No facts, I wonder why?
Why would anyone believe Trump who according to fact checkers spout >9 lies or misrepresentations per day, 24/7/365?
Not only a liar, he is a thief and an adulterer who thinks he could murder someone in front of witnesses and get away with it.
He thinks he can do anything he wants, and get away with it.
He violates the "Golden Rule" all the time
How can the Republicans defend this man so clearly unfit for office.
? The parable of the Emperor's New Clothes ?
15
How can the Republicans complain that they can’t ear from Congressman Adam Schiff and people like Joe Biden and his son when the GOP refuses — refuses — to hear from people with direct knowledge. People like the Three Amigos, the “acting” budget-director Mick Mulvaney, The ex-mayor of New York, and many others.
Nor has the GOP allowed release of documents requested by the House committee.
As the late Joseph Nye Welch, chief counsel for the United States Army during the McCarthy hearings said in exasperation, "At long last, have you left no sense of decency?
I would echo those words to our GOP friends.
To continue on their course is to rot our democracy.
17
The Republicans on the judicial committee have astonishingly used this hearing to do exactly what Trump wanted to do to Biden. They have trashed, insulted, lied about, attacked, and besmirched his reputation. There could have been no more vicious and cynical use of legislative time.
This hearing was a non-stop Republican campaign commercial for Trump. The Republicans have no regard for the Constitution, no regard for the nation. They only care about preserving their power and to that end, defending a completely indefensible president.
20
It’s fascinating.
It seems some humans are born servile - with the need to grovel before others. But usually the objects of their worship have something going for them: they are smart, or charismatic, or talented, or learned, or funny, or accomplished, or physically attractive, or the like.
But this group of Republican Congressional defenders of Donald Trump have chosen to be subservient to someone ignorant, stupid, mentally ill, mean, lazy, crude, incompetent, and greedy.
If they are so eager to be bootlickers, couldn’t they find someone better than Donald Trump to humiliate themselves for?
30
I feel bad for anyone who imagines there's a future for their kids or humanity on this planet.
11
I’m a left-leaning independent voter. I am pro-America, not pro-Democrat or pro-Republican.
I can’t help but thinking: What would my two (R) idols, Dwight Eisenhower and John McCain, do in this situation?
I believe they’d both follow their strong moral compasses and vote to impeach. They’d put country over party, conscience over political expedience.
Let’s keep it simple: Our president invited a foreign country to influence our upcoming election. Nope, Ukraine didn’t seek to meddle - our president invited the meddling. That should horrify every true patriot. It’s simply not OK. Free elections (free from foreign influence, that is) are (were?) a core tenet of our democracy.
Do the right thing - what McCain and Eisenhower would likely do - put country over party and vote to impeach.
Despite the impeachment of our president, he will likely be acquitted by the Senate. He will likely use this impeachment as political fuel to rally his supporters. He very well could win the 2020 election. That’s OK - at least, in practice, the USA will still be a country with rules. State it unequivocally - elections free from foreign influence must stand...
21
It's tiring listening to the Republicans concern for 63 million Republicans who voted for trump getting overturned by impeachment as they entirely dismiss the concerns of, ... indeed stick it to the 66 million disenfranchised Democratic voters whose vote was actually overturned by an unelected group in trump's favor. Besides, how is impeaching the trump overturning trump's minority vote? The trump is just being impeached - not convicted and removed. Republican totalitarianism offers no olive branch or least bit of consideration to the majority of American voters. They're like Hussein's minority Bath party's ruthless rule over a majority in Iraq.
It's tiring listening to Republicans claiming how good the economy is because of trump's tax cut scam (it's got to be a scam if trump is behind it, no?) that merely juiced the economic numbers but could actually be doing so much better without the trump-uncertainty, tariffs and fiscal corruption putting a drag on everything. I guess for Republicans a booming economy that leaves more people hungry, lose health coverage, in deeper debt, have to work multiple jobs just to pay the taxes the wealthy evade paying - is truly a success.
It's tiring to listen to the double standards and hypocrisy from the Republicans as they advocate and defend the indefensible. In no universe would they have let a president Hillary or president Obama get this far had they done anything so remotely treacherous to our electoral system and Constitution.
16
I have to give a lot of credit to republicans for having the nerve to make total fools of themselves in front of the entire world in order to save the "life" of someone who is a thin-skinned, lying, misogynist and narcissist, with a low IQ who spends his days watching cable TV and tweeting. This could only happen in America! The republicans should be grateful they don't live in Russia. If they did, they'd find themselves in Siberia. Clearly the republicans have made the decision that winning is more important than doing the right thing. So much for the values of the religious right.
18
Although I was only an infant and toddler during Joseph McCarthy's reign of terror in the early 1950's, I understand from others that his arrogance, anger, and general demeanor is quite similar to today's arrogant, angry Republicans who are defending the unworthy Donald J. Trump. What is it about the Republican Party that they periodically get nasty and turn their backs on civility, civil rights, traditional democratic processes, and simple good manners?
The one thing about McCarthy, he was finally censured by his senate peers. Trump has certainly taken enough shots during the prior three years at fellow Republicans, some of them senior legislators, undermining many of them. They're about to be given an opportunity for payback. If they take it, the president's reign of terror is likely over.
10
As an aside, I think that the Republicans already know for sure that Trump colluded, is colluding, and continues to collude with the Russians, and they are convinced that hacking and other malfeasance from the Russians will assure their, and Trump's victory in future election(s). I have been thinking this for quite some time. Why do the Republicans continually reject bills to reform the elections for 2020 and beyond? Why do they keep suggesting that Trump will win by a landslide in 2020, (and with such confidence--falsely claiming the Democrats will have caused support for this man to explode due these "sham" proceedings?) Because they, and Trump, compliments of the Russians, already have a firmly entrenched plan in place to continue their corruption.
10
The current nastiness in the impeachment process is again due to Trump. I need him out of office so my blood pressure can return to normal. RBG and I are gasping for calm.
12
The unfortunate plodder who 'wins' the Democratic Party nomination next summer will at least have one contrast over Boris Johnson, the Leftist allied with haters of Jews in Britain who got plastered this week: at least the American loser will NOT sense a lot of pressure to quit the national legislature.
Someone from Congress is likely to be our second-best finisher in November, but no one minds if he or she goes right back to the spot they had before.
But, YES, this will be the situation faced by a Democrat other than Tulsi G in 320 or so days.
Today's Clown College highlight: the Leftists are now in high dudgeon over the Economy President's decision not to play along in this tug-of-war yet.
But I think the GOP knows that whether they end it all on Day One with a bother-with-it-or-not vote, or play it out like DJT would like, the caterwauling on the Left media will all be the same.
Once they hate you, they can't really hate you any more; thus, the Right is free to act out their conscience as if in a vacuum.
Its the lies, the lies that come naturally to Republicans.
So tired listening to them.
22
Excellent article.
3
All of the GOP members in the Committees have steadfastly and forcefully defended Mr. Trump. It is unclear, if they are aware or understand all the facts that surround the charges. At the same time, it is also unclear if any single GOP member has ever questioned Mr. Trump on any of the charges. Watching these members, one can say, it is all noise, all repeating the same arguments.
9
Starting at the beginning of Trump's campaign, demands for impeachment seemed to be coming from almost every corner of the United States. Baseless allegations combined with real concerns created a partisan cesspool of inter-twined facts and lies. Although I was not alive at the time of Watergate, or for the Clinton impeachment proceedings, I know that the time and energy Congress spends on the process, is time they are not addressing our national and international concerns. The forefathers put in place a system which protects our Democracy. My hope is Congress is able to quickly discern, in a non-partisan manner, what must be done, choose a decision which is best for America, and move ahead on other issues which effect our country.
1
there is definitely a fundamental difference between Republican and Democratic congressmen - Republicans are way angrier. I am impressed with how delusional they are. The American people see right through this and will remember come November.
18
Yep, impeachment will be the new normal. Can't wait until the Republicans regain the House if there's a Democratic President. Game on with using impeachment to remove the next Dem POTUS. This is a brand new partisan weapon. Again, game on, Democrats.
3
@JP If that Democratic president is a tenth as corrupt as Trump, he would deserve it.
20
@JP
This isn’t a game.
This is fighting for our free and fair election process. This is defending the Constitution. This is making sure the person in the Oval Office is not compromised and putting our national security in jeopardy
19
Why was Trump not nailed for intimidation of witnesses?
He was doing it in real time during the hearing.
21
Seems like Republican strategy might be to stretch this out so long that the morning papers won't be able to print, "TRUMP IMPEACHED".
7
I am tired of these Republicans telling me what Democrats think and want. What I think and want. I am tired of the misrepresentations and the obfuscations. Tired of the untrue insults and the baseless insinuations. The Republicans are furthering the depredations and despoliations of the demagogue leader of the Trump Republican cult. In the face of such crudity and such buffoonish mendacity, these things are a light in the wilderness: the reluctance of Pelosi to pursue impeachment, the sober measured approach of Schiff, and the facts themselves.
30
They’re doing the best they can with a rock for a brain and a sea urchin for a heart, you know.
11
Why have Republicans on the Judiciary Committee so degraded themselves, as members of Congress and as human beings, to protect one man? Even if Donald John Trump was removed from office, their party would have its own president, the current vice president, in the Oval Office until January 2021, But of course their Republican colleagues in the Senate will not remove him from office and these House Republicans know it. So again, why do they stoop so low to protect Donald John Trump when their words aren't even needed to keep him in office?
12
Obama could have been impeached for claiming privilege at the “Fast and Furious “hearings. He wasn’t. The next Democrat facing a Republican house surely will be. We are sinking into an abyss.
3
Remember Obama, oh how I miss him. Never a scandal and a great world leader. You're right, we are sinking into an abyss.
22
@Buster Dee The Republicans wanted to impeach him for wearing a tan suit. Everything he did the Republicans were against. I wish Obama was back. I miss him and the serenity I felt. Now I feel like we are in a constant storm.
1
All day long Dems announced impeachment of Trump has reminded me of some restoration of faith in the world but I couldn't quite think of what that was, then I realized it's just like a devout Catholic who questions their faith until they see Jesus' face in a corn tortilla. It's a sign of hope! Plus it takes good, the tortilla at least.
2
The arrogance of the Democrats.
They actually expect that Joe Biden should be un-harmed by the impeachment focus they have taken regarding Ukraine and Trump's actions on Hunter Biden.
The double standard is clear,
Biden's actions aligned with "policy".
Trump's actions were driven by "self-interest".
The MSM, IC, and state department lifers all agree
there is no discussion.
The "No Malarkey" express has left the station and is on to Nowhere Land.
2
@Max Your "belief" that Joe Biden did something wrong is completely unfounded:
www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-09/on-bidens-and-ukraine-wild-claims-with-little-basis-quicktake
"Double standards" and "arrogance" is something best left to the GOP at this point in time, considering their shrill and groundless complaints.
7
@Max
VP Biden was delivering a United States government policy decision made by the Obama administration. It had bipartisan congressional support. It was done out in the open and not hidden away from public knowledge. It was a policy supported by European Union members, the International Monetary Fund,and the anticorruption organizations inside Ukraine, among others, who were concerned that there was no anticorruption activity being done by that prosecutor. The Ukrainian prosecutor was corrupt and he was not investigating Burisma at the time he was removed. He was removed and replaced by a prosecutor who wanted to investigate corruption in Ukraine.
12
Can someone help me understand how a president who has been in the White House for only three years can take credit for an economy that has risen every year since the 2008 Great Recession? Eleven years! Pretty good trick.
25
@Richard
Easy answer. All you have to do is LIE.
10
Here's a scenario for you.
Trump's impeached ... owing to a turn in some Republican's perception of their ability to be reelected, they vote to remove and Trump's gone. Yet he is re-nominated and then re-elected as president. Think it can't happen? I never thought two brothers would oppose each other as head coaches in the Super Bowl. And yet it happened! So there.
Sure. In the best of all worlds, Trump would win but Democrats would take the Senate. When the stuff hits the fan, and it will, we want Trump to be there to clean up his own mess.
I suggest Trump move to have a 3rd term, since the Dems, their Party media and the Deep State have taken away 3yrs of his 1st term.
It’s only fair, really.
5
@Cjmesq0 How many years did his tweets and relentless "rallies" take away.
23
@Cjmesq0
Oh Please. Ever the Whine Line Victim Card for Trump. That alone is too nauseating to tolerate past next year. It is always someone else's fault. Most of his cabinet is gone with the wind or his campaigner staff and lawyers in jail or doing end-runs around our State Department, but yes, poor helpless Donald is the victim.
Give us a break.
9
@Cjmesq0
Trump hasn't put in even one honest day's work, even if you leave out his betrayal of the country, so actually, he owes the country his resignation and public apology.
But it's nice to see Trump supporters admit they're authoritarians who want a dictator in violation of the Constitution. No wonder Trump supporters are such fans of Putin and Kim Jong-Un.
5
It’s supremely ironic that these cowed Republicans, implicitly threatened with primary opponents if they don’t toe the complete Trumpian line on impeachment, are themselves being coerced by their corrupt leader as was the pressured, newly installed Ukrainian President. This Fake President, throughout his amoral predatory life, has excelled at seizing up those whom he dealt with and then exploiting any perceived weaknesses, to his own personal advantage. Watching the pathetic collection of Republican sycophants/toadies populating these House committees has been an exercise in disgust and revulsion, but also sadness. All of them richly deserve to be voted out of office in 2020, along with their Manipulator-in-Chief.
11
The American voters should ask the House Republicans the same thing Joseph Nye Welch -- the American lawyer who served as the chief counsel for the U.S. Army during the McCarthy hearings asked McCarthy: sir,
"At long last, have you left no sense of decency?"
13
I'll be honest. Republicans look pathetic in their defense of Trump.
They are going to continue to lose elections including the big one on 11-23-2020
16
Only the best cries of outrage...
2
It seems impossible for the Times to remark on the undeniable truth that Republicans are simply trying to reduce the proceedings to mockery, since the Times is reporting on it as such.
4
Congressional Republicans are worried about "the base?"
They should start worrying about the fury of the rest of us for putting this country through all this gaslighting and lies.
I'm not just dismayed and horrified.
I'm getting mad.
28
Yep.
Enough of this secessionist yack. Enough of this fear and morbidity.
Time to go kick some. Time to grow up.
Please vote.
11
@SLB
You've got to give Obama credit, he said it first: don't get mad, VOTE!
11
Every culture has its problems and France is no exception but after being an American expatriate for seventeen years I’ve never regretted leaving America.
This is the low point in my life for being an American citizen. I’ve never been this embarrassed or ashamed of having the United States as my native country.
Trumpism is leaving an indelible mark on the soul of America.
39
@Michael Kittle Same here, only there is less French and more garlic.
Trump, however, does reveal and magnify the problems in American Democracy though. The real question is can these problems possibly be fixed by such a partisan, two-party system which is besot with vices?
Can harmful corporate influence in government and media be checked before all trust is lost in those institutions?
3
Trump is tweeting 100 times a day. When does he work? Does he just watch TV and tweet all day?
53
Uh huh.
31
Don’t forget about his required nourishment, those fast-food burgers, the key to his finger endurance.
9
I may be mistaken, but, there is still $35 million in military aid for Ukraine being held up by the White House. Why isn't this being reported? Why isn't this a matter discussed during the current hearings? Would it not be further evidence of the "Non" quid pro quo- pro-quo?
7
To the ‘brink’ of impeachment is as far as it will go...this will all be over with shortly...
2
Is anyone else tired of our GOP compatriots thinking that talking more loudly and faster and faster will make any kind of point?
Because they sure have not been defending Trump's actions.
38
@Pat
Absolutely. I thought that guy Doug Collins was on some sort of speed - how can you be from Georgia and sound like your pants are on fire all the time. I did read he was a preacher for awhile. And Jim Jordan is blabbery incarnate.
22
@Pat Used car salesmen and con artists do it all the time.
17
Impeaching this president isn't just about the quid pro quo with the Ukrainian president, it isn't just about corrupting the election process—it's about all of it: the savaging of the environment by appointing industry leaders to positions of power, the packing of the courts with ultra conservative justices, the lying and insulting of men and women both here and abroad. Donald Trump has abused the office of the president and made a travesty of the oath he swore in ways we could never even have foreseen.
When the votes are cast, those who continue to support him might be answering to their constituents in ways they never expected.
19
An exercise in futility. Trump will win the Senate trial, providing him with more ammo for his 2020 campaign. This President is merely a reflection of the decline of America, brought on by decaying moral values. Red or Blue states hardly matter in the larger picture, which is looking very bleak for our future. Canada and Europe have a moral center which we, as a nation, have sadly lost.
8
Schiff is really into the impeachment charade.
Nadler is just going through the motions. His goal is just to get it over with as quickly as possible, hopefully clearing the decks for the Democratic primary candidates to finally gain some traction in the new year.
2
@John
Amazing that Schiff is allowed to show his face after the Horowitz report confirmed that all his hyperbolic claims of the past 3 years were know to be lies and that he was well aware of that they were.
2
Donald Trump has done a good presidential job thus far. Let's face it; the Democrats are war mongers and jealous of Donald Trump's diplomacy with other countries. There is nothing wrong with detente; actually it is the best way to go to avoid the hardships of wars. Remember American History.
3
@Sandra J. Amodio
Richard Nixon reached out to China.
I don't think there is any American patriot who said "Nixon made peace with China, so he should be able to break the law if he wants to."
Trump did say he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and his supporters would say it was okay. Or they would say "Donald Trump has done a good presidential job so far, so what's a little murder?"
Back when Nixon was President, Republicans understood that this was about protecting American democracy. Trump Republicans believe only in keeping power and they hate the US Constitution.
That's why Trump and Putin are such good buddies.
14
@Sandra J. Amodio
Was this when world leaders laughed behind his back or snickered in his face?
13
@Sandra J. Amodio
Most Canadians see Donald Trump as a laughingstock.
My engineer nephew living in New Zealand assures me that most down there see Trump as a laughingstock.
That is the sad truth from outside your bubble.
11
The Republicans are betting that Trump will win. Do hey know something the rest of us don’t know, like Russia has guaranteed a Trump victory?
If they lose they will have to own the legacy of not voting to impeach. Trump will be radioactive and moderate Republicans will be able to show their faces again. So maybe something good will happen for the Republican Party if Trump loses.
9
@Oliver I think that the Republicans already know for sure that Trump colluded, is colluding, and continues to collude with the Russians, and they are convinced that hacking and other malfeasance from the Russians will assure their, and Trump's victory. I have been thinking this forever now. Why do the Republicans continually reject bills to reform the elections for 2020 and beyond? Because they already have a plan in place to continue their corruption.
7
Assuming there was no impeachment initiative on the POTUS, and retracking on the all the news we have followed:
What would have happened if there was no impeachment inquiry? Is it possible then, the aid for Ukraine would still remain withheld? Is it possible the Ukraine government would have proceeded to initiate their investigation on the Bidens? Is it possible the news today, would be that, it was Ukraine, and not Russia that interfered into the 2016 elections?
What exactly would be the situation today?
1
For those who were not following the Clinton impeachment, can someone explain why the GOP were investigating the president's sex life?
9
@Beth
Ask Jonathan Turley, who swore under oath that it was VITAL to impeach the President for having extramarital sex to save the US Constitution.
That same Jonathan Turley swore under oath that he could not assume there was anything at all wrong with a President holding up foreign aid until a foreign leader publicly smeared his political opponent. Turley stated under oath that Presidents should be allowed to send their personal attorneys to work with a foreign leader to draft a statement that smears his political opponent to Trump's satisfaction. And they should be allowed to hold up aid until they get caught.
Turley, like the man he worships from afar William Barr, believes that there are laws that pertain to regular people and Democrats, but Republicans answer to no one. And Turley will insist that even if a dozen Trump officials testify under oath as to what Trump did, it doesn't matter because for Turley, the facts don't matter for Republican Presidents.
What's a little favor, says Turley, when a President needs some help in his election campaign? We can't impeach Trump because .... well, because according to Turley, that just isn't enough. When you are political hack whose life is devoted to defending Trump, you don't care if Trump shoots someone on Fifth Avenue because you find some reason to deny that it matters.
14
@Beth . Special counsel found crimes against Clinton. No crimes with Trump.
1
@Beth: Yes, the GOP (specifically Ken Starr and his sidekick Brett Kavanaugh) were investigating the president’s sex life because they could not find any dirt on Bill Clinton on the original target of the investigation, the Whitewater real estate deal.
10
Remember when your parents told you years ago that people will judge you by who you're friend's are? Well all Trump's friends are in jail, dead. or going to jail.
14
@karen Or governing Russia.
8
This is a joke. No debating, just people preaching the party line, back and forth. GOP reps grandstanding for The Emperor, unwilling to listen to the facts. Will be impeached along party lines, and it will die in the Senate. No backbone by any GOP members at all.
To quote POTUS: SAD
Also- How about His Orangeness bullying and making fun of a teenager via Twitter. Jealous little baby boy, he is.
14
Sean was just interviewing someone ...
Who said, essentially, "see, those dumb Democrats from purple districts who vote to impeach President Obama, rather than protecting their political careers, will be defeated".
And now Mitch is saying the same thing.
Somehow I doubt Rep. Pelosi will treat them the same way the President Trump treats ... most everyone.
3
The House Democrats have become a joke. Wafflely Moderate becoming a confirmed Republican as I watch live on TV.
3
The Impeachment Process is Wonderful:
I see the impeachment process as something very wonderful for the United States. That's because we Americans are at the crossroads of the dawn of a new era of 1,000 years. Our democracy has stood the test of time for the past 200 years. During that time, Americans have surpassed every nation on Earth to become the most prosperous nation. Currently, we are being tested as never before to comport to the highest idealism that will enable us continue leading the world for another 1,000 years.
America became the greatest nation in the world because of the Constitution & economic infrastructure that was provided by the free labor of African Americans. It is quite clear to me that Trump has circumvented the Constitution by abusing his power. In addition, it is very good that our leaders are examining, in real time, how the Executive and Congress should work together.
For that reason, I'm glad that the United States is showing the world how the greatest & most effective democracy is working. This is something that China & Russia don't have. China & Russia wants to rule the world with their brands of new command economic planning but, as long as our democracy is vibrant as it is, Americans will prevail. Long live democracy.
7
What’s to debate?
If Trump were innocent of impeachable offenses, he would testify, release documents and encourage others in his administration to testify. That would clear everything up within a day or two.
63
The issue is the public announcement of the investigation. Why did Trump insist on the public announcement? There was no need for the public announcement if trying to simply find whether there was anything illegal. If something illegal were found, THEN it would be proper to go public. The US clearly had the ability to monitor whether Ukraine was actually doing the promised investigation.
11
The GOP is loathe to hold a guy who asks foreign governments into our elections to be held accountable. Several years ago Trump was a Kook according to his now chief apologist Lindsay Graham.
It doesn't matter who likes Trump or doesn't like Trump. It is about upholding the Constitution. Trump is not above being held accountable no matter how much his enablers scream.
21
Well you know Donnie trump wanted to clean up the corruption in Ukraine , he is a model of anti corruption. Lets take a look at trump university , no corruption there except for the 25 million he had to pay back students and shut down. Well how about the trump foundation , he was fighting corruption there ,till he mistakenly bought a painting of himself with foundation money,how about the Boy Scout dues ? he is a leading the charge in fighting corruption.
13
Wow, Republican Rep. Biggs just completely misled the American people in a shocking way to smear Yovanovich.
Biggs claimed that Zelensky himself said Yovanovich was bad. But Biggs shockingly left out the FIRST part of what Zelensky said to Trump:
Zelensky said to Trump: "It was great that YOU were the first one who told me that she was a bad ambassador..."
The Republican just offered clear evidence that Trump was intentionally undermining the one person most concerned with corruption because Zelensky said that TRUMP told him she was corrupt and that was the FIRST time he ever heard it.
Shocking when Republicans - in trying to deceive the public - bring up even more evidence of Trump clearly attacking his own American Ambassador and working to convince Zelensky she was corrupt.
15
@RJ
I just reread the transcript and felt sharp pangs of sorrow for Zelensky who, given the desperate situation his country is in, was just oozing with flattery. He was showering trump with praise the whole way through, agreeing with everything trump said. Unfortunately, he did say (after your quote) “I agree with you 100%...” which in the context of the call is nothing but unmitigated flattery.
But that quote is all the Republicans and trump need to tell their unthinking base that Zelensky said Yovanovich was bad.
Misleading? Definitely. Surprising? Definitely not.
9
This is a solemn duty for them to fulfill. But from what I have observed there is no question that Trump should be impeached. He deserves it much more than Bill Clinton did who lied about a consensual affair (which was nobody's business except his wife's). The bloviating is ridiculous. What will it take to get rid of this man? Does he have to have an affair before the republicans will want to get rid of him. Trump corrupted the system. That is impeachable. Trump asked a foreign power to investigate his political rival. That is impeachable. Trump was a dirty businessman in New York. He certainly didn't clean up his act.
10
While it’s true that trump did not invent partisan politics, his nasty, vindictive, facts-be-damned modus operandi is clearly contagious and the GOP are following his lead like obedient lapdogs. It’s hard to imagine a return to civility and any semblance of inter party cooperation any time in a future near or distant.
Are the Dems guilty of the same? No, because they have reality and facts on their side.
14
I can't listen to these lying Republican filth anymore. My heart rate starts spiking. This must be how they feel about us; the only difference is, they're wrong and we're right. They're lying and we're telling the truth. They're deluded and we see clearly. They're evil, and we're good.
It sounds insane to say it all like that; and yet, that doesn't make one word of it untrue.
23
Embarrassing.
6
I wish the Democrats had made it clear before these Impeachment Hearings began just how responsible Paul Ryan would be for the complete ostructionism Republican House Members were about to partake in.
Remember, Ryan, along with the help of Eric Kantor and Kevin McCarthy, the 'Young Guns's' in 2006 and their 'Pledge to America' to rekindle Tax and Entitlement reform, that rebirth of sorts of Ronald Reagan's legacy. But what would truly become significant, how they were about to rid the party of their Moderates, anyone capable of reaching across the aisle and vote with the Democrats.
And most significant of all, how during the 2010 election cycle they got 67 of 83 possible Tea Party Candidates elected to the Republican House, what was the beginning of the Republican obstructionism we see to this day during these Impeachment Hearings. There are simply no more Moderates to temper their strict Conservatism.
This is nothing like the Nixon Impeachment hearings when their were Moderate Republicans who were rational thinking and capable of judging Nixon honestly. This is not what we're seeing today from these obstructionist Republican House Members, full of nothing more than than blind ambition.
19
@merc And weren't these the same Tea Party folks who told us about how these huge Obama deficits were destroying the Republic? What lying hypocrites
14
@merc The late Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens (appointed by Ford after Watergate)wrote a wonderful essay in his book "Six Amendments:How and Why We should Change the Constituion" – which I recommend to everyone –that singled out gerrymandering as a primary and prevailing cause for the elimination of moderate candidates running for office because they then don't have to try and appeal to a broader electorate. He also viewed Citizens United as an additional impediment to broader political consensus and less extremism in party politics. Judge Stevens outlined a good map to follow to help heal our divide. And I think it's also no mistake that he was willing to speak out so forthrightly during the Kavanaugh hearing to state without equivocation that Kavanaugh lacked the appropriate temperament to be a Supreme Court Justice.
5
This is not a defense of Trump as the president. But I must say that if I just arrived here from Mars, and heard Nadler outline his case for impeachment, that Trump’s was the highest form of crime—abuse of power for personal interests—with clear evidence that this is exactly what the founders had in mind with impeachment, my expectations of what this president must have done would be sky high. But when I learned that the military aid was only temporarily delayed, the president was concerned about corruption, he merely said “do me a favor” to conduct and investigation that never occurred, that the former VP enabled his son to get a $500K job in Ukraine’s biggest oil company, the Ukrainian President never connected the aid with the investigation and the allegations that Trump ordered the quid pro quo was merely supported by innuendo and hearsay, I would indeed tie it right back to a founder, of the Mamas & The Papas!!!
“Is that all there is?”
7
@Alberto
If you don’t want to see something you can’t fake yourself out and pretend you want to see it. For example, of course the president of Ukraine would say he didn’t know he was being bribed. What else would he say? He needs Trump. He has to say what Trump wants him to say. Ukraine still needs US aid.
12
@Alberto Abrizzi
Thank you for that perfect recitation of the Russian disinformation campaign that's been put forth by first the Russians and their talking heads and now the Republican Party.
8
@Alberto Abrizzi Maybe you did just arrive from Mars!
By the way, Joe Biden didn't enable (meaning to grant the authority) for Hunter's appointment on the board of Burisma. That was Hunter's idiotic doing all on his own. And just so folks are clear, most executive corporate board members have zero experience in the particular industries on the boards in which they sit. It's neither required nor common. The Articles of Impeachment are targeted to address a pattern of abuse of power. Go read the Federalist Papers.
6
Dems are hurting themselves with this process. They are steamrolling over the minority party. People may disagree over the subject but they are sure giving the Reps as easy fairness argument to oppose impeachment.
5
@Bill: Nope. The House represents the People, and it’s the majority of the People’s representatives who favor impeachment. Or do you suggest the minority should steamroll over the majority, just like in the Senate and the Electoral College?
9
@Bill
Democrats are "steamrolling over the minority party".
What? -- You mean the way Mitch McConnell and Republicans do that in the Senate?
8
I have been watching the proceedings in the Judiciary Committee today and what an educational time it has been. All of our so called elected representatives could learn something from the phrase “asked and answered! However, its clear the Democrats have been given the thankless task of arguing with the Republicans whom all seem to truly live in some type of opposite of the truth parallel Universe! They obviously make up facts ( much like Donald Trump each moment of the day) as they go along instead of just admitting the truth and insisting that Trump make an apology for the whole Ukraine scam he put together.
If so, I think the Democrats would even be willing to drop their move towards Impeachment. But sadly the Republicans think that because they have the fix in for acquittal with McConnell et.al. in the Senate that somehow everything will be alright with God and Country. But going along with and aiding just another one of Trump’s big lies (Ukraine) will ensure they will never be right with either.
9
Never have so many sycophants blathered on and on for an audience of one. What frightened little people they are. Sad.
17
Dear Mr. Cline, I'll tell you what's infuriating, are the blowhards like you in Congress who possess no moral compass or fealty to the truth. You and your fellow colleagues have spent an entire day avoiding the evidence of Trump and his administration's (Barr: his improved version of Roy Cohn, Pompeo, Sondland, Pence, and well, Giuliani his new "fixer a la Michael Cohen") unethical behavior and wrongdoing. They've been selling out democracy and our national security to Vladimir Putin, while you guys flap your jaws and wave your hands complaining about a process you had full access to while spinning outright lies to the American people about witness testimony, the rule of law, and Democrats' intentions, who are just a bunch of "human scum" to quote President Trump in his descriptions of his critics and political rivals. You're right this whole impeachment thing is exhausting. But what's worse is an entire political party demonstrating they clearly have no respect for the rule of law or the integrity of our Constitution and frankly the office of the U.S. presidency. You all are guilty of endorsing the same kind of corrupt behavior you accuse Ukraine of embracing. Therein lies the rub and the great tyranny. Shame on you!
26
Growing up I assumed Republican politicians were serious people doing serious work, for the good of the country. As an avid watcher of the West Wing, I grew up thinking they were smart, well-meaning, honest patriots. Now, watching days of the impeachment hearings, I am shocked to learn that only the Democrats are the good guys and the Republicans the clowns, buffoons, corrupt, evil, dishonest, without an ounce of patriotism, willing to enable this countrys greatest enemy to infect so many parts of it. If Republicans are doing the bidding of Communists, does that mean Republicans are, as we used to label them, Commies?
18
@Patrick McGowan From the way they are behaving, I would say chances are pretty good they are commies.
3
Why is this debate beginning to feel like a Republican filibuster? Enough already.
16
Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, now Donald Trump. In the words of William Mulholland "there it is take it".
I will tell you quite bluntly, as a foreigner observing the House Judiciary Committee debating whether or not to impeach President Trump that it a shocking display of mendacity by the Republican Party.
Its obvious to me what is going on, I wonder if its obvious to American's? I doubt it is to many Americans too busy with their day to day lives.
The Republicans are turning the Impeachment hearings into a chaotic cacophony of lies and mis-truths to claim that President Trump, who has by some accounts lied over 14,000 since being elected President, who has locked up children in cages, who has engaged in race-baiting, not to mention engaging in illicit shenanigans to recruit Putin's henchmen to interfere in the 2016 Election and then again to extort or bribe the Ukrainians to dig up dirt on his political rival, is somehow a victim of a witch hunt.
It truly is shameful and very worrying that America's government has devolved into an Orwellian nightmare of propaganda and lies to support a corrupt and dishonest President.
May God help America.
43
Shouting and histrionics aren't the same as facts and the Constitution. Democrats win, on facts and the Constitution.
29
As a retired person interested in politics I have been watching all the televised hearings, but today I had to quit due to the sheer repetition of arguments. It almost seems like filibustering. As people have commented at least today it seemed like Republicans had to marshal real rebuttals, but it is tiresome now to have to sit through more amendments.
8
After watching the corrupt, amoral Republican stonewalling, I will not vote for a Republican even for dog catcher for the rest or my life.
82
Now I understand the strategy behind narrowing the Articles of Impeachment. I wanted them to throw the kitchen sink at Trump...but the sink would overflow with the sewage they have been spewing. It would have taken too many oil drums of draino to unclog the GOP disingenuous gunk.
42
The Democrats have painted themselves into a corner with just two articles of impeachment, giving the Republicans the opportunity to dismiss process by declaring it incomplete and based on hearsay with no direct evidence.
That Trump committed fraud with his charity, election fraud by paying off two women, intimidated a witness, and violated the emoluments clause are just a few of the concrete and verifiable impeachable offenses that Republicans couldn't brush off so easily. And none of these crimes need to go through the courts like subpoenas do. They surely would provide added ammunition for the case of impeachment and offset some of the fog of doubt (real or contrived) that exists around the two existing articles.
The Democrats are shooting themselves in the foot. And now the Jeremy Corbyn victory may be providing a chilling foreshadowing of events to come in the U.S.
5
Corbyn lost.
3
@Michael
Whoops - make that "the Boris Johnson" victory.
1
Probably makes sense to impeach people we don’t like since it’s just a big popularity contest anyway.
2
Sorry but it must be said - watching a few hours of this hearing proves without a shadow a doubt that there is an intelligence deficit on the Republican side of the aisle. That even 40% of our fellow citizens can't see through them is mind boggling. That any congressional district in the country could actually elect these people to the House of Representatives is absolutely frightening.
56
The hearings are grinding along. It is amazing how the Republicans can stonewall and act as victims at the same time.
27
I thought I needed a break from these hearings and decided to watch Jets-Ravens football tonight. But record it so I could zip through commercials.
As I did this, live TV was on the hearings and a Republican house member uttered these words, "When the Democrats took over the House..."
I didn't listen further since my objective was to record something.
BUT...we've been hearing about "democrats trying to undo an election of this President by 63 million Americans " for weeks now, right? (Never mind that 66 million voted for the principal opponent to Trump.)
Yet in 2018, the "democrats 'did NOT take over the house' but were elected by however many millions of Americans to take charge of the house.
Let's get real here when we're speaking about what American voters have done.
In these turbulent times, it's clear to me that VOTERS speak by voting. That's why impeachment is occurring when the President pulled a Gary Hart, daring democrats to follow his actions.
22
Somebody has to say this - the Republicans taking part in the debate are being rude. It is embarrassing seeing supposed grown-ups acting so badly - yelling, dramatizing, posturing, cutting off the answers. They are trying to outdo each other in playing for Trump’s approval. Their kids must be dying with the shame of it.
67
No one is listening anymore, they know exactly where this will go.
6
How to explain Republicans’ position and condemnation in our partisan arena ?. As they implore incessantly impeachment is such a bane for Democrats and Trump is perfectly innocent than why doth they protest so much it shall pass the House ?
5
Trump claims that Ukraine’s military assistance totaling about $390 million was not released because of Trump’s concerns about corruption. Fair enough. But several thoughts and questions on all this:
* If the military aid was held up by Mulvaney and the White House Budget Office, what did Mulvaney and his staff look at and find?
* Why can’t Mulvaney and staff testify to their process and findings that first held up and finally led to release of funds?
* It was curious and troubling that the funds were only released after the Whistle Blower complaint started leaking out.
* How many federal agencies had already followed standard policies and certified the funds for release after clearing Ukraine for meeting anti corruption criteria?
* How much other US federal money had already been given to Ukraine for capacity building and other services and capabilities that strengthen Ukraine economically, militarily and socially?
* I heard that this was about $1.4 billion. Didn’t this money help strengthen the country even though it didn’t include military weapons?
* If Trump was concerned about corruption (a) why didn't he bring up corruption in his phone call? (b) why did Trump and his staff work so hard to fire the Ukrainian ambassador who was a career foreign service officer and someone known to be a hard worker against corruption in Ukraine? (c) why did Trump and his staff and non-staff (Rudy) work so hard to remove a corrupt prosecutor?
7
The latest line of irrelevant talk is how wonderful Trump has been for the country. They repeat his claims but not confirmed facts, what he asserts are his intentions, not what he has accomplished.
But the point is that Richard Nixon was as far more effective and accomplished President, but his violations of this oath of office were strong reasons to impeach him. Trump's accomplishments are more blather than reality.
9
I say it was more than a partisan divide. Many Democrats are voting no on the impeachment.
4
Gaetz, Jordan, et al are acting like their talk is proving something except their refusal to address the issue of whether Trump violated his oath of office and withheld vital aid that was already approved to be furnished in order to compel the recipient to announce an investigation publicly to raise suspicions towards Biden. They seem to think that if enough people are taken in by their irrelevant statements, they will make all the nonsense considered true by all the fools who elected them. Annoying.
16
Watch what they do, not what they say. For the third time this year, GOP rejects election-security bill.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/the-third-time-year-gop-rejects-election-security-bill/
Gee, doesn't it appear Republicans would support President Trump in his request to foreign countries to interfere in U.S. 2020 election?
12
All republicans know well how unscrupulous, how arrogant
and bully, this president is . Trump never did anything to be proud of. He is a calculating person , a mob style with Zero concern or consideration with human being. Obviously we need to take serious the impeachment articles because if not, his abuses will grow exponentially. Time is running out.
7
does this republican nonsense ever end?
17
The Trumpian response is all white male outrage. I am so sick and tired of it. Yell, scream, and stomp their feet outrage at being held accountable. The "accomplishments" of Trump are laughable. Trump doesn't know right from wrong but they do.
21
It is disheartening to listen to the obfuscation, distraction and outright lies the Republicans keep pushing on the American people. They are mimicking their boss, the biggest con of them all, DJT. I really hope they go down in flames in the next election(s) for their fealty to this despot criminal president. It's astonishing the mental gymnastics they'll go to for fear of losing DJT's supporters....sad.
I was waiting for someone to point out his (literal) con jobs and then add that these guys are perpetuating him. Point them out directly, name names...
39
As I have listened today...I am, once more, amazed.
For the House Republicans to suggest that the majority is over-reaching in its power over the minority...is absurd.
It is the Senators of low population states, granted equal representation by our Constitution, that are - and will - wield their minority power over this impeachment process. Moreover, they continue to wield their power - without regard to the will and opinions of the majority of the citizens of this country - and will do so until they are voted out of office.
This is the reality that most folks don't realize...the minority in America is, in fact, controlling the majority of America.
Their pursuit of the love of power has no bounds, and they have no shame in making any argument, manipulating any fact, using any any method of emotional baiting...to stay in power.
This is our reality.
22
The GOP made some valid points in calling out both the flaws and open interpretation of the process, but I don't hear any of them debating the claims themselves.
Also, Matt Gaetz is a low level back bencher punk.
29
Our government is so dysfunctional it should disappear. We need another country to rule over us. I favor China over Russia.
Now that’s something we can poll.
Do you favor:
1. Self rule
2. Russian rule
3. Chinese rule
Choice #1 has been and is a total failure. Let us face the facts. What do you say guys?
@Yuri Pelham
4. New Zealand
or
5.Finland
6
@Yuri Pelham:
Switzerland comes to mind.
Switzerland has many desirable policy, economic and cultural positions and traditions. It is a full direct democracy.
Thanks for asking.
6
Republicans are painfully ignorant, shockingly sycophantic, and amazingly obsequious. They will lose this round, but they should be on alert: By bringing up Hunter Biden, they opened the doors for Democrats to dredge up every bit of slime, dirt and horrid behavior committed by Trump’s dreadful family of co-conspiratorial criminals who share his DNA or married into it. Godspeed to Democrats unearthing the horror that lurks in plain sight, and beneath the surface of the Trump crime syndicate.
30
We’ve all seen the notes of Trump’s call to Zelensky.
The notes are damning enough but:
(a) we have not seen a verbatim transcript of that call and
(b) we have not heard the tape recording of the call.
Release both the tape and the transcript.
20
@Richard, I don't think there is a tape, but there's certainly a fuller and longer transcript, and I think we would all like it to become available.
7
To a degree the thinking of Republican Congressmen/women can be explained as "believing what they (partisans) want to believe regardless of the facts and by pandering to their base/Fox News. But the fingers pointing at Trump are Republicans or appointed by Trump himself: Sondleng, Mulvaney, Volker, McKinley, Bill Taylor, Bolton, Jennifer Williams, Mueller.
This shows that the Republican Congressman/woman is a heinous liar, a co-conspirator against the Constitution, and a protocol-authoritarian.
May God Save America. Vanquish stupidity, mendacity, and Republicans.
20
It is disheartening to listen to the obfuscation, distraction and outright lies the Republicans keep pushing on the American people. They are mimicking their boss, the biggest con of them all, DJT. I really hope they go down in flames in the next election(s) for their fealty to this despot criminal president. It's astonishing the mental gymnastics they'll go to for fear of losing DJT's supporters....sad.
9
@Brian The republican Party is dead. The National Socialist Party of Trump has taken its place.
25
Let the Republicans resort to their loud voices and outrage, but Democrats should turn a deaf ear. We must stand up for facts & recognition of them. Every Democrat in the House must stand behind Nancy Pelosi. The survival of our democracy requires leaders to demand a responsible presidency. Let a vote in the Senate show us that the Republicans are hollow men. Democracy cannot survive without standards that have been abused or ignored by the weird human being in the White House and his unthinking followers.
11
Isn’t it truly amazing how the republicans will do anything to protect trump who is so obvious under Putin’s control. They Are traitors in the true sense of the word and should be shamed but they have no shame, no respect for the oath they took to protect our constitution and no right to call themselves Americans.
22
For those dem reps who are thinking about or definitely are going to vote against the impeachment resolutions because you want to keep your jobs, think of it in revolutionary war terms. Nathan Hale regretted he had but one life to give for his country. You'll have but one job to sacrifice in the fight against the assault on our Constitution. You'll at worst be remembered throughout history as the Hales of your day, your opposition as the facilitators and supporters of the would be authoritarian king attempting to replace democracy with his rule. Benedict barr, he's worthy of a whole dissertation of his own so i won't take it up here.
10
The impeachment hearing is not tearing the country apart due to the Democrats, as the Republicans have claimed, but because of the behaviour of POTUS, the leader they are clamouring to save from removal from office - he is the one trying to alter the country. The Republicans are appealing to the voters that they should be the ones to decide, but the Constitution is clear on the rules of impeachment – in just the type of case that has arisen with the current president. POTUS is a threat to the country and it is imprudent to wait any longer lest he usurp even more power not due him. To my mind, the most aggressive and unruly defender of POTUS during these impeachment hearings has been Jim Jordan. (Doug Collins, a chaplain of all things, is not far behind with his vitriol). Mr. Jordan is an ex-wrestler and was an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State from 1987 to 1995. During his tenure there, the team physician Richard Strauss sexually abused and assaulted 53 members of the wrestling team. Jim Jordan’s locker was next to Dr. Strauss’ locker; yet Jordan – who has not been accused of any abuse himself – refused to cooperate with all of the investigations into Strauss. He has been front and center in this hearing and is the man on whom the Republicans seem to be pinning their vain hope to affect the inevitable outcome of the impeachment hearings in the House - I guess because he has a lot of experience in stone-walling and refusing to tell the truth.
10
what is plaguing the republicans? a brain tumor that is causing dysfunction in the hippocampus-a dysfunction that is inhibiting logic, compassion, or foresight? i simply can't rationalize their ways of being.
9
Somebody please remind me why Bill Clinton lying about a private, intimate act with a consenting adult was a threat to national security ........
12
@r mackinnon: For Republicans, being a Democrat is a serious threat to National Security. Besides they care more about sex than being in the Russians' pocket.
10
@Jeff I am 72 years old, my mother 92. And we were so surprised that the R's went after Clinton for a consensual affair but allow Trump to trample all over the Constitution. Clinton should never have been asked. And later it came out that 2 of the R's questioning Clinton were having affairs of their own. If it weren't for 2 faces they'd have no fact at all.
5
It is amazingly disgusting to listen to these Republican hack Congressmen bring up Obama and their ludicrous responses —- I just heard one say the Democrats would ban fracking —- and good luck making cell phones without it—- now that is beyond stupid—- fracking destroys our planet one blast after another...
Will these Republican idiots ever realize the fact that Trump is a crook.
6
Watching the repugnant republicans is a constantly nauseous. Trump abused of power and obstruction of Congress cannot be more clear.The question is why all republicans are trying so hard to turn the table over, to save the most imbecile president in this planet earth. ? Only God knows .
6
Have voters noticed today's Republicans appear to say *anything* rather than address the fact that the president asked foreign governments to help him in an upcoming election? Have they forgotten that the Mueller Report found Russia interfered in 2016 election, in favor candidate Trump? Are voters aware that if a foreign country interferes in US election, as happened in 2016, their vote is null and void-- as the country becomes an autocracy? If this president is allowed to get away with his 'Ukraine scheme' today, ANY president can run amok in the future-- with no check on ?
Where autocracy of Mr Trump and Republicans is headed: acceleratesld global warming. Short video on The Uninhabitable Earth:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e286drjBZ-w
Enjoy!
4
The Democrats failed to heed what the vote for Brexit meant and adapt the Clinton campaign accordingly in 2016. Thus they were shocked when Clinton lost and Trump won. If the Democrats fail to heed the implications of today's vote in Great Britain, they will again be shocked in 2020.
An aspirational candidate will not win against Trump, Instead the Democrats must nominate someone who talks to the values and needs of the voters as they define them, not to the values and needs a candidate thinks the voters should care about. So far, a Biden/Klobuchar ticket looks most promising to defeat Trump.
6
@Steve Fankuchen
Biden, who challenges prospective voters to a push-up contest because he has a below-the-belt Napoleon syndrome,
and Klobuchar, who bullies her interns and has one of the highest turnover rates in her staff.
Treating the equivalent of waiters like trash and riddled with insecurity; that sounds like the quintessential American uneducated white man who brought us Donald Trump.
Doug Collins babbles like an auctioneer. He rants out in the same speed and tone that Kavanaugh used when he said the same old Dems could not accept the 2016 results line. Actually he cannot accept the results of the 2918 mid terms.
11
" ... more than enough proof exists for the House to impeach Mr. Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, based on his own actions and the testimony of the 17 present and former administration officials who courageously appeared before the House Intelligence Committee." (Washington Post Editorial Board, 10Dec2019) Indeed. The hysterical arm waving and faux outrage by Mr. Trump and the Republicans flies in the face of all the evidence we've seen. It reminds me of Chico Marx, "Who you gonna believe, me or your own eyes?"
9
I write this as a Canadian who is not smug or with any feelings of superiority. We as Canadians are the same, smaller and so endure problems of smaller relative magnitude. But as I watch these congressional hearings, I am filled with sadness, anger, fear and disgust at the outright, bold faced lies of the Republicans. Americans, now is the time to take to the streets to protect what these traitors are stealing from you, democracy. The times have found you, the time is now.
17
The GOP are behaving like traitors not Patriots. Trump behaves like a traitor, not a Patriot.
10
I have to thank the New York Times for ruining the last three days of my life because I cannot stop watching your live coverage of the impeachment hearings. I did not think the Republicans could go any lower than Richard Nixon (I was young then), and then came Ronald Reagan. Bush I was actually a relief, and then we got Clinton and things were looking good until Florida. Bush II came in and gave us constant war, and Mr. Obama came in and was like a breath of fresh air, even though the wars went on and his healthcare plan was turned over to Senator Max Baucus, who was deeply indebted to the pharmaceutical companies. Most of us were not prepared for a Trump victory and for three years we have been witnessing a racist slime who has devalued America internationally and made rich people richer. Now we are witnessing the complete sell-out of the Republican party, which is no longer that Republican Party but the party of Trump. Every day, I get about ten e-mails a day from desperate Democrats, telling me if I do not give the world will end. Trump is not sending out those e-mail, because corporate America is sponsoring him and his drive to privatize profit but socialize risk.
Did Hunter Biden take advantage of his father's position to make money. Probably -- but that is not the point. The real point is that every single Republican who stands with Trump has betrayed all of us.
24
I am still trying to figure out how Russia interfered or "stole" the 2016 election and how asking Ukraine to look into Biden related corruption counts as election interference.
14
@Jeremy Coney
Well, there are plenty of people in jail right now who can probably provide you with some clarification. Why don't you write a letter to Paul Manafort, or Rick Gates, or Roger Stone, or Michael Cohen, for instance, and ask one of them to explain it to you.
13
@Jeremy Coney: If you don't see how using the power of the US government to attack a political rival is just plain wrong, God help us all! Flip it round with Hillary Clinton ordering anouther country to dig up or manufacture dirt on Trump in order to receive US monetary aid. Now do you see what is wrong with a President doing that?
10
@Jeremy Coney Okay, I doubt you are really trying to figure it out, but I suggest you read the Mueller Report, which, contrary to what you've been told on Fox News, details the disinformation campaign launched by Russia, which was intended to spread lies about Hillary Clinton and sow discord and division among potential Democratic voters with the goal of denying her the presidency, and elevating Donald Trump. The hacking and releasing of DNC emails was a Russian effort. Russian attempts to interfere in democratic elections throughout the world have been documented by intelligence sources internationally. The goal is to destabilize and delegitimize democracy everywhere, but the American democracy is Russia's biggest score so far. An American president pressuring a vulnerable foreign leader to make up dirt on a political rival (not "investigate" because the truth is Trump didn't care about an investigation; he only needed Zelensky to say he was investigating Biden) in return for much-needed military aid is on its face wrong - this would, among other things, constitute a campaign donation from a foreign government, and the request itself reeks of extortion. The founders feared foreign influence on our elections and thus made foreign political donations to elections illegal. I hope that helps.
1
My admiration goes out to the numerous strong-hearted Democratic representatives who have spoken today, not only because of the force with which they have made their case, but also because this live-streamed hearing has allowed me to see what an exhausting battle they are fighting truth-proof Republican congressmen who create a distorted atmosphere by constantly projecting a totally false context. Republicans have disassembled the parts of the crime and hidden them under layers of subterfuge. I couldn't listen to any of them for very long, leastwise Mssrs. Gzetz, Jordan and Collins. I don't know how the Democratic representatives can stand such barrages. They have my admiration and encouragement.
16
I know that this has already been said. But it bears repeating.
We all, Democrats and Republicans, need to understand that it is the obligation of Congress to do this. I frankly don’t care anymore if Trump get impeached or not. He will be.
I do care that a record be created that will go into the archives of our historical records. Now, that is something that Republicans will never be able to change. And their words and deeds will be recorded in 4K digital video which will look just as dramatic 100 years from now.
Let’s wait 100 years if we must and we will see then what the judgement of history will be. I know it won’t be pretty.
May my apologies extend to those citizens who will come 100 years from today and find the mess we created for them today.
And it was all because of a narcissistic man who had all in thrall and himself in the grips of a Russian Tyrant. As if the tyrant waved the head of Medusa and the hypnotized followed.
My most sincere apologies to all of you 100 years from now that we made such a mess.
I am very sorry.
16
What an incredible waste of time and money. The Democrats should have censored Trump and spent the time working on an infrastructure bill. We need to upgrade our roads and highway system big time.
9
Maybe the Senate should start taking up bills and debates on bills sitting on McConnell's desk ... instead of concentrating on stacking the courts.
13
Does anyone remember, Mitch McConnell said from the very start that he would not support infrastructure bills. After the massive tax cuts for the wealthy there’s no money for Joe six pack to safely cross the bridge to get to work.
10
Instead of discussing the issues based upon rational consideration, we hear the same old nonsense. Republicans found long ago if they say something really stupid and act as if they need not support it but require that others prove how stupid it happens to be, everyone should believe it.
These Republicans are clearly just without any self respect. They are not addressing the facts but repeating whining accusations that the Democrats are unfair to their wonderful President. The Democrats are falsely accusing the man because they don't like him, not because they are asserting that he's violated his oath.
Jordan et al just go on and on ignoring the articles of impeachment and the facts supporting them. Instead, it's just one long repetition of deliberate misrepresentation and repetition of story already proven to be bogus.
5
I'm amused by Republicans who call impeachment completely partisan.
WWII was also partisan, but I like to think one side had a righteous cause.
20
Republicans would argue that the allies were just as guilty as the Nazis because they killed people too.
12
@David
If Trump were to find out that Herman Goering designed uniforms during that era, he'd probably be having them adapted for his own use and get them sewn up in his overseas sweatshops, and the only thing William Barr would object to is not having a similar uniform for himself.
7
@Eric
Which explains why to this day the Republican Party not only has unanimous support among neo-Nazi groups but as recently as last year ran several actual neo-Nazis for state and local office.
Are we just going to ignore the fact that the president of the United States also admitted in court to have defrauded charities and have to pay 2 million dollars? Am I taking crazy pills? And this is just one thing. There are countless things that Trump did that showed him to be unfit to be the president and Times is just going to be like both-side brigade about this?
22
The disrespect, sarcasm, and outright antagonism shown by the GOP committee members are contemptible. If all you have is restating the same old, tired, debunked arguments by raising the theatrics with each go-round, and raising so many red herrings that the room is starting to stink, that tells me you got nothin’.
As I watch these people with disgusted amazement, I wonder: What is the GOP so afraid of here that it is sticking so stubbornly to a narrative that is laughably false and with a man who is so criminally corrupt? Is it Trump himself, or something else?
The GOP, as it currently exists, has no place in this country. It is a disgrace.
20
Has there ever been a more despicable bunch than the current GOP?
26
no.
6
Hunter Biden is a Yale Law grad, like Kavanaugh. That is a prestigious degree that opens a lot of doors. It opened em for Kavanaugh and it would have done the same for Kavanaugh. Mr. Kushner and Ms. Trump who actually work in the White House do not have anything comparable. After Trump became president, Qatar rescued the undivested Kushner company from a lousy real estate gamble to the tune of $600 million. And, up to now, how many trademarks has China granted Ms. Trump?
16
@Honora
Well. Whether or not those open doors are merited, they are there. Is that what you mean?
3
I've been watching the impeachment trial and I can't help thinking what a farce the whole thing is...the democrats are going to end up regretting it in 2020 as they lose again...
8
@ORnative
Like the Republicans we are now watching spewing hatred of America and the Constitution, your only concern is "winning" and "power".
So it is not surprising that you would be mystified by Democrats whose concern is following the law and protecting the Constitution and caring about future generations of Americans getting to live in a democracy and not one where the President is able to break any laws in pursuit of power.
I completely understand why you would be gleeful because your only concern is winning. That is no different than Trump and the Republicans. When your only goal is "winning" and you are willing to break any law -- remember Trump said you'd be okay if he shot someone on Fifth Avenue -- you would have no understanding at all about Democrats who put their country above themselves.
Trump voters only appreciate greed and power. What you Trump-worshippers do not understand is that these Democrats don't care about whether they "win", they care about doing the right thing and following the law. If you find that abhorrent, you should certainly vote for the Republicans who only care about power and pray every day that your family doesn't get in their way.
14
@ORnative
Was that a rendition of Mr. Gaetz threatening Democrats, or an at demonstrating what Trump's echo chamber sounds like.
5
The Republican strategy is simple: deny the facts, spread confusion, lie, and do it as loudly as possible. Attack Democrats at every turn. This is a partisan divide because Republicans have chosen party over country. This is not a both sides do it situation.
28
@Larry Roth both sides uses the same tactics
2
@CD
Both sides of Mr. Chabot's mouth for eample?
I pray the Dems don't send the impeachment business to the Senate where the complicit Reps can "exonerate" the individual. Better to save it and continue investigating, perhaps finding a slam dunk to convince the Senators to convict him when they see more evidence of other higher crimes.
5
Where were all of these GOP arguments in 1998?
2
When did southerners start fast talking. It sounds weird and hard to understand. Or is it just Collins that speaks that way?
7
@Billy
Perhaps he's under the impression that his double-speak will take twice as much time. Perhaps that's why he's also yelling every time he opens his mouth.
5
@Billy
No. Rep. Gaetz does the same thing.
3
@Billy
They don't talk that way. The Republicans have no legitimate arguments to make on the facts. The speed-talking is a theatrical attempt at distraction.
1
Trump is a petty little man and his acolytes are even pettier.
Nothing is too small for his mind to ponder or his mouth to comment about.
He's had his chance at leadership and has wasted it on petty tweets and smaller ideas.
Impeachment can't come soon enough.
15
That 2020 Trump hat looks like it has the red white and blue of the the Russian flag on the brim.
4
While the House GOP (Gang of Putin) was crying corruption re: VP Biden and his son today, couldn't help but wonder why then they did not initiate their own impeachment hearings against the Veep back when they held the majority in both houses. Hint: no evidence
Also am in awe at the mental gymnastics it takes to conflate Trump sending his private lawyer to sneak around doing a "drug deal" with Mr. Biden's official duties as the VP of the United States.
16
@PacificNWer: Right. As someone pointed out, Trump had approved money for Ukraine for two years, before suddenly discovering an urgent need to investigate Joe Biden and the election of 2016. Could Trump's sudden urgency have been related to the upcoming election, rather than events of 2014 and 2016? I think it could have.
9
@PacificNWer
GOP
Grand Old Politburo
600 grand a year probably before tax is in corporate terms not that huge. Peanuts compared to Ivanka, Don and Jared's earnings. Hunter is not Joe.
I have a feeling Kamala is aiming for VP incidentally.
1
Mr. Johnson, representative from Ohio, is speaking ... talking about not having the facts (but not explaining that the facts he refers to are those which were held by Trump), that the Democrats are worrying about next November (rather than understanding that Trump has been acting with ulterior motives all of his life, and is a clear and present danger), and that the impeach proceedings are rigged (but not explaining that he is complicit in the Trump-rigged world we have to endure at this time). We watch a blind man speaking.
5
Throughout the free world, we have earned
No respect - just disgust. Bridges burned.
So, it's now safe to say, we are all on our way
To that place where our honor's UNlearned.
My father - a WWII vet -
Were he alive would not get
Why this GOP now
Chooses to kowtow
To a liar who still hasn't yet
Explained why he took troops deployed
In Syria out - Kurds destroyed.
And Ukraine? Same refrain.
Their democracies strained.
Now ours is. With Trump toadies annoyed
By Mueller, by Vindman! Toadies YOU
Have disgraced yourselves. What you do
While you tell Democrats they will rue
This impeachment; and how they will pay.
Well, let me tell YOU, THEY are true.
YOU are wrong and what is taking place
Would make Lincoln call you a disgrace.
You're the Know-Nothings now
And I just don't know how
You can even look at your own face.
The basic standards of trust
Trump AND you have betrayed while you thrust
The sickle and hammer, rife in what you yammer
You've earned no respect; just disgust.
3
All of this is a waste. The Democrats and all the Trump haters have been trying to get Trump out of the White House fro day one. If they believed they could win the election in 2020 they wouldn't have needed this process. As one NYT Op Ed contributor, the only reasonable way to remove Trump is by a vote of the people. But there is nothing reasonable about this. It is political. They used their subpoena power to try and dig up dirt and have as many haters, especially from the State Department, testify in public. Their star witness, Soundland, though let them down. He said he never heard Trump ask for quid quo pro and when he asked him directly Trump said he wanted nothing. So they are dreaming up other reasons for impeachment. It will all end up in the circular file in the senate and Trump will proclaim, "I told you that it was your turn but now they are trying to take it away from you. Not by a vote but by their party in the House. If they do, forget the millions of jobs created. Forget the lowest unemployment in half a century and for minorities the lowest ever. Forget your pensions and investments." We will see what happens then when voters think about that.
8
@Ron I'm a Democrat and I hate him. You can't put a price tag on integrity.
IMPEACH NOW
10
@Ron - Donald Trump's behavior is the cause of all this. It is Trump's fault and Trump's alone.
9
Pensions?
3
Trump is a very slippery character learned throughout his career that often shields him from prosecution or responsibility for his crimes. And he uses them freely as president to do the same. He will tie questionable actions up in court, justify stiffing of contractors, create contracts which use the funds of others that are lost when things go south, hire people to contact others to present offers they can not refuse, attack personally those who call him on his illicit actions, lie, prevaricate and delay, delay, delay. Sometimes he is made to pay penalties, but through his lawyers avoid saying he had done an act. Banks and companies will not do business with him as they have learned his tricks. But a wide swath of voters will excuse all of this as trump just being trump and is a trade mark of his 'strength' and as a bargainer.
The partisan warfare over impeachment is really between those people who see the above actions as perfectly OK, the gOP, and those who see them as part of his major con, democrats. If we buy into the GOP's position all of this will become normalized. Democrats in the end are attempting to protect an ethical position that sees con jobs for what they are and do not wish to see them as the new normal voice of America the once beautiful nation of laws
6
Do not send the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate. As far as I understand, there is no protocol for impeachment though God know why so the Dems can do what they want. We all know what is going to happen in the Senate so why give the Republicans another platform to scream outrage from. Impeach him and let him twist slowly in the wind.
7
It is unconscionable for Republicans in the House and anywhere to offer the defense of Trump as “a lack of evidence”. If there is a lack of evidence it is one of the two Articles of Impeachment—Obstruction of Justice—Trump refused to allow key witnesses testify, innocent people do not withhold evidence. Hopefully his imperial presidency is at an end. He is the most corrupt president in our lifetime and possibly all time.
9
At the end of the day they will all reconcile to increase the military budget. A complete and useless farce.
4
The country went to hell in the aftermath of Benghazi. If you don't like a particular fact, pretend it doesn't exist. Make a lot of noise, talk fast and the classic, infer. The Republican party is full of useful idiots.
4
Actually, Mike Johnson, I came to the opposite conclusion. By not impeaching we would be setting the precedent that the POTUS can use the power of his office to solicit things of value from foreign governments to aid a POTUS’s election prospects. Trying to defend his actions by moving the goalpost on the amount of evidence required to prove guilt is like demanding video evidence that a man actually stabbed his wife when all the prosecution has are fingerprints and a weak alibi.
13
I have been watching on and off, for the past several hours, this 'markup' hearing, as the pompous politicians, grandstand over and over, assorted bits of nonsense scripted talking points.
The true value of this show, that features our elected 'representatives,' is that it lays bare in living color, the reptilian stupidity of those who we have trusted to make our laws and defend our Constitution.
This hoax is on us the voters.
5
At the end of the day, this decision to impeach comes down to the same simple question as does every other discussion on Trump - you either possess human decency and a respect for our laws, or you do not?
The rest is just noise.
30
One question: i just watched 10 minutes of this hearing. Why are the cameras only on the Republicans when they speak? But when the Democrats are speaking the cameras remain on the Republicans?
5
@CRL - Clowns are more attention-grabbing?
5
@CRL
I was wondering the same thing --maybe the cameraperson has a think for them?
2
Hard to tell what is going on if you are deaf because the Times is not captioning its live feed--and sticking it to the 1,000,000 plus deaf Americans who care about this stuff.
5
@Muddlerminnow I'm deaf and watching MSNBC. Do you have cable?
1
The Republican Party should be made illegal and dissolved. Its a direct threat to representative democracy and human civilization itself and must no longer exist.
6
A solemn moment in the history of the Republic?
Really?
More like a cackling, rude group of puerile adolescents who don’t listen to one another, accuse the opposition of intolerance and intolerant behavior and embarrass themselves and our country.
I find myself wishing for Goldwater, Dole and Republicans whose views I oppose but whose common sense and a semblance of decency can be respected.
Will this nightmare end or continue through 2024? And then what will become of us?
4
Impeach proceedings have the possibility of guiding a President to a better path. We have watched pre-impeachment Trump act in atrocious manner, and Trump ratcheted up his atrocities as the process moved to its current status. Trump and his supporters have ulterior motives, certainly have no altruism, and it is very necessary that each of us think very carefully about what we want the future to become. Looking back at history, the dark times, can provide a clarification of what can go wrong ... and what others did to staunch the wrongful actions, and what others did to prevent wrongful actions from happening again.
3
You’re absolutely correct about a better pathway taken. He could resign. And then indicted, convicted and imprisoned for what he did, first to our country, then to its people and then crimes against humanity along with the rest of that rotten bunch of racists.
9
Greetings to you ... @David J ... we agree with you. We checked history and referred to Clinton staying in office after he was impeached but we decided to not make that comparison of peas and carrots. As OAC has said ... it's bad, it's really bad. Thanks for reading and offering a reply.
1
Why are we listening to a Southern Baptist preacher yelling at us all about the difference between right and wrong?
15
@Clive Kandel Give him a shot of sodium pentathol, and he'll probably start claiming that Trump is a King - which surpasses the title of Lord, and that Trump also surpasses the title he's awarded to THE Lord.
1
it's like the [red] octopus and the eagle. guess which side is symbolized by the eagle? let's get the octopus out of there, so the eagle can fly. red doesn't look good on an eagle.
3
I presume acquittal. And if so, every Dem candidate, in unison, should ask Cihina, North Korea, Iran and other despots to hack systems and provide the DNC with trump's tax returns, loan documents, business records, and any other damaging information on trump, his organization, his family and sychophants. The senate has now made this not only proper, but constitutionally legal.
14
I think its time the Dems match or exceed the Reps in tone, passion, and volume. Otherwise the Reps will just continue owning the narrative, furthering their diseased perception of what democracy is. The public will respond to whoever can appeal to their emotions the most. And thats what will turn the tide and get this Idiot in Chief out of office. Emotions Facts > Facts alone.
2
@Nicholas: This makes a kind of sense, but the trouble is, demagoguery and chaos are their turf. This is what they are good at, and there is no guarantee that we can "match or exceed" them, even if we toss aside reason, honesty, and respect. However, demographics are still on our side. The Republicans are only appealing to a narrowing sector of aging racists (not to put too fine a point on it), even though their strategic placement gives them a big advantage right now. But all their gerrymandering and voter suppression won't work forever. (We hope.)
2
It simple marketing. Whoever fills the air the most will get their message heard. I wish it wasnt this way but thats a basic fact of our consumer driven society. Right now the Republicans appear to care more about their point of view because they are filling up all the air. Dems need to demonstrate an offense rather than the defense. And if they truly believe they are right, then passionate rhetoric backed by their facts will help them. A few jibes at the hypocrisy of the Reps wouldn’t hurt either. Democracy needs to be fought for. Dems cant roll on their backs and expect the public to rub their bellys just because they are right.
Watching this sad spectacle, I'm convinced that many people in Congress are unfit to to work in the private sector and can do little else. The tone deafness of some members is staggering not to mention the grandstanding.
14
Both sides will claim victory and the voters will decide. May as well do the votes and get it over with.
5
@Bill: No, almost certainly the Republicans will win in the Senate by blindly voting for their party, rather than the truth. And the Democrats will accept the loss, and focus on the election... of course we will rightfully claim a moral victory, but, unlike the Republicans, we won't deny the validity of the whole process.
Watergate and Burisma-gate have at least one thread in common: the complete lack of self-confidence and control each president exhibited before his second election cycle.
Mr. Nixon won in a landslide and Mr. Trump had the incumbent's advantage and dedicated followers... If the economy remained stable, it was probably enough to win a second term.
Why each would resort to risky, impeachable activities to improve their positions will keep historians and mental health professionals busy for the remained of this century.
4
@Mike trademark narcissistic behavior. Had Trump not have ran for president he would still be getting away with his scammery and underhanded deals. Too much scrutiny when you're the president. I doubt he'll go to prison but he'll be lucky to sell used cars in Secaucus.
I am so proud of the Democratic members of the House Judiciary Committee and thank them for their hard work, their commitment to our democracy and their love our country.
27
Are we all convinced that America is a failed state now? I know I am.
5
@617to416
America will ONLY be a "failed state" when we're unable to have these kinds of proceedings.
And if it's up to Trump and Republicans -- we're on our way.
2
The American voter has entered a wilderness and is quite on his and her own. We the people used to have reliable allies in our quest to know the truth with certaintly if only we were diligent in our research vis a vie Walter Cronkite and the NY Times for example. The certainty of believing our leaders, that because they were hired public servants they would naturally speak only the truth at least almost all of the time has eroded like the sinking Islands of climate change. And just so, arent we drowning with the rising waters of disinformation, spin, lies and the power of much poisonous political money in the hands of the few? The goal of the politicans is to convert the undecided not with truth but with whipping up fervor for a narrative much as old time preachers did. You are with us or you will...burn...be cancelled...are a...... etc etc. The truth is disregarded in favor of personal political advantage and power. There is a greater purpose than partisanship and if it does not survive, than neither will we.
3
@NYer Making people disgusted with the impeachment process may convince some to stop voting. That is the goal of the Republicans. When others don’t vote, they win!
1
I could care less about Congress and the impeachment. This Television controlled country elected our destruction, so let it happen to spare the world.
2
How is it possible that House Republicans see this impeachment process as "unprecedented", when they fail to see how Donald Trump's actions are unprecedented as well?
They stand in complete denial of his abuse of power and with that, the repudiation of the U.S. Constitution.
It's not Trump who's on trial-- our Democracy is.
12
Debate is a kind word. I have some others.
2
I have one thought, how can Rep Jim Jordan of Ohio keep a straight face in accusing others of falsely accusing Trump of Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress? When in fact Jim Jordan was an assistant wrestling coach at "The Ohio St. U" 1987-1995, when the "the Ohio St. Wrestling Doctor, Richard Stauss was sexually abusing over 50 OST wrestlers". Jordan said " I had not heard about any type of abuse at all". Perhaps Jim Jordan didn't mind intrusive investigations back then?..
13
I cannot tell you how many times in the last three years this thought has occurred to me when I hear Trump’s toadies defend him: This is exactly how battered victims talk and act when covering for their abusers.
I fell down the stairs. I walked into a door.
We were just having a loud discussion. Nah, she just meant something else, it was a joke. He never means it. He always apologizes and buys me gifts. It’s not true, it’s not true! I love her!
WAKE UP, REPUBLICANS! You and our Constitution are victims of abuse. And if you refuse to believe that, then you’re battered and have a syndrome. And if that’s not true, you’re just plain sick, too.
23
As valiant as some members of Congress are to wade in these smelly waters and pursue justice for the USA against great odds of the rise of a fascist dictatorship, it is sickening beyond words to know that the corrupt, anti-democracy junta of frat boy thugs whose only job, it seems, is to support Russia by licking the first lady's husband's boots. There is no need to ask these republican "senators" whether they have no decency. Niether decency, integrity nor patriotism are in their purview of concern. It's a grab-and-smash administration that is ransacking the American public trust, and we're watching republicans accept these crimes against America as normal, right now in gory, putrid detail.
10
If you can try and find any silver lining in this debate, it's the fact that republicans exposing themselves in glaring light, for who they all are.
No more pretense, no more hiding, they just want to keep their criminal in a WH.
The most abominable bunch, focused on destroying the rule of law, trying to put a final nail in the coffin of our Constitution.
Revolting!!!
10
@faivel1
The silver lining the the exposure of FBI maleficence but I expect it to tarnish over quickly.
1
How many Democrats are going to vote against impeachment?
6 and counting.
4
@P&L
Clever omission. You forget to mention that they may be representing Trump-heavy districts.
4
How many Republicans will vote for impeachment? Zero, and counting. By that logic, the Dems are more bipartisan than the Republicans.
1
I lament the current state of the world, especially the fact that we are truly living in a post-truth era.
I tire of the regurgitated talking points, the feedback loop of thought-stopping cliches, the apparent unwillingness to make appropriate and necessary distinctions, the lack of curiosity regarding new and important information...
truth isn't whatever you want it to be. it's not easy to reclaim when once discarded and trampled on. truth is the pillar of reason and an essential element of progress. indifference to it, or laziness at a time when effort is required to attain it can create untold damage and misery both in the short and long term. truth is what keeps us from chaos.
I wish there had been an honest debate concerning the facts of this case and that there had been ample time to address some of the tangential matters without obfuscation and obstruction. I wish truth still mattered.
15
@Andrew Just who is obfuscating and who is arguing the issue of impeachment. Who is screaming about side issues and who is sticking to the impeachment narrative?
I just find a of this such boring and boorish political drama that for the life of me I don't see how it sells anything, let alone getting ratings for the media, all sides of it.
5
The Republicans can't admit that Pres. Zelensky isn't going to tell the world that Trump pressured him to investigate the Bidens and Barisma. It's obvious that Trump did and Zelensky knew it. Would anyone in his position speak out against the POTUS Trump? No. Trump's power of office, his twitter fingers, and his pattern of punishing anyone who doesn't bow to him is the reason all the Republicans don't dare consider any evidence against Trump. They all know they must defend Trump to the max or they will be harassed and Trump will do everything he can to make them lose their job. They cower under the threat of Trump and his A.G. Barr.
I've tried to listen to the hearings each day but the Republicans keep shouting loudly as if high volume wins any argument. Is that a directive from Trump? Their arguments are so weak. "You just don't like Trump." Where were the R's when Hunter Biden was doing whatever it was that is so bad while his father was VP? If there was something amiss wouldn't they have brought it up back then?
17
@Gina "It's obvious what Trump did" Yes, and actually Zelensky's reaction is irrelevant. If I rob a bank, and the tellers say they weren't really scared, that doesn't mean it wasn't a crime. For Trump to even ask for a favor was the crime, and if Zelensky would like to say he didn't feel any pressure, sure, why not? If we pretend it was just a little favor between friends... it's still impeachable. The obvious blackmail just adds to the creepiness.
4
The articles of impeachment says the president “conditioned two official acts on the public announcement that he has requested”
—(A) the release of military assistant and security assistance to Ukraine and
(B) a head-of-state meeting at the White House.
Not a single witness testified the president conditioned the release of military aid on the public announcement. Ambassador Sondland testified he told Andriy Yermak, an assistant to President Zelensky, that “resumption of U.S. aid would likely not occur until Ukraine provided the public anti-corruption statement that we had been discussing for many weeks.” However, Sondland testified he “presumed” there was a quid pro quo. Based on this presumption, he made bad prediction. The other diplomats testified there was no quid pro quo attached to military aid.
Diplomats told Zelensky that State Department would schedule a White House meeting if he agreed to make a public anti-corruption statement.
However, The Supreme Court ruled in McDonnell v. U.S. (2016) that arranging meetings does not qualify as “official acts.” The Court held that “arranging a meeting, contacting another official, or hosting an event—on its own—is not sufficient to rise to the level of an “official act.” A significant percent of White House meetings are conducted for political purposes. Chief Justice John Roberts, who will preside over an impeachment trial, if there is one, wrote the McDonnell opinion, which was unanimous.
6
@William Case The request by Trump for an investigation into Joe Biden/Hunter Biden, an investigation that would only be of benefit to Candidate Trump, is sufficient Abuse Of Power, inviting a foreign nation to interfere in our electoral process and provide him alone with something of value, to be impeachable. With or without the threat of aid withheld. The juxtaposition of his request in the transcribed phone call, right after the mention by Z of aid, suggests strongly that extortion, withheld aid, And foreign election interference were combined.
3
@winchestereast
Zelensky mentioned that Ukraine was about to purchase more Javelin missile from the United States, but the Javelins area not part of the witheld aid package. Ukraine purchase Javelins and other weapons though the Foreign Military Financing Program account. In FY 2029, $115 million was earmark for Ukraine. The FMF program was unaffected. by the hold. The news medial stopped reporting that desperately needed weapons were being denied Ukraine after OMB pointed this out. Zelensky never mention aid. It pays from the Javelins.
Trump talked about things America has done in past for Ukraine before asking for a favor. He did not mention future aid. Neither did Zelensky.
1
@winchestereast
The House Intelligence Committee Report and graphics shown at the House Judiciary Committee hearing shows President Zelensky actually was asked to publicly announce: “We intend to initiate and complete a transparent and unbiased investigation of all available facts and episodes, including those involving Burisma and the 2016 U.S. elections, which in turn will prevent the recurrence of this problem in the future.”
The proposed announcement did not mention Joe Biden or Hunter Biden.
The Treaty With Ukrainian on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters requires the United States and Ukraine to assist each other in the conduct of criminal investigations. Asking Ukrainian to comply with its treaty obligations is no “abuse of power.
1
Listening to GOP objections is like listening to a rehash of Fox News. They cannot get it through their head that the presidency is not a free for all use of power, that law and the Constitution exist. When you have cult like obedience to your master, this is how people behave. They cannot accept their leader is imperfect and not the god that the fundamentalist evangelicals have made him out to be. They want to talk about "like" and the past election, yet they are trapped in the psyche of a leader who is blinding them with rivalry and hate. This is an important benchmark in our history. They are standing up to the first attempt by a dictator to effectively end our republic and turn it completely over to the private interests of the corporate elite. I commend everyone of them for their work!
13
@1blueheron
Without wanting to sound "regional" -- I admit to having difficulty hearing past some of these screaming southern accents to hear what's actually being said.
No great loss. It's always the same.
4
Republicans need to remember that by siding with a crook, they will forever be written in history books as siding with a crook.
The truth always comes out in the end. And justice will be had.
We are ultimately a nation of laws. This is a slow process, but there will be justice in the end.
Up until the end Hitler's henchmen were fiercely loyal to him. Look what that got them. They clearly felt invincible and, much like today's republicans, their hubris allowed them to behave in a manner that was beyond reason.
It is incredible to me that so many are willing to destroy themselves for trump. What a shame for them, and for our country.
16
@NYmom I don't think they see themselves as "destroying themselves for Trump". To a great extent, they see Trump as their own creature; the end product of years of Fox News, talk radio, the Tea Party, the Federalist Society, and so on and so on... he is their dream president, and they like him just the way he is,
1
What an absolute disaster this has turned into. You can feel your brain-cells dying while watching this debate. The biggest tragedy is that so many people believe this absolute nonsense. If people knew the extent of real corruption many politicians get away with, they'd never be able to sleep again. Unrepresented leaks, spying, phone taps, entrapment and false accusations. When is it going to be enough?
We should retroactively impeach Obama, Bush Jr., Clinton and Bush Sr. These presidents actually put our country and citizens at risk. They were never spied on by our security agencies because they were controlled by them.
Pointless wars, overthrown countries, trillions spent, countless lives lost. Trump has not involved us in any new wars has he? Even when war-hawks were pushing him to do so. He actually gets attacked when he tries to withdraw our troops. Wake up people, you are being lied to.
How many politicians have become millionaires while in office? Our founding fathers were self made men who felt obligated to do a service to their country. They didn't prostitute themselves to lobbies and corporate interests in order to enrich themselves. They would have been absolutely disgusted by the corruption that runs rampant these days.
I guess we'll find out exactly who is telling the truth soon enough. One group of citizens, so steadfast in their convictions, are in for a rude awakening.
9
@RSB
Great comment.
The complete takeover of our government by the alphabet agencies (CIA, NSA, NSC, FBI, etc.) and their minions in the media has been spectacularly quick and smooth.
5
@Chris
It's incomprehensible. Not too long ago all citizens were leery of our intelligence agencies. These days, many actually cheer in blind approval as long as their "side" appears to be on the offensive.
The runaway train is picking up speed. Why get off now, they just served the buffet.
4
@RSB
It just goes to show how hypocritical "liberals" are. They would sell their first born if they thought it might somehow harm Trump.
5
I can no longer watch the Republicans' juvenile attempts to disrupt the impeachment hearings. Put them behind closed doors so we are no longer subjected to their asinine grandstanding.
19
I think that the polls on impeachment are asking the wrong questions. I would rather vote Trump out. There are many moderates that feel this way. It does not mean that they think Trump did nothing wrong. It also does not mean that they cannot see that House democrats were forced to use their congressional power to impeach. Congress has my support. I just rather not have to go through this. The NYT should reprint Comey's 2018 op-ed on impeachment.
1
@Dr. Girl You will get your chance to vote Trump out. The Republicans in the Senate will (almost) certainly acquit him, out of party loyalty, with no concern for the truth. I say "almost certainly", only out of some superstitious reluctance to predict the future. It seems pretty certain. It was still worth doing, for the sake of upholding the principle that he is not automatically above the law.
1
Republicans ignore facts and undermine our democracy only for self preservation. They are blind to obvious and sworn statements to the collapse of trust by this administration. The powers of the GOP ultimately takes away our freedoms and security.
6
In listening to some of the Republican arguments against impeachment, only one stood out -- the "rush" to do so without judiciary participation in subpoenaing White House participants. Ultimately, this may prove to be fatal to an endeavor that should be about the full exorcise of the rule of law...
All other repub arguments are simply the rearing of ugly, misguided, and ultimately irrational voices attempting to arouse the Trump constituency for the next election -- an election that will only be won by Trump if whatever democrat nominated fails to capture the full attention of an otherwise disgruntled majority of the American electorate.
Beware democrats, nominate a recividist, or coporacrat, at your own, and the nation's peril...
2
What Orwellian, Goebbelasian, dystopian universe has the Republican party moved into? In the Republican newspeak, lies are facts. They have learned well from Goebbels and Hitler that to make big lies work, they need to shouted repeatedly from all available rooftops (good thing they have the likes of Limbaugh, Fox News, and the Sinclair network to help with that). I simply cannot believe that all those Republican Senators and Representatives cannot hear the truth in this situation. The American Body Politic needs to recall Daniel Patrick Moynihan's admonition that people are entitled to their own opinions but not their own facts. To the extent that Republican "alternative facts" (I.e., lies) prevail and Trump gets off the hook here, the underground histories that will be written in the future will mark his presidency as the end of our Republic. It's a sad day in America.
11
@jaco
Not sure I understand the question, but this article from the conservative think tank "The Heritage Foundation" may shed some light:
https://www.heritage.org/political-process/report/americas-founders-and-the-principles-foreign-policy-sovereign-independence
@Stewart Wilber: My guess is that at their level, they are perfectly aware of the truth. They are the ones who are shouting the lies. It's not as if they are fooled by Trump: they have been carrying this on for years.
1
@John Bergstrom
One wonders how much they have been paid.
"Contentious back-and-forth." Please NYT- call it what it was; a clown-show-performance by Republicans.
Led by Jim Jordan interrupting another member by yelling out like a braying fool and Doug Collins' worst imitation of righteous indignation (followed by an infantile storming out of the room).
Public Servant or Public Spectacle; not a single Republican member of the House has the decorum or maturity to be called a Representative... of any American.
13
Republicans' cries of outrage? Really. The Republicans who support a rogue, dishonest, President who fancies himself an autocrat is the outrage.
9
I guess everybody needs a fixer. Trump had Fixer Cohen, Fixer Guiliani and Fixer William Barr.
4
@pRoger and a Fixer Party
The proposed articles of impeachment falsely allege the president “corruptly solicited the Government of Ukraine to publicly announce investigations into—
(A) a politcal opponent, (former Vice President Joe R.Biden, Jr.; and
(B) a discredited theory promoted by Russia alleging that Ukraine—rather than Russia—interfered in the 2015 United States Presidential election.”
The House Intelligence Committee Report and graphics shown at the House Judiciary Committee hearing shows President Zelensky actually was asked to publicly announce: “We intend to initiate and complete a transparent and unbiased investigation of all available facts and episodes, including those involving Burisma and the 2016 U.S. elections, which in turn will prevent the recurrence of this problem in the future.”
The proposed announcement did not mention Russia or Joe Biden.
@William Case
PuuuLEASE give your nitpickingly irrelevant Pro-Trump pseudo-legalistic "aha--gotcha" comments a rest. Impeachment proceedings are not court proceedings. To everyone without a political spin to shovel, it is thoroughly obvious that 1) investigating Burisma is the same as investigating both Bidens, since the allegation is that VP Biden got an investigator fired to protect his son, and 2) investigating Ukrainian interference in the 2016 election is isomorphic with suggesting that the findings of all US intelligence agencies that Russia meddled in the 2016 election was not a complete or accurate conclusion.
It was a shakedown and an extortion racket run out of the Oval Office. If you don't think so, that's fine--but spare us these captious inanities.
6
@Michael
The article is factually incorrect. The president did not ask Zelensky to publicly announce he was investigating Joe Biden.
@Michael: Exactly. Context is what gives meaning to speech, especially political speech. Presumably Trump's people accepted that having Zelensky publicly say he was going to investigate Joe Biden would be a little too blatant, and unnecessary for the purposes of the Trump campaign. The reference to the 2016 election is pretty blatant, but there might not have been any way around that, Trump is kind of obsessed with wanting to deny what Russia did for him...
How anyone could vote for these dishonest Republicans is beyond my comprehension. I'd put the lot in jail for obstruction of justice. Short of a signed document between Trump and Zelensky outlining the quid pro quo (mob bosses don't create such documents) Trump is guilty, guilty guilty, and to see it any other way is to be blind or willfully ignorant. No one is stupid enough, note even Congressional Republicans, not to see the 2 + 2 = 4 here.
12
Mr. Trump may take all of this more seriously when he realizes that the U.S. doesn't usually name airports, dams, schools, bridges, interstates, water filtration facilities, etc. after presidents who get impeached.
6
House Republicans spuriously claim that Trump can't be impeached for obstruction of justice based on his refusal to provide any subpoenaed evidence to the House because the House failed to get a court order requiring production of that evidence. That's simply not the way it works in the real legal world. For instance, an attorney against whom a grievance has been filed is required to respond to requests for relevant documents from the local bar's grievance committee. If the attorney refuses to produce such documents, or simply ignores the document requests, the failure to produce documents itself is added as a separate grievance against the attorney for which he may be disciplined, including disbarment. The grievance committee is NOT required to go to court and force the attorney to provide the documents. So once again the House Republicans are spewing nonsense.
13
If Trump was seriously concerned about corruption generally in Ukraine, why did he ask for action to be taken as a favor? Presidents don't talk like that. Not if they're really concerned that US aid might be misused.
5
@We'll always have Paris: As in the case when Joe Biden, as Vice President, explicitly demanded that they get rid of their ineffective prosecutor, Shokin, who was failing to do his job. Biden was acting in the name of the US government, and had the approval of all of Europe. Biden bragged publicly about what he had done, he felt no need to hide it away like a guilty secret. Trump was hiding what he was doing from his own people, except for the inmost circle, which makes no sense if it was honest.
1
It is painful to listen to the Republicans.
It is also painful that the Democrats did not realize that if they did not give the Republicans the right to call any witnesses they wanted, if they kept refusing their "point of order" and so on, that gave the Republicans all the ammunition they need to spread the belief that the process was unfair, that it was indeed a witch hunt. Yes, allowing them to stall would have added days and weeks to the process, but they needed to show that they did not fear anything that the Republicans might bring to the table. Instead, the Republicans can now say that exactly what happened: The Democrats feared the minority and did not allow the defense to defend.
@Truthseeker
STOP. Republicans are playing the victim card and you're buying into it.
They had the right to call witnesses, and they also had the ability to attend the meetings they say they've been excluded from.
Here's a suggestion.
Stick with the facts and the U.S. Constitution.
NOTHING else matters.
10
@Truthseeker Mulvaney, Bolton, Pompeo, Perry, Pence, Giuliani et al were welcome to testify at the Congressional hearings but chose not to.
6
@N. Smith
I am not buying into it, but I see what they are selling. Many will buy.
I am annoyed because it was predictable, the Democrats gave them this possibility although it must have been clear to them exactly what the Republicans strategy would be.
It is immensely discouraging listening to these hearings. There is so much deception. It sounds like GOP members have a cult or mob like mentality. Listening impartially, it is clear that what Trump has been accused of in the impeachment articles has been proven. Attempting to muddle things up with “other” stories, numbers or unproven conspiracy theories is an insult to the intelligence of all Americans. Even though some patriots have come forward to testify at risk of their careers, it’s not enough for the Republicans. It seems their oath means nothing to them or their country. We need another brave patriot to come forward and swear and oath to speak the truth. John Bolton could put this all to rest and put the country out of its misery.
10
@Jeannie : They had the NERVE to insinuate that the law professors were PAID to be there!
1
Here’s what I know to be undeniably true:
Donald Trump asked the Ukrainian president to investigate the Bidens when he said, “ I’d like to ask you a favor though…” It really doesn’t matter if he thought corruption was a problem or not. A president should NEVER ask a foreign entity to investigate his or her domestic opponent in an upcoming election. That is always wrong because it would motivate US voters to change their votes under false circumstances. He is guilty of corruption of our elections.
Donald Trump has refused the subpoenas for documents and ordered witnesses not to participate in impeachment hearings. No president has the authority or privilege to refuse a congressional subpoena when it is part of an impeachment. That is a breach of the constitution. This president is obstructing the power given by the constitution to Congress. That is WRONG.
There are many other truths. However, only the above are relevant to this impeachment. If congress allows the behavior of Donald Trump, our democracy is in great danger.
The Republicans keep asking for a “crime.” How about misdemeanors? How about speaking directly to Donald Trumps words and actions. Can anyone say Trump did not take the actions listed above?
If Trump is impeached, the duly elected vice president will assume the duties of president. That is what the constitution mandates. There is NO UNDOING the election.
History is watching.
7
How can elected officials defend a man who is a known pathological liar? Thankfully these hearing have made the public aware of the real reason for their defense; to save their cushy money making jobs at all costs in order to become a member of that elite group known as, "The Congressional Millionaire's Club".
Citizens should be given the opportunity in the 2020 election, state by state, to vote on term limits for members of Congress. Picture a legislature where members could vote based on the rule of law, reason, and adherence to our Constitution, without fear of being "primaried"....boy do I hate that word! Imagine what it would be like? The incentive for entering politics would be to get things done for our country and its citizens. No more bending to the will of lobbyists and large corporations. And while we are at it, let "we the people" vote on limiting the amount of money spent on elections and the time spent on campaigning. We are the only country in the world that has year round non stop campaigning.
8
The GOP are still trying to make the impeachment proceedings a Republican Circus, with lots of their clowns going off into various silly trajectories. I can't believe how the GOP has fallen so low.
6
Nadler must be impeached on the below two articles.
These make more sense for impeachment than the ones he is trying to pass.
- He isn't wearing a clown costume to work today for the impeachment circus
- He imitating Trump by wearing a red tie
2
Feel better? I don’t understand, but I guess it plays to the base.
6
@Bhaskar
The clown suits have all been taken by the GOP. There is none left.
As for the red tie, red is part of our countries colors, and what the heck does that have to do with any of this?
4
I watched enough to see that it wasn't a debate. It was Democrats speaking the truth and Republicans speaking anything but. Despicable.
13
These repub. men and women belong at a high school football game dressed up in full team garb. I am surprised they do not show up in red MAGA hats now too. They are a joke and it is all about winning for their mascot tyrant trump.
History will shame these imposters, betraying the constitution, along with their families/friends, who all stand by and do nothing but count the donations, $, bribes, etc from the trump political-sham-racket, inc.
These people are morally bankrupt only concerned with money and power.
Ivanka, Jared, Barrs in the admin. (newest nepotism chumps in the AG office)...you have many more years than your corrupt fat cat fathers on this earth...you will be judged as well.
Imagine if the Honorable, President Obama had ever done anything even close to any of the illegal, dishonest, and unethical actions of trump.
They are hypocrites to a level I thought could never stand in our American government - the entire group of repub. fat cats/they so look their parts as well - as the noble (sorry to be extreme but they are) Dems painstakingly try to let the truth be heard.
8
Trump didn't cause the rottenness of the American political system, he's a symptom of it.
Get rid of Trump and nothing really changes.
The entire US system is set up to maintain a political status quo.
Bernie Sanders 4 years ago was denied the chance to run for president as the democratic nominee because the Democratic Party decided it wasn't in their interest.
US democracy has also been dead for a long time, as both Senate and Congress members in general need funding (from the rich and/or corporate America) to be able to maintain in the seats of power.
Now, remember that both Bush and Obama committed WAR CRIMES and weren't impeached.
Obama should have been removed from office for his bombing seven countries in the Middle East and Africa for the most specious of reasons, mostly against international law (UN mandate) and US law (authorization by Congress), but especially after he murdered American citizens without due process via his favorite toy, drones.
So I’m proposing a new rule: if you remained silent and didn't call for the impeachment of George W. Bush or Barack Obama for war crimes, including torture, and are now calling for the impeachment of Trump for some form quid pro quo, you need to shut up and sit down.
You've lost any credibility you might have once had.
This entire attack against Trump is centered around foreign policy, but they are not fighting to end the military interventions, but are instead squabbling over the most effective ways to pursue them.
7
@Chris
First of all. Under Trump, the U.S. has no foreign policy.
And secondly, no one ever said Trump caused the rottenness in America -- but there's no doubt he has capitalized on it.
9
I wonder if other countries gong to take note and remove their own leaders out of power for accepting American assistance and American influence of their elections.
3
Many of the Republicans seem to be unwilling or unable to admit that Congress is a co-equal branch of government with the responsibility to hold the President accountable to faithfully execute the laws of the United States. It appears that many of them are advocating for a Russian type system of democracy that exist in name only.
The same members of Congress would also lead the American people to believe that POTUS #45 is a great corruption fighter. Of course they are disingenuous in their proposition, which they know is not true.
Republicans are intent on protecting President Trump even when he not acting in the interest of the United States. Yet these same members of the Congress are unwilling to advocate for the voting rights of all Americans.
8
If any of our intelligence on Russia is true (see "active measures"), all Republicans and Democrats need to be seen protecting our democracy --there needs to be widespread admission that the lack of transparency around this administration is putting our freedoms at risk, destroying our values, and impoverishing our place among the democratic countries of the world.
6
What is the point of this debate? Trump popularity soars. It rises precisely because he stood up to the House and the Democrats. It is the end of the world as we know it. We are stepping into a new reality. Get it! You may close your talking shop and go home.
3
@Gennady
Be specific. Trump's popularity may "soar" among Trump supporters -- but they are not in the MAJORITY.
At least get the facts straight, then go and close up shop.
8
Many Americans, especially minorities, have been unfairly accused of crimes or know someone who has. Often accusations are based on contrived and unreliable “evidence”. Their protests of innocence are ignored by Prosecutors. I suspect that Trump may pick up substantial sympathy votes from this group that regularly votes for Democrats.
@N. Smith Among the Independents. Google. This information is all over the place. You are living in a dream world. Reality is knocking on your door.))
Presently as I listen to what I would have presumed should have been a serious dignified debate regarding the articles of impeachment has instead turned into a debacle, on one side you have the Democrats trying as best they can to enlighten the public regarding the seriousness of high crimes and misdemeanors and the Republicans rebutting facts which they perceive to be insignificant or in their view non-existent, As an interested educated person I do not know if I should be insulted that the Republicans feel that in general we are naive to what was said and done by Trump, or if I should fall under the same guise as many of the Trump-Republican supporter meaning I should expect to win the Powerball lottery without as much as purchasing a ticket, this sarcastic comment is about as valid as the misleading information being spewed by the main Republicans, Gaetz, Louis G. Radcliffe, Collins and let's not forget Jordan, could they actually stoop any lower than Trump has by trying but not succeeding to demean the young activist Greta Thunberg, sorry I forgot Matt Gaetz decided to attack Hunter Biden's addiction issues that being on par with Trump,but the public were swift to remind Mr.Gaetz just how often his father intervened in his own obnoxious behavior during his many substance related arrests, which should actually have been cause enough for him to not be allowed to run for Congress. Though the Republicans are trying to muddy the waters it seems they continue to be unsuccessful
6
All you need to know about America is that the Republican side of the committee is all white and the Trump supporters don't have the good sense to remove their caps when there are indoors.
5
It's not "partisan divide".
It's Democratic patriots versus Republicans supporting a traitorous attack on our country.
That wasn't so hard was it?
16
Just give up already. Trump is the president of all americans through 2024. Just enjoy all the gifts he's bestowing on us. Smiles are free after all.
1
We are supposed to “enjoy” the surging white supremacist violence he’s bestowing on us? Why?
2