Why would we need more evidence against Trump if he was allegedly impeached based on evidence?
That's a logical oxymoron.
3
Instead, the delay showed there is nothing new of substance that can be dug up about trump, suggesting there is none. The timeline and revelation of nothing of substance as time went along with the Russian collusion stories were similar. The labeling of so called "new evidence," when it clearly was not, by the nytimes and the democrats demonstrates another politicized scam, and that the news media is trying to manipulate the 2020 election in favor of the democrats. The Republican senators should immediately dismiss the impeachment "charges" with prejudice and strongly rebuke the democrats. In a frivolous trial, the defendants can requests sanctions against the plaintiff. In this case, the sanctions should be the democrats lose congress in 2020
People associated with Fox News should be investigated to find out what their role in this treasonous endeavor was. I believe they've been working hand in hand with Trump to destroy our Democracy. Lev Parnaz mentioned people associated with them in his interview more than once. How deeply are they involved?
3
Trump reflects America perfectly- egotistical, greedy, loutish, and violent.
Is that an impeachable offense now?
Our elites don't dislike Trumps' actions, they hate that he revels in it - he puts an ugly bombastic face on our empire rather than serenading us with sweet little lies to make us feel good and ‘exceptional’ like Obama.
He's making us look bad telling the ugly truth because he has no filter. I find it all hilariously refreshing that he just blurts out that we took the Syrian oil and aint leaving Iraq either unless they give us half of our, I mean their, oil.
This farcical show trial coming from the Democrats is a clear sign of a crisis of America bourgeois Class rule.
The Democratic party's absurd calls for Russian intervention in all aspects of political life in America and Trump's growing fascistic rants puts the few Americans left with a conscience and moral backbone at complete odds with these two ridiculous camps.
The fate of humanity was far less precarious prior to the dissolution of the Soviet Union, inasmuch, as it offered a counterbalance offsetting the demonic craving for unilateral hegemonic power.
It appears, that the military debacles in the Middle East and Africa over the last three decades were merely hors d'oeuvres in preparation for an impending colossal disastrous imperialist feast.
Trump is no aberration, he merely lacks the perverse guile required to deceive effectively while sounding pious, the most essenitial aspect of any sellout POTUS.
1
Dems had to do something when Trump abused his power to help himself as there are no adults watching Trump now he has to be reigned in before he gets millions killed like the 176 that dies because of Trump's political desperation to survive . Trump is willing to throw the whole country under the bus to save himself and Ivanka moving to Moscow when he is out of power to save himself.
1
Even some Democrats are tired of this being dragged out, a tactic clearly adopted to disrupt a presidency. They're also embarrassed by the childishness of their leaders.
So you don't like the man and you're angry Hillary didn't win. Get over it.
It's time to act like adults and get down to some real governance, instead of all this obstruction.
3
And now we'll see just how low the GOP in the Senate will go.
4
If the senate won't call Bolton to testify, I hope he goes on 60 Minutes and tells his story to the world.
4
We heard the transcript of the phone call .We know that the Trump wanted corruption in Ukraine including the probable wrong doing by the Bidens investigated.We know the aid was suspended but then released.We know that Obama-Biden did not help Ukraine defenses and Trump stood up to Russia and helped.Investigating Biden is not the same as asking Ukraine to find criminal activity.Imagine if the Ukraine officials came out and said that after careful study they found Biden innocent. There is no high crimes .Thank god HRC lost.Nothing gained by the delay.Election in nine moths.
2
Bolton, Parnas, and Sondland were/are Trump appointed and approved high ranking or important persons with first hand knowledge of Trump's scheme to force/extort Zelensky to give Trump his obsession for political "dirt" on Joe Biden.
"Pants on fire" Trump would say he didn't know his own mother if he didn't like what she said.
1
If the reactions from the Republican congressmen is any indication, I guess he'll actually have to go out on Fifth Avenue and shoot someone.
3
If only the Senate Republicans would call witnesses the obviously guilty Trump has blocked, and hold a believable trial to remove their impeached imposter.
1
What has also come to light across the delay is how many more imbeciles were mixed up in this:Nunez, Hyde etc. And how much of this scheming (almost daily) took place at Trump Hotel...
So keep looking Nancy, the pile is a mounting and it will be easier and easier to demand witnesses.
2
Dear NYT:
This is really silly. Why is The Times trying so hard to carry water for the Democrats in this partisan sideshow of an impeachment?
Nancy Pelosi and her decision to without the entire evidentiary basis of the impeachment -from teh Senate for a month of ludicrous leveraging -- had nothing to do with digging up more evidence, and if she did, and she and Adam Schiff sat on it in order to acheive maximum theatrical value just before trial -- this would represent more bad faith, a continuation of the terrible abuse of process we saw in the House impeachment inquiry.
1
Americans that listen and read reputable news learned more truths and watched Republicans attempt to discredit each new piece of damning evidence that the POTUS has sold Americans out for his personal benefit. DJT's followers are most likely to avoid reputable news like the plague. DJT has incited gun-loving, white supremacists and racists whose hateful ideologies are emboldened. DJT is their spokesperson. Should DJT refuse to testify in his upcoming trial I hope the House pieces together all of the remarks he has made on camera, on Fox and on twitter and show them at the trial. We have all seen them, however, we have not seen them presented in one documentary. Why wait for the movie based on his reign to see it all in context? Put it together now! If GOP Senators elect to remain unconscious there is no enlightening them now or ever.
1
Experience tells us that once the dam begins to crack, things happen quickly. Mr Trump knows this, but as he has *always* spoken in absolutes, his denials no longer have any effect. The truth is on the table. It only remains for a small number of senators to realize they can speak, or at least vote, the truth, and live to tell the tale.
2
Ever lost something that was flushed down a toilet? You saw it in the corner of your eye, you lunged yourself and plunged your hand into the whirlpool trying to save it, only to be too late.
This is how I feel now, and it is our system of government that’s making it’s way through the sewer.
1
As much as I want Trumpnout of office, this will come to nothing. The GOP has sold its soul to a conman. The real trial comes in November. Let's hope the jury makes the right decision.
3
Now I’m wondering if many of the GOP senators are afraid they’ll go to jail if they don't let Trump go.
The press usually attributes the GOP's absurd denial of facts and abrogation of solemn oaths to fears about re-election. Between the lines, the implication is that they fear the loss of the PAC millions that guarantee victory.
But a lot of the GOP senators are ready to retire, and they’re all extremely wealthy.
So maybe they still goose-step behind Trump because they have themselves taken PAC money supplied by Russia, like the millions Russian ‘business’ washed through the NRA.
Putin knows who got what and maybe also who got election-day computer help from GRU hackers. And he would be able to prove it all day, every day.
Defeat and retirement in customary senatorial splendor is one thing; real jail time is something else entirely.
2
Senator Romney:
You are a US Senator. You led the state of Massachusetts. You are a leader in your Church. You ran for President.
It's time you remind the country of your leadership abilities by gathering your colleagues in a vote for witnesses to bring out the truth. Do what's right; it shouldn't be difficult for a man of your faith. This is your time; this is who you are.
5
What was learned? "The president broke the law by withholding the aid."
How about something else that was in plain sight?
By asking a favor (to announce investigations of the Bidens and of the alleged and debunked 2016 Ukrainian hacking of our election, which is opposition research, clearly a "thing of value" based on the cost of carrying out such research) of a foreign national (President Zelensky) Donald John Trump violated 52 USC 30121(a)(2), the law that makes such a request an illegal act (whether or not anything ever actually happens).
Donald John Trump should have been accused in an additional Article of Impeachment of that violation of the law, one that he has admitted by releasing the "readout" of the July 25 phone call.
In addition, he repeated that violation by asking the Chinese to investigate the Bidens during a press gaggle at the White House, which request was recorded on video.
28
Furthermore, what was gained was a period when Republican senators returned home to face constituents who were able to express their concerns regarding the evidence of Trump's guilt presented during the impeachment hearings and the resistance of the Republican Senate leadership to allow witnesses to testify at the trial in the Senate where the House's case can be demonstrated.
2
There is more than just Trump on trial in the Senate, it is the American Political System itself that is on trial.
If, as many have advocated, the Senate dismisses the Impeachment allegations out of hand or takes a 'proforma vote' with the outcome assured, then the public will know for a certainty that our system is hopelessly corrupt and will allow nothing to challenge that.
If the Senate follows its Constitutional duty and holds a full, fair and open trial; then decides Trump's guilt or innocence based on the evidence and the law, there is hope for our system.
It is our choice and the fate of the nation rests on that decision.
2
This piece shows that the verdict of the House's inquiry was based on insufficient evidence. What, then, was the point of the house inquiry? I'ts also unsurprisingly morbid for the media to be utterly disinterested on whether Biden used the office of the vice presidency to enrich his son, Hunter! It's a distraction to rejoin this point by "there was no wrongdoing". In that sense, that is why the media -deservingly so! - has merited the moniker "enemy of the people"!
1
@Tony What caused you to draw the conclusion of, "insufficient evidence"? The evidence was quite clear by all accounts including Trump's recounting of the conditions for the timely release of the aid. The disagreement that Republicans have with Democrats is what to do about it.
Republicans do not want to act on the evidence. They are sweeping it under the rug.
3
Yo Tony!
There is no need for further investigation of the Bidens and Burisma. VP Biden got the Ukrainian government to fire the corrupt AG, Lutsentko. He was dragging his feet when Burisma was in need of a corruption investigation. Lutsentko was not investigating Burisma before he was fired. Stop reading the bogus conspiracy sites, they are fake news!
1
Simply, the investigations should have been complete before the vote was taken to impeach. Jerry Nadler says there is "overwhelming evidence." The "rush" was on because of Trump being a danger to the country ... then there was no rush after the vote. Why is more evidence needed if the evidence is already "overwhelming"? It should be a slam dunk to remove the President from office with the evidence provided by the house.
A level headed leader of the house would have used the sands of time. Carefully use the courts to ensure all the evidence possible was collected ... and use the courts to ensure folks subpoenaed are legally required --- then forced --- to testify. Pelosi holding onto the articles only proved her incompetence. Sure, this would have taken months ... but more and more information would be found in areas unexpected.
But no. This is, in reality, a political hatchet job. Abuse of power (Very Illegal) to influence the 2020 elections on the behalf of the the one party that voted in favor of impeachment.
This political comedy will do much damage to the Democratic Party and the media. People have lost touch boiling with rage and hate creating a polarity the likes we have never experienced.
Forty years from now, our children will be reading about this embarrassing time in the history of the USA. Nancy Polosi will be seen as the court jester with Schiff and Nadler dancing hysterically by her side.
2
All the revelations were not the result of the delay orchestrated by Pelosi, those would have revealed whether the transmittal was delayed or not. None of the revelations have any bearing on the question of acquittal of the president by the Republican majority. The delay actually discredited Pelosi's rushed impeachment. It was a futile exercise to satisfy her political base. Trump would not have asked for finding out the truth about Joe Biden's and his son's dealings in Ukraine if there was no smell of corruption. That is why Trump did not ask to investigate anybody else running in the Democratic primary. The impeachment was based on the assumption that Trump wanted Ukraine to interfere in the 2020 election in his favor, not a real fact. Actually it helped Biden's primary opponents. Democrats have abused their impeachment power to hurt Trump in the 2020 election, for which American people will take proper action by reelecting Trump and dethroning Pelosi.
3
"To Republicans, the latest claims and disclosures are evidence that House Democrats put together a slapdash investigation that did not cover enough bases before they rushed to an ultimately partisan vote on the House floor. It is not the Senate’s job, Republicans say, to do what the House failed to do." (NYTimes, 16Jan2020)
This is a red herring by the Republicans to duck their duty. "Congressional oversight is oversight by the United States Congress over the Executive Branch ... Congress’s oversight authority derives from its 'implied' powers in the Constitution, public laws, and House and Senate rules. It is an integral part of the American system of checks and balances." (Wikipedia)
The House, faced with obstruction by the Executive branch regarding administration witness, documents, attempts to force lengthy court actions, etc., did what they could to avoid yet more foreign interference in the next election. And made a very convincing case that the POTUS is guilty of abuse of power and obstruction.
But in any case, the Senate, as part of Congress, is required to provide oversight of the Executive branch. Ignoring evidence that has come to light after the House action is shirking their constitutional duty. Blaming the House for their inaction is pure partisanship, and unconstitutional.
1
Odds are 50/50 for removal today.
These odds will only get better with more investigations by the House.
While the right has displayed where their real allegiance lays.
The end of a political party couldn't be more fitting, history in the making.
I learned that no Conservative is interested in defending the Rule of Law or the Constitution. In fact, every single one of them will do their very best to undermine these principles, and 40% of the country whole heartedly supports this position, and about 20% of the country just does not care.
26
Republican Senators who are retiring maybe the only GOP Sens who support a real trial with genuine witnesses. That alone says a ton.
We also learned that the firing/transfer of Ambassador Yovanovitch was a quid pro quo, done at the behest of discredited Ukrainian prosecutor Ivan Lutsenko in exchange for him providing dirt on Joe Biden.
This is especially important since it indicates the effort to recruit foreign assistance to influence the 2020 election was going on long before the infamous July 25 "perfect" phone call.
12
Pelosi has done a wonderful job. But there's so much left to uncover--like what those thugs planned to do to Ambassador Yovanovitch? (In a country where acid has been used to kill activists? One shudders to imagine.)
So why can't the House continue to collect evidence to provide the public forum that the cowardly Senate clearly hopes to escape? Call witnesses, subpoena forcefully as needed, acquire evidence under threat of perjury? It may not force DJT's removal from office, but is would surely help to swing public opinion--and voters' choice in November!
Please, Ms Pelosi, keep following the facts!
6
I don't know whether the editorial board and others don't understand the situation, or understand it fully but wish to pretend it was different. There is no legitimate dispute as to what Trump did. More evidence is of no value whatsoever. Indeed, if Trump were to swear on the bible tomorrow that he withheld aid to get dirt on Biden, half of the country would oppose his removal from office. I am a democrat, and I'm among them. First, I oppose the concept of borrowing $400M to give it to the Ukraine. Second, aide packages are frequently held up for various reasons. It is absurd to suggest that this in some way threatens the security of the United States. His conduct is disgusting, but it does not merit removal from office.
5
@robert davis High Crimes and Misdemeanors are impeachable offenses - The longer Trump is in office, the more crimes he will commit.
I also predict he'll be removed as prescribed by the Constitution
That's the facts.
3
The President bribes- or extorts -a foreign country’s leader- to actually interfere in the election of his own country, using taxpayer money approved by Congress in an attempt to smear an American political rival. How is this not gross disloyalty to his own country? The president lies every single day in glaringly obvious ways, and yet his supporters remain unmoved. Has Putin already successfully attacked and won? It feels as if half of the population is under a trance.
1
1. Each time a GOP member of Congress lies about the importance of hearing new relevant discoveries...
2. Each time the president says "I don't know this man/woman"...
3. Each time members of his administrations say "to the best of my knowledge, I don't recall"...
Each time, I suggest reporters and politicians fighting for our democracy take a lesson from boxing and "rope a dope." Just how do you do that in this context? It's simple...
1. "So Senator Graham, you don't think we should hear any further evidence. Assuming that to be true, in what other areas of your work at congress are you not looking for more evidence that might benefit your assessment of critical situations? Isn't that a part of your duties as a Senator?"
2. "So President Trump doesn't know a man who he has taken several photos with and spoke with on at least a few occasions. Assuming this to be true, what do you suppose that means about all those people he takes photos with at rallies? I guess they probably don't matter too much either..."
3. "So Mr. Pompeo, you don't recall learning hearing that one of your ambassadors might be under illegal surveillance. Given all that we know about these texts messages, I wonder about what other things you don't recall that might be putting our service members and diplomats in danger...
10
The Democrats are not going to have it their way. It is either no witnesses or all witnesses, that is, including the Bidens and others for Trump's side. Neither of these works for the Democrats.
2
@Gennady
You might as well call in my grandmother instead of Biden. Neither have any relevant knowledge about whether Trump committed the cries he is being impeached for.
However, it would be a sweet deal for the democrats if they were allowed to call in any witnesses they wanted - provided that republicans could do the same. Remember, nobody have been able to give us even one name of a witness that could defend Trump. The House GOP was asked to provide a list of people who could provide information relevant to the case and had none.
7
@Gennady
If either Biden were to be called as a witness, they would be well within their rights to respond to any question with one or two possible answers:
1. "I have no first hand knowledge of the circumstances that Donald John Trump is accused of in the Articles of Impeachment because I have had no role whatsoever in his administration."
2. "What I know about what may or may not have taken place prior to January 20, 2017, the day that Donald John Trump became the POTUS, is irrelevant to anything that Donald John Trump is accused of in the Articles of Impeachment."
What would Republicans do with that?
8
@Gennady
Well the drip drip of the truth keeps coming out every day. One day the drip will have the voice of the bigot on it and no one will be able to say that is not Trump's voice.
Corruption and everyone in the pact needs to keep their mouth shut, well Trump has shown us that half of these people hate him and are not going down for a draft dodger.
There are 3 ways to deal with an indictment: 1. contest that you did it, 2. contest that it was against the law, or, 3. admit both but suggest you should not be punished (further/much). In this case the fact that Trump did it and that it is against the law is completely clear. No sane person with knowledge of this case would contest that it was done and it was illegal.
6
It is clear to me that the Present Articles of Impeachment which were drawn and voted upon in 2019, (What can we call them formally in law?) must be amended to include new allegations of criminal misconduct: specifically, new charges against the President that he had a senior diplomatic officer under surveillance, for no legal purpose.
The act of surveillance in and of itself, violated Ms.Yovanovitch's US Constitutional fourth and fifth amendment rights. But we know that the surveillance may have been conducted to commit other acts "..she is going to go through.." quote the President in the transcript of his 7/25/2019 phone call to Pres. V. Zelensky. Those other acts might be extortion and intimidation, just like "Stormy Daniels" in 2016.
Though the revelation of this is horrific, finally, the path to what the above mentioned President's ominous words meant has come to a destination.
Holding the impeachment articles was for a different reason though, but with an unanticipated gain.
4
@RR What about the FISA court violations? Didn't that violate the 4th Amendment? Oh wait, that violation was OK because it happened to the other side.
6
Well of course. Does anyone think Madam Speaker was unaware of the investigation underway to declare 45's actions unlawful under the constitution? Or the timing of when the information was due to come out? Clearly she was also aware of when the Parnas texts and documents would be released as well.
Why tie things up in the courts and let the corruption in the WH continue? She knew she was not going to get through the court system before the American people went to vote. She wanted all to know more about who they were voting for.
What a smart move and so very much easier than tying us up in the court system. Saved the taxpayers money also and got the same result from the Senators who still have half a conscience, or in Collins' case, face reelection in a state who has begun to lean just a bit more blue. Bravo. Job well done. The American people still have access to information now whether or not the courts had been brought into it and in a much more dramatic way.
Let the courts do their work once 45 is out of office. They'll have plenty to do after the fact.
9
Donald Trump is a clear and present danger to the USA. This is the reason the impeachment in the House happened to begin with. If this action was a one and done Pelosi would not have pressed impeachment.
Trump will continue to break the law in order to be reelected. It is no surprise that Russia hacked Barisma Holding to try and conjure up some propaganda that can be used to question Biden or his son. That is exactly what Rudy was hired to create no matter how false...where there is smoke they can claim fire.
Donald has taken us to the brink of war and will do whatever chaos he can to deflect his dishonesty, yes there will be much more to come dispite the delay tactics used by Trump to hide such things as his tax returns.
6
This article makes no sense. If the goal was to wait for more evidence, why didn't she just continue the impeachment hearings in the House, instead of closing them in December?
Silly. Don't give credit when none is warranted.
4
The articles of impeachment do not allege President Trumps recall of Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch was an impeachable offense.
Both Lev Parnas and Robert Hyde say Hyde’s text about keeping Yovanovitch under surveillance was a joke. Hyde runs a landscaping business in Avon, Connecticut. It seems unlikely that he also runs an international spy ring capable of surveilling U.S. diplomats in foreign capitals.
Yavonovitch testified she suspected she was under surveillance. It far more plausible that Hyde’s text was a jest made in response to Yovanovitch's testimony. Yavonovitch probably was under surveillance, but by Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office—not Hyde’s hedge trimmers.
3
The more information that comes out about this sorrid tale the better. Unfortunately I fear that many will not pay attention to what is going on. Trump as he always does when caught, shouts that he does not know the person and deflects and distorts reality to fit his own version. What is at stake is whether the presidency will have any accountaility at all. What is disturing is that few if any Republican Senators have any backbone to stand up to either Trump or McConnell. I know that it isn't easy but who thought that it would? Unless one is retiring McConnell could strip them of prime commitee assignments or they could face a primary challenge. What it takes is some steel in the spine. Why any
Republican Senator would back Trump is beyond comprehension. He is a morally depraved individual with no regard for anyone but himself. He has corrupted and soilded the office of president. I am not in the aggreement that he will be acquited. There is still as Rumsfeld once stated about Iraq, the "known unknowns". Yet if Trump is good at anything it is selling his version of reality to his base. So now the Senate weighs in and the truth will come out. Will the Republican Senate majority complete the transition to a
permanent Trumpian rule of the land or jetison this wanbe
American Putin?
2
The Republicans in both Houses, behave like an evil virus which infects the least thoughtful of their bases in their respective districts and on a larger scale in the Nation as a whole. The initial cause of the virus is, of course, Donald Trump with his antics and posturing as a fresh candidate in the early presidential race. This behavior appealed to the very least thoughtful of people - and to some very thoughtful people who perhaps intended to take advantage of this less than intelligent man who was spouting such ignorance. In the end the virus roared throughout the country infecting, once again, the least knowing and and the least capable of individuals who were unable to fight off this "disease". This illness is pulling down America, to a point, where the infection will infect those who might have fought it initially, but know have simply given up and accepted its deathly grip, hoping that a some "disinfectant" will be devised before all are infected by it... and the nation lies in ruins unable to fight off any "foreign" viruses that lie waiting for their chance to infect and kill.
4
The GOP Senators in the Trump Impeachment trial are not jurors, they are perjurors.
"Total hoax, such a sham. SAD"...
7
January 17. 2020
America has produced its case for Impeaching DJT and now is before the U S Senate for trial with The Supreme Court Justice presiding. Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi has given her very best in leadership to guide this case with the highest of professional results -that had to attain its disclosure with the facts collected and interpreted for the trail before the Senate. Most readers herewith at the New York Times one, as myself does say, the discourse and the amount dialogues of concern is formidable and with tears of tragic response of our understanding of the Trump 'machine;' acting more as bulldozer and excavator for mining his - personal opportunistic obsession for his narcissistic dreaming self glory of being the ' chosen,' man on the national stage. Let's say our American audience has had more than we care to - but need to stay on course for the verdict and then if not guilty - then let's have a sequel part two, part 3,4,5, and on on.....So the more we learn the more the same Trumpian script of a Divine Comedy - ode to Dante the circle of eternity.....
4
For a moment I was wondering why parts of the article appearing in dark black bold font between the paragraphs was trying to appear as if the accusations were actual facts, then I realized I was in the opinion section.
1
down goes trump, down goes pence, and then there was pelosi
2
Are all of these facts being given their full exposure on page 1?
Are t rump's crimes getting the spotlight they deserve so that the folks who do not spend all morning reading and commenting on the Opinion page understand the depths of criminal conduct oozing out of the White House?
Do you people in the 4th Estate finally realize that in a fascist state you are going to be out of work? And in prison.
Because if voters are asking the question in November, who is more dangerous to the Nation, Bernie Sanders or t rump, our Nation, and probably the Earth, is in grave peril.
Do your jobs as the 4th Estate and worry about the profits and the accolades next December.
What was gained? An advantage for an increasingly senile Joe Biden that has trouble getting his words out.
2
@Newell McCarty I don't thinkthis is a net gain for Biden. If Democrats want witnesses the Republicans will demand witnesses too. They'll call Biden, Hunter, the whistleblower, and maybe even Schiff.
This benefits Warren and Sanders, not Biden.
1
If nothing else, this whole thing will show the public how deeply sick the Republican Party is.
If nothing else, it may just spur Kentuckians to vote MM out. That would truly be a breath of fresh air.
We need to get cleansed from the Senate to the WH...let’s get the Russian mafia out of American politics.
7
@Sandra Actually it won't, the only demographic that thinks Trump should be impeached is the Democrats (by like 90%). Republicans disagree with 90% for acquittal and Independents only support impeachment with like 40%.
Time to get out of the bubble because it actually seems as if Democrats are all suffering from TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome).
1
If you have a R Senator, please write them a letter, call them, e-mail them, tell them that it's not too late to restore truth, honor, and dignity to their party. Request that they pay attention to the damning evidence that is in this article, that will come to light when the country and the world hears from witnesses. Demand witnesses. Demand a fair trial. Tell them that it's not too late (well, take it back, maybe it is too late) for them to disown Fox News propaganda and lies. Tell them that it's not just the partisan citizens in their state watching, but that the whole country and many people abroad are watching.
4
@maxcommish It's too bad the House didn't do its job in the first place. If only they had called more witnesses, sought judicial enforcement of subpoenas, and found some sort of paper trail. Instead they were lazy and they were in a rush.
1
Parnas’ value to the case for impeachment is greater as evidence itself, rather than the limited first hand evidence he can testify to. Trump’s alleged goal of rooting out corruption in the Ukraine was contracted,out to his personal attorney, who retained the services of subcontractors, the proprietors of Fraud Guarantee. In Parnas’ own words, why would government officials want to meet with him?
The use of such unqualified characters as Lev and Igor to advance the policy concerns of our nation, while they are on a private political mission and concurrently seeking business deals on their own behalf is a flagrant abuse of power.
Regardless of the credibility of Parnas’ testimony, it is that he was in the picture at all that is the most damning evidence against Trump. That he removed the respected Ambassador at the urging of Rudy and his crew was certain to guarantee fraud. That is probably why Rudy sought the services of Fraud Guarantee in the first place.
4
Trump is a know-nothing, a buffoon. He is an idiot, a moron, understands nothing.
Until Pelosi un-earths someone who will finally say “Trump knew EXACTLY what was going on!”...and suddenly, it’s time for a trial.
That IS funny...
Please, congress, let's use the new information to once and for all put Trump out of our misery - and, with the new discoveries and confirmations, take the rest of his mob out, too, on appropriate criminal charges. The country has been ground down by these hoodlums long enough; I'm hoping the new evidence will bring enough Republican senators to their senses to allow all relevant witnesses to be called, and these witnesses will bring such damning evidence that the Republicans will have to vote to convict or look like - and be - complicit in these crimes themselves if they don't. (And we Democrats will forgive, yea celebrate, the sitting Democratic senators running for president for doing their job.)
1
Before entering the dark alternate universe that we seem to have entered, I would feel 100% sure that Trump’s goose is just about cooked. He’s busted.
In this black hole of corruption and indifference to the truth, it’s far from certain, but I am feeling some glimmerings of hope and optimism. The evidence is coming out bit by bit and it’s very, very damning. The Democrats actually have a monster hand though they are outgunned. I believe that they know just how to play it. Bluffing doesn’t work at the showdown if you ain’t got it.
1
Sen.Collins will typify the Republican vote. Her popularity went from72% to 43%. The small group of republicans thought to flip, is a pipe dream. What kind of people of no character, no moral compass are we talking about? No impartiality before the oath, and perjury while taking the oath. What a slimy group of legislators.
1
So what happens, as time goes by, the Senate acquits Trump and increasingly more incriminating and damning information comes to light?
What was Speaker Pelosi's rush? One might think that festina lente (make haste slowly) would have been a prime consideration. Golden opportunities do not come along all that often...
1
More details about President Trump's unrelenting attempts to use the Ukrainian "underworld" to generate "political dirt" on the president's perceived main rival, Joe Biden, are surfacing every day. There is no way that the GOP leadership in the US Senate can ignore these facts. Basically, the GOP leadership is in a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" predicament.
2020 is going to be a long and painful Election Year for everyone...especially for the intransigent GOP leadership.
2
The irony of it all: Nancy Pelosi becomes the first female President. Hell Yes!
3
Instead of delaying the transmission of the articles, maybe she should have delayed the actual impeachment so that she could actually gather evidence and not rush the House?
I'm astounded that anyone here, including the Editorial Board, seems surprised that Trump will be acquitted by the Senate. Seems like most people have known this since 2016. Were you all caught up in a group delusion that Trump would actually be removed from office?
Instead of wasting time and energy on the impeachment, maybe try to get a candidate like Amy Klobuchar who could actually beat Trump in 2020? As it is right now, I don't think Biden, Warren, or Sanders can do it.
1
New evidence does not mean "proof". That's the issue. A person can appear to be guilty..."look" guilty...and there may be information that leads one to "assume" guilt, but without proof, there is nothing. So far, we only have opinions, and the timing of the payment can have several reasons. I think this whole Impeachment is a mess and it was grossly mishandled by Schiff. Then it was made worse by Pelosi. Between the Impeachment fiasco and socialists running for President on the Democratic ticket, I think Trump will waltz into the WH. I don't think Biden will hold up against Trump.
2
@J. G. Smith
You might be part of the military and Colorado has law that is chiselled in stone to fit stones, not people. I would say, Colorado IS THE MOST INTOLERANT State of the US, bar none.
If you studied law, in any way at all, you would know that the impeachment trial is not equivalent to any criminal court proceeding in any US jurisdiction.
Evidence has its own set of laws and evidence codes/rules of presentation/definitions and use is vast.
Mr. Parnas's notes, testimony, admissions, contradict what the President has claimed, as his defense. It almost does not matter that at the root is a horrible set of crimes against public officials working in their professional capacity. What matters is that President Trump has lied about it.
Another thing. President Trump has claimed to be a non-drinker. He doesn't "touch" the stuff - alcohol. But Vanity Fair reporter who scouts the Trump Hotel in DC has illustrated the President differently and Parnas states he gets drunk. Parnas met with him there.
I don't know. But what I care about is that he has lied about it for years.
1
"The hold was put in place quietly because of the “sensitive nature of the request,” according to a top budget official," don't you mean the ILLEGAL nature of the request? It WAS and IS illegal. Trump broke the law(1974 Impoundment Act).
What I don't get is GOP Senators claiming the Articles are "weak" (which they are not; containing testimony of first-hand witnesses) yet not acknowledging the second article of Obstruction by the POTUS of "first hand" witnesses and relevant documentation. The hypocrisy is smothering.
The pressure is on Republicans; do they ignore the truth, and block additional witnesses? Or, do they answer what must be their very loud consciences, allow witnesses, and vote as though their oath of office, and their supposed oath of impartiality actually means something. I'm not holding my breath.
Martha McSally, appointed (not elected) Senator from AZ responded to a CNN reporters innocent question by referring to him as a "political hack" and not answering. If there's anyone who could be referred to as a "political hack" it would be an appointed Senator. As with Trump, what she said is more true about her, than who she directed her comment to.
Election 2020 is going to be a reckoning of epic proportion
3
"The hold was put in place quietly because of the “sensitive nature of the request,” according to a top budget official," don't you mean the ILLEGAL nature of the request? It WAS and IS illegal. Trump broke the law(1974 Impoundment Act).
What I don't get is GOP Senators claiming the Articles are "weak" (which they are not; containing testimony of first-hand witnesses) yet not acknowledging the second article of Obstruction by the POTUS of "first hand" witnesses and relevant documentation. The hypocrisy is smothering.
The pressure is on Republicans; do they ignore the truth, and block additional witnesses? Or, do they answer what must be their very loud consciences, allow witnesses, and vote as though their oath of office, and their supposed oath of impartiality actually means something. I'm not holding my breath.
Martha McSally, appointed (not elected) Senator from AZ responded to a CNN reporters innocent question by referring to him as a "political hack" and not answering. If there's anyone who could be referred to as a "political hack" it would be an appointed Senator. As with Trump, what she said is more true about her, than who she directed her comment to.
Election 2020 is going to be a reckoning of epic proportion
1
My hope is that in taking the special oath to be impartial in the Senate trial some of the GOP senators will reflect on the solemnity of the oath and their own integrity.
Come on, senators, you know he is not fit to be president and is continually doing harm to the nation, environment and the Republic itself.
Do your job, be a true patriot.
3
The Times praises Pelosi for delaying the delivery of the articles of impeachment to the Senate because by doing so she enabled more evidence to emerge but is curiously silent about the fact that if Pelosi hadn't rushed the process of evidence gathering in the House the Democratic-dominated House would still be controlling evidence gathering and the Republican-controlled Senate would not now be in control of both evidence and witnesses. It was patently obvious from the beginning that the longer the investigative process was allowed to continue the more evidence would accumulate, bolstering the chances of swaying public opinion in favor of voting against Trump in November of 2020 - including in those Republican-leaning districts that elected Democrats in 2018. This should have been the goal of the impeachment process in the first place, since conviction in the Senate was never realistic politically. This was Pelosi's and the DNC's strategic error, and it drove the tactical error of getting the impeachment process "over" by January 1, 2020.
3
Well, I don't think this was Pelosi's reason for withholding articles of impeachment, time has a way of outing the truth. This Ukraine adventure by team Trump goes far and wide. We will soon find out if politicians are immune from legal consequences - Pompeo, Pence, Perry, Bolton, Mulvaney and so on ... they all deserve jail time and more. I'm not holding my breath that there is true justice for powerful white men, but I hope I'm wrong.
2
There’s no justice for powerful white men.
4
Donald Trump pressures the newly elected president of Ukraine to announce an investigation into his political rival, Joe Biden, and publicly invites China to do the same. Democrats witness this and see a blatant abuse of power, a violation of his oath of office, a clear betrayal of the trust of the American people and a threat to our very democracy. Republicans witness the same actions and see only a crass, embarrassing leader who, nonetheless, they are willing to follow as long as he retains power...and sustains theirs.
As regards the impeachment of Donald Trump, Democrat and Republican politicians will never agree on the facts. Any attempt at persuasion is futile. Only when Trump is repudiated by Republican voters, only when Republican officials see their own power being destroyed will they suddenly decide that Donald Trump is exactly what Democrats have long been saying he is - a self-serving autocrat who violates the Constitution in the interests of his personal power and wealth. Only then will Republicans disavow their allegiance to their “strong” leader who they so willingly submitted to. And, even then, they will find a way to claim that, had it not somehow been for the dastardly Democrats, they would long ago have ridden Trump out of town on a rail.
1
I agree, as soon as the crime is committed arrest a suspect put him on trial then look for evidence.
1
Editorial Board, you are correct. The additional time Nancy has afforded us has brought new evidence to light. Much to our benefit.
But as another commenter, Sojourner Truth has stated, of what benefit is this if the Senate refuses to look at the facts? Indeed, Mitch McConnell’s mind is as closed as a bank vault. (And as dark).
What is any trial without witnesses? How can any trial proceed without witnesses? Apparently the Senate can. Of course we know this because at it’s core the Senate works for none of us.
To the Editorial Board things make sense. The the average reader, things make sense. We all read and digest information to make sense of the world around us. We consider it our duty.
But the average Republican hasn’t seen a library, read a newspaper, or looked at the written word since 8th grade. They are devolving; going backwards. They drive while looking into the rear-view mirror.
How do I know this? Because we have a ‘stable genius’ at the helm. This person is their champion. Someone who hasn’t actually read anything of substance since the 7th grade.
I’d suggest subscribing library cards to these people but I’m afraid that would interrupt ‘Fox News’ time.
3
Every time Nancy Pelosi is second and third guessed, she ends up on the correct side of the issue of the moment. I wish she was on the presidential ticket against Trump, there would be no question that our country would have the first female POTUS.
2
Yeah.. Trump thinks time is on his side.. and that is why he always tries to run out the clock on anything demanded from his administration (documents, etc) or himself personally (tax returns).
Nancy Pelosi has demonstrated how time can work against Trump as well here.
If Trump really had nothing to hide in terms of his corrupt and guilty nature.. he would put all this to rest by turning over every document and witness requested of him. THAT is what innocent people do. Guilty people obfuscate, and delay.
Of course Trump is a chaos junkie too... and craves chaos and conflict over all else. It fuels and energizes his combative nature.
6
But the economy! And the BIdens! And her emails.
Sadly, roughly half the country simply does not care what this president or his supporters in the executive and legislative branches do. (Of course, if things were turned around and Democrats were doing this, we'd never hear the end of it. Remember what happened every time Obama issued an executive order?)
2
So Trump was impeached with inadequate evidence? This impeachment is an obvious legal and political failure. Its hard to take seriously. The video of Pelosi handing out golden pens off of silver platters is a metaphor for how pathetic and craven the democrats have become while on their Odyssey to remove Trump and nullify the 2016 election.
3
Lies, false facts? Sure, all possible but it remains to be proven. The only way is to have the suspects under oath. Parnas a lier? maybe, but we know the guys he is accusing lie as a regular part of their day. Trump over 15,000 and counting, Pence , Pompeo, etc. all well known liers. So, we have two groups who lie ? Lets find it out.
3
Nancy Pelosi will have my vote any day of the week.
Did you hear how she addressed the FB:
Pelosi hammers Facebook: 'They don't care about the truth'
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/16/nancy-pelosi-hammers-facebook-099829
Yes, FB joined the ranks of shameless billionaires groups, who don't see anything beyond their bottom line.
If I would want to vote for a real billionaire Bloomberg will be my choice, purity test aside for now, plus he at least apologized which is refreshing in Ttrumpian dystopia era we all force to live with.
Not for long, not for long America!
2
Baloney.
Its the Kavanaugh hearing model all over again. Keep digging and throwing things up hoping something will stick to the wall. Totally shameless.
The House conducted a one-sided "investigation" and went with what they had on two inarticulate, political charges. Its all they had and nothing has or will add to that meager effort.
But, because I know the NYT is a fair publication and committed to fully reporting the story to the American People, i trust you will fully report the effort by both the House Prosecution and the White House Defense; its the least you should do after what you and the other media have done putting this country through 3 years of needless accusations and investigations.
3
And this is why Senate republicans will flush our Constitution down the toilet. Because their base will back Trump regardless of any facts. In the age of the internet and social media, everybody is pundit and an expert. Therefore, we don’t have experts.
Conspiracy theories have corroded the Republican Party and have led us to have to bear this monstrous administration. Personally, I think it’s good to finally lift the hood and see all the corrosion, so it can be cleaned. The Trumpian base appear to relish that corrosion as they see it as benefitting them.
My only hope are the Independents who may still be open to information and who may implement enough pressure on enough senators (by contacting their offices) to do the right thing to uphold the Constitution and save our system of government.
8
@Truthbeknown Needless? oh, sure. Meanwhile HRC had, and did, testify for 9+ hours on Benghazi accusations with 4 separate investigations.... where did that lead? nowhere. Yet countless indictments and convictions over the past 3 years, these investigations HAVE lead to somewhere. And there is more to come!!!
75
Let's not forget that by controlling the narrative over the holiday she made sure everyone was talking about "fairness" and the need for witnesses at the trial.
http://pjlehrer.blogspot.com/2019/12/nancy-pelosi-demonstrates-how-to.html
1
I am just waiting for that glorious day when Trump says “Rudy Giuliani? I never met the guy!”.
3
"How can they impeach me when I've done nothing wrong?"
said the man with 15,000 lies under his belt.
3
@rab: ""How can they impeach me when I've done nothing wrong?"
said the man with 15,000 lies under his belt."
If lies are a measuring stick for you, how many elected officials would be in trouble?
1
Perhaps the Trumpista battle cry will be "Remember the Giuliani" as in "Truth isn't truth."
No doubt Speaker Pelosi's decision to hold the articles of impeachment was a wise one.
But we know that this Senate will not listen to the massive amount of evidence her proceedings have garnered - in fact, they don't plan to introduce any evidence before they absolve the felon in the White House.
Now we may continue our handwringing about this Republican Senate's abdication of its responsibilities. But in doing so, we would be ignoring who is the responsible party here. And it is Trump voters.
Had Trump voters' support dropped substantially, Senate Republicans would be crawling all over themselves to remove him. The fact is, they are terrified of Trump voters, and this is the only reason he will not be removed from office.
Some three years on in the most disastrous presidency of a century or more, his voters are still in lockstep with him for only one reason - he is a white nationalist.
The articles of impeachment before this Senate create a damning record of the morals, beliefs and values of Trump voters. That is, they know of Trump's criminal conduct, but they don't care. They simply want a "president" who tells them that as whites, they are the "real" Americans. Trump voters will put up with multiple crimes by their "president" as long as he parrots their bigotry, their racism.
Trump voters are either treated as "innocent bystanders", or considered hapless dupes who were "hoodwinked" by Trump. They are neither. And they have been given a pass for far too long.
2
It's disheartening to read such concise, damning and irrefutable arguments regarding the President's guilt, only to hear them refuted, denied or dismissed the very next day (hour) by Republicans and their media hacks - and not by employing coherent and compelling counterargument but simply by saying the facts put forward mean absolutely nothing. This is from the PeeWee Herman School of debate. Yet, it seems to be working!
117
@S Jones Uh, more like the Putin College of Obscure Knowledge.
2
When an entire political party prefers plutocracy and power over the Constitution, then one or the other is dead. The impeachment trial will make clear that we are in that situation. Whether we have a fair election in November will determine which outcome we obtain.
1
In July 2017 then House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said that she believed President Trump would “self-impeach” and that Democrats should wait for the Russia investigations — especially special counsel Robert Mueller's probe — to play out before pushing to remove him from the Oval Office. She also noted that if Trump fired Mueller — which some Trump allies were encouraging the president to do — it would be enough to push Republicans to begin seriously considering acting against the president on their own. She was far too optimistic then and surely less optimistic now. But there is still a spark of hope for his self implosion through more egregious and reckless acts between today and the election and most assuredly within a second term should we have the great misfortune of his reelection. Time will tell.
2
Unfortunately, it now hangs on a Senate vote (partisan) whether any new information makes it into the proceedings...
@Rupert Laumann: "Unfortunately, it now hangs on a Senate vote (partisan) whether any new information makes it into the proceedings..."
Just like the House vote which was also partisan. House Democrats created this monster, now they have to try managing it. Good luck with that.
I'd like to think that when Michael Stenger, the Senate sergeant-at-arms, announced yesterday at the commencement of the impeachment trial, "hear ye, hear ye, hear ye" he wasn't merely asking the persons present to keep silent - he was also, consciously or subconsciously, pleading with Senate Republicans to agree to listen to what the witnesses have to say.
4
This is all very well and good, but the practical effect will be nothing more than to highlight Republican hypocrisy. Sure, there's more evidence now -- and the GOP noise machine will react to it just as it has to previous evidence, by denying that it is evidence.
Republicans pounced on the Parnas revelations as an indication that the House had not done its investigative job -- totally ignoring the plain fact that the Parnas documents were not released by the court until last week. They complained about "hearsay witnesses," ignoring the fact that many of the witnesses had direct knowledge of the facts to which they were testifying.
And now, when the trial has begun and one would expect the defense to want to call exculpatory witnesses, the Republicans scoff at the very idea of any further witnesses. One has to wonder why.
4
With State Department and the Attorney General's Office keeping total silence about Ukraine and engaging in diversion tactics (drone strike on Iran and re-reinvestigating Comey's actions), it is clear that both departments are working to save Trump and not in the best interest of national security.
There needs to be two separate congressional investigations in to actions (or lack thereof) by both departments in general and those of Pompeo and AG Barr in particular.
3
The Democrats failed. By trying to hurry the process to not conflict with the primary season, they failed to get all the evidence. Yes, now there is much more supporting information of the wrong-doing, but it should have been part of the investigation stage, not after.
In addition, by not forcing witnesses to testify they have given precedent to the argument that presidents are above the law and do not have to comply with Congress.
With all this "new evidence" there was reason to pull back those articles of impeachment, conduct further investigations and re-impeach. Now, they must start over because they didn't do it right the first time. I doubt there is the will to do it again. So evil has triumphed.
2
"Nancy Pelosi’s decision to delay transmitting the impeachment articles allowed significant new information to come to light."
"All of this has come to light in barely four weeks. Imagine how much more the nation will learn in the next four."
Dear Editorial Board,
Then why the rush to impeach the President in the first place? It appears the Democrats want to have their cake and eat it, too. Nancy made demands of the Senate about a fair hearing, but Mitch McConnell didn't dictate how the House conducted their inquiry. As I recall, the first part of the inquiry was behind closed doors with serious restrictions placed on Republicans - do you at the Board consider that "fair"?
Now Democrats and the media demand new witnesses and evidence be presented in the trial. The Senate doesn't have to, no matter how much you whine, snivel or complain about fairness. If the Democrats are so sure about their case they should present what they have right now and let the chips fall where they may. Apparently Nancy and company now are not so sure.
5
“They” call her a lot of things, but she is fully in control. A yuge advantage over Trump. Is it just possible that she knew Parnas was about to go Placido Domingo and timed the transfer to his opening number?
3
What I learned from the investigation of Christine Blasey Ford was that the Democrats, for all their righteousness in demanding an investigation, settled for a resume recap by the FBI that enabled Judge Kavanaugh to avoid real questioning.
The same could happen in this Impeachment Trial in demanding witnesses to testify, unless there is a revelation like the Watergate “tapes” or the “blue dress”.
The Supreme Court had to rule to have President Clinton testify to Congress. President Nixon had to testify to Congress, although it was after he resigned, was pardoned by President Ford, and those records are still sealed.
Bottom line, unless President Trump testifies, the results of this Impeachment Trial will be open to partisan interpretations that can only weaken our constitution and country.
3
@JJ Lyons: "What I learned from the investigation of Christine Blasey Ford was that the Democrats, for all their righteousness in demanding an investigation, settled for a resume recap by the FBI that enabled Judge Kavanaugh to avoid real questioning."
What I learned about the Democrats is they will stop at nothing to stop a Republican nominee to the Supreme Court. How convenient that Senator Feinstein kept Ford under wraps until the appropriate moment, when she could have notified the FBI and have an investigation conducted beforehand.
5
What was gained? How about Trumps biggest win of his presidency and perhaps the biggest foreign policy win in the last 20 years?
5
So now we are supposed to act like facts matter to republicans?
I’m not holding my breath. They are firmly entrenched in an alternate reality, and it is destroying this country.
5
You can't be serious. Really? There's a different angle on this, and it's a darned sight more relevant that your Pelosi pandering, because we're already seeing it being played out in comments from Republican senators. It's this -- the House rushed through their investigation for some nonsensical timeline, and if something's not in the case they put together, we don't need to consider it. The additional evidence coming out points not to some benefit of a failed Pelosi strategy, but instead is a stinging indictment of just how sorry the investigations were. The summary of things you've come up with is excellent, but the context you place around it is akin to putting lipstick on a pig. I've never wanted a president out of office more -- and I've never been more disgusted with a party's ineptitude in pursuing the process. There's nothing to celebrate about Pelosi's mismanagement. Her delay didn't cause any of this. It just happened at the same time she was pursuing a losing strategy. It's ridiculous and irresponsible to link the two in any meaningful way. Instead, this is an unfortunate "look what we could have had if we'd have been more concerned about building a case than meeting a meaningless deadline" moment.
5
In 2020, the centennial of women getting the right to vote, I am SO proud that Nancy Pelosi is Speaker of the House!
6
What was gained? Nothing. The impeachment sham continues with further total audience boredom. Only rapid anti-Trump minds have any interest in it as the outcome of acquittal is already pre-decided. A total waste of time, effort and money by people who all should be busy carrying out the nation's business or at least searching for a real Demo Party Presidential candidate.
4
Thank you NYT.
Yes, let all the stink in the DJT administration out to air.
We will then know if we the people will overcome.
I'm not a praying woman but in this case I will trust in a higher power. The power of the people.
4
The New York Times editorial board does a fantastic job carrying water for the Democrats. Why do they usually try to justify the indefensible and the unlawful, as long as it is carried out by someone they support? Their objective must be " to preach to the choir" because they are not convincing anyone else with their arguments.
2
Or Russia may be hacking Burisma to try to plant take evidence against the Bidens.
4
@Bridey
Where are they going to release that which they drilled/hacked into ?
No more wikileaks. Maybe Fox News. Would that be lawful?
And what if they don't FIND anything? Or did not find anything, which I think is probably true.
"A United States ambassador was surveilled and possibly targeted for harm by people directly connected to Trump aides."
And all the men -- Trump, Bolton, Barr, Pompeo and many ambitious minions -- thought this was okay, fine, powerful, and just swell.
Sure, just tail this highly respected American diplomat in case we feel like liquidating her.
Ha-ha! Just kidding!
For just this one crime, the entire Department of State should be out on strike. Just walk out and refuse to go back as long as Pompeo's there.
The type of surveillance is straight out of Putin's playbook. He knows what to do with 'troublemakers' abroad.
And it looks like Moscow Mitch and all the GOP senators are just fine with Trump's tail-and-maybe-terminate policy too.
All of them....
5
Pelosi gambled that she could force concessions in the impeachment trial in the Senate and she lost. The "new" evidence that the NYT so eagerly Trumpets is more nonsense. Trump will be quickly acquitted and we can get back to enjoying our booming economy.
1
More evidence that won't be allowed in the publication of which is nice but does zero to change anyone's mind on either side. All to hand the Republicans a legitimate charge of playing political theater with this (as they are doing and of course will pretend not to be), and so no one should take it seriously.
No, myself, I don't think Pelosi is stupid. She's very smart. This was to take the two progressive Senators off the campaign trail and put into what seems will be mostly untelevised impeachment trial doings.
That's what a smart person who hates the Squad, Sanders, progressives -- but who has to pretend she's one on TV -- would do. Pelosi's smart: that's what she did.
Sworn Oaths mean nothing to Republicans.
3
I'm done. I've contributed to many NYT discussions. But it seems as if there's become a journalistic 'who can make the most interesting and relevant point' mentality. They're all relevant...all interesting...all galvanizing...and all becoming tiresome.
1
What was gained by her tone-deaf ceremonial pen handout?
2
Ah, another pen-fretter heard from.
1
Much was learned by that wait & the public got a lot more info. We also saw the republican legislators begin to run for cover. The very actions of Mr. McConnell & those who are loyal to a person & not to the constitution, have taken an oath to be a fari jury.
We will see who actually perjury's themselves by their actions.
Keep your eyes on the trial.
2
Anyone who continues to support Trump is complicit in his crimes against our country.
3
NYTimes will do anything to defend Pelosi's actions. What was gained was a big batch of squat. Senate will acquit quickly, and over 50% really do NOT care a whit about this. All she managed to do was push it further from the public consciousness. Be good for the Times to admit (for once) that she got played by McConnell and move on.
3
We also learned that the McConnell-led Senate is where justice goes to die.
2
Sell said NYT. Thank you for putting all this succinctly. This is real news.
1
i think what America learned in the last 28 days or even longer is that Trump could literally shoot someone on 5th Ave and the republicans would do nothing, apart from support him and suggest that he had done nothing wrong, and even if he had, well he is the president and erm......Gorsuch.
4
Getting attacked by Trump would be a badge of pride, if it wasn't so sad that we have a lunatic as president.
3
Yes but why is our Russian Czar Father Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin still smugly smiling and smirking at the antics of our Siberian President?
Waiting to big bad Russian Bear hack, interfere and meddle in the 2020 American Presidential campaign and election more openly and effectively than he did in 2016 on behalf of Donald Trump?
They already made the movie '28 Days' about a zombie turning virus plague.
Is Nancy Pelosi incredibly lucky or wise?
Or is Donald Trump incredibly bad and stupid?
What 'America learned in 28 Days' differs deeply from the context and perspective of CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, New York Times, U.S. Today, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post.
1
It's a crying shame that the Speaker is not younger and running for President at this time.
Is it true she beat the new Watson after spotting him a bishop?
And a rook?
1
They can turn up audio of Trump demanding evidence on Biden and it still will not matter - he will still be acquitted. It’s all just a huge media circus at this point. Don’t you get it, there is no tipping point - his base will not change their mind and his enabling Senators are only acting on their own self preservation, like all politicians. What a waste!
2
so does this argument mean we should wait longer?
2
Of what use is the new confirmatory evidence of Trump subverting the constitution for his personal gain, if Senate Republicans will ignore it. One would hope that is would affect the votes of certain so called independents.
3
@Sojourner Truth For what it's worth, at least it will be a permanent stain on the historical record of this presidency.
Trump and his enablers deserve no less!
1
@Sojourner Truth
It's useful for what it shows to the actual jury, the real jury, all across the land.
1
A bigger gain was a momentous increase in the awareness of the general public that the Republicans wanted only a show or fake trial without hearing witnesses and documentary testimony. The delay also helped to obtain a marked reduction in the arrogance and aggressiveness with which the Republican leadership initially looked at the impeachment by the House. The Speaker's decision to sit on the Articles for 2-3 weeks showed them their place.
While large poll numbers favoring the calling of witnesses tell their own story, I'm enjoying the huffing and puffing over the delay by the Republican worthies, like McCarty, Meadows, Nunes, et al.
5
@IWaverly Sometimes witnessing political impotency in someone brings on a certain kind of schadenfreude in me. Sometimes that's a good thing.
Speaker Pelosi said "all roads lead to Russia."
Historically, Russia has been our enemy since the end of WWII. There's been no evidence to change that.
Now, Trump views Russia as an ally and praises Putin for being a "strong leader." Khrushchev once told us "we'll take you over without firing a shot." Perhaps he knew that America might rot from within rather than from an attack of war.
Trump is in accord with Putin on many matters, like they are working out of the same playbook.
First asking for Russia's assistance in defeating Hilary Clinton, which he got. Now Russia is interfering in Ukraine's election "to get dirt on Biden". More importantly, Russia wants to create a false scenario blaming Ukraine for the 2016 election interference, not Russia (who is in an ongoing war with Ukraine).
There is a nexus between Russia and Trump, and now the last opportunity to prove that is being demolished by Republicans in the Senate, who don't want to hear Liev Parnhas' testimony, which connects how Trump and Russia seem to be on the same page. Testimony by Parnhas could be the last chance we have to kill the cancer in our democracy today.
Republicans can run but they can't hide from what will happen if Parnhas' testimony is not heard by the public. It will show the Republicans' complicity in Trump's efforts to obstruct justice.
4
If citizens refuse a legally authorized subpoena, they are said to be in contempt of court and a warrant is put out for their arrest.
If the cabinet members and others refuse to respond to legally authorized subpoenas, are they not in contempt of Congress?
Do the laws in this country mean anything? Are Republicans even Americans?
9
@Avenue The Big Question: Are Republicans above the law?
I believe that they think that they are. Their constituency?
6
@Avenue Be: "If the cabinet members and others refuse to respond to legally authorized subpoenas, are they not in contempt of Congress?"
Presidents of both parties have claimed "executive privilege" with regards to people who work directly for him and at the pleasure of the President. That can and should go to the courts for adjudication. In this case Democrats don't want to hear that. I'm sure Republicans have been just as incredulous when a Democratic president invoked executive privilege.
2
Clinton’s impeachment varied considerably from our current scenario on the seriousness scale. The GOP continue to show their loyalty to the almighty dollar and party over country. Check back in a year and see whether you’ll even have the right to express your opinion safely and without recourse. We are in very dangerous times.
2
The additional evidence will underscore that this is the most corrupt administration in recent, if not our entire history. But that will not stop the Republicans from giving Trump a free pass. Nancy’s delay will not amount to much in that regard.
But the delay will definitely and negatively affect the chances of Presidential hopefuls Sanders and Warren who will be off the campaign trail as they attend the trial. With progressives on the sideline, centrist Biden has a better chance at the nomination. That pleases the Democratic Establishment and of course, Pelosi herself.
There must be a place on the Mall for the Nancy Pelosi Museum of Democracy. With key facts (e.g., genius outmaneuvers of Trump at every turn), and exhibits (e.g., pointing at Trump’s subservience to Putin or slow-clapping at his state of the disunion). With a truly world-class team around her too.
12
At the time that the House voted for impeachment, what was clearly visible and demonstrated abuse of power, was just the tip of the iceberg. What we have learned since then is the dimensions of the "hidden/invisible" portion of the iceberg. And, it appears to be huge. Validation from the non-partisan GAO that the "tip of the iceberg" events did constitute a crime. And that the hidden portion of that iceberg constituted a full blown conspiracy whose actors included not just the President but also the VP, AG, the President's personal lawyers, and, last but not least, Russian hackers and disinformation specialists. This makes Watergate look like jay-walking.
11
What was gained?
More Trump voters, more money raised, more support for him as he plays the victims.
What was lost? any credibility of the current Congress.
4
@AutumnLeaf What was lost for Republicans is only beginning to sink in for the really smart ones who are thinking strategically: Mitch McConnell's arrogance, a leftover from his charade against Obama during his presidency, is demonstrating his obvious disdain for proper governance and rule of law.
You've had your toe right in there all along Mitch,
now insert foot!
1
So you’re arguing that this administration has done nothing in violation of the constitution or their oath of office? Putin is applauding your vote.
Yes, the delay "provide[d] time for additional evidence of Mr. Trump’s Ukraine scheme to come to light." But it also provided time for the actual jury, the real jury, across the land to see more clearly--or to see for the first time--the president's treachery. The speaker *probably* knew that the evidence would continue to multiply, but she *surely* knew that she could use the Christmas break to help the jury see.
9
This is about Republican's dominating our gov't. That it is it. Whatever Trump did or did not do is irrelevant to them. They want complete control and they will do whatever they can to maintain it and build upon it.
And I had to laugh when I saw the article on Trumps legal team Starr, Dershowitz, Ray. At least they are making it entertaining political theater.
Talk about playing to the camera's. Such a farce.
It's so tragic is funny.
4
@Fromjersey: "This is about Republican's dominating our gov't. That it is it. Whatever Trump did or did not do is irrelevant to them."
This is about two power-hungry political parties that have thoroughly disregarded the Constitution. Nothing good comes out of it.
1
According to the Internet, one Republican Senator said that he doesn't have to consider any evidence discovered after the impeachment charges reached the Senate. So now we know what sort of excuses the Republican Senators will use to exonerate Trump
4
@Charlesbalpha: "According to the Internet, one Republican Senator said that he doesn't have to consider any evidence discovered after the impeachment charges reached the Senate."
From Politico:
https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/18/pelosi-impeachment-trump-vote-086468
"On Impeachment
Anna Palmer, POLITICO: One of the biggest criticisms of the process has been the speed at which the House Democrats are moving.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: [With incredulity] Speed?
Palmer: Seriously, though — seriously.
Pelosi: It’s been going on for 22 months, OK? Two and a half years, actually."
She admits what most of us already knew - Dems would look for any excuse to remove Trump from office before the next election. There is no honor here.
1
@Charlesbalpha There go those honest, "gut" feelings again! Don't believe them. They're probably just gas.
@Charlesbalpha There go those honest, "gut feelings" again! Don't believe them. They're probably just gas.
The only problem is that abuse of power and obstruction of Congress are not impeachable offenses.
2
@It isn't working The terms of impeachable offenses were not intended to be so specific since the Founding Fathers realized that the future posed challenges that they might not be able to foresee. Lucky for us!
Trump may be stopped yet.
2
Finally. Good to know that there is at least one republican willing to do the right thing. Hopefully, it will inspire more Senate republicans to join the 3 or 4 who have chosen to honor their oaths of office and abandon mitch mcconald's attempt to protect the electoral college president no matter how much proof there is against him.
5
Any advantage gained by Pelosi is illusory at best. The Republican party is not a political party at all, as Mr. Parnas says; it is a cult, and cults are impervious to the truth. The only answer is a total electoral takedown in November. That means the entire party, at all levels, with nothing left but the bitter taste lingering in our mouths as a reminder of our mistake.
8
@Mark Merrill, your last sentence is indeed the advantage that Ms. Pelosi has been seeking and may likely have achieved. Time will tell.
1
Is there any prohibition against the House continuing to hold hearings while the Senate proceeds? Could new evidence be added from the House investigation during the Senate trial? Could new charges be adjoined to the existing ones?
4
What information might be "significant"? There is apparently no information that would convince the Republican Senate to convict Trump and no possiblity of a "fair trial". When it comes to the 2020 election, is it better to fill the front page with "news" about Trump's personal shortcomings and crimes or with issues that would have a direct bearing on people's lives (specifically swing voters)? I think the vast majority know about Trump's character already - what they don't know is what Democrats will be promising. Many big-money interests, perhaps on both Democratic and Republican sides, will like to get rid of Trump without serious disturbance to the current economic situation. Focusing on Trump's personality and crimes rather than more fundamental economic matters is to their advantage.
I suppose what is frustrating to readers and likewise to non-partisan voters, is that Mr. Trump's attitude is taken as a given. His pompeity is built into the price, just like assumptions are built into stock market projections, etc. And with that given the choices, he is a man of action about getting things done with common sense practices. If there was a better alternative being presented, people would go for it at the ballot boxes - but not this incessant drum beat by the ruling class that does nothing but roll their eyes and look to push him out of power.
With Mr Trump- he saw things were wrong with trade agreements, borders, etc. He goes in and gets things done. On his own terms, albeit somewhat crass, it gets done and at the end of the day if it was a mayor from a small town or a career senator vs Mr Trump - he would win again. Not because anyone cares about his calls with Ukraine, but because he can deliver for this country.
2
@David Anyone can deliver! It's the package that counts and when it stinks, it stinks. Trump's attempt to use Ukraine to disparage Biden, the subsequent attempt at cover-up and, ultimately, obstruction of Congress' checks and balances powers are the "package" Trump has delivered and the package stinks.
I wonder about Senator Mitt Romney. He has capped his career with election to the Senate, is of retirement age, had a successful business career, was the respected Governor of Massachusetts (think RomneyCare), I believe he is an Elder in his Church, and raised a nice family. What does he have to lose by saying "enough" to the Trump sewer?
551
@Bruce-If just one Republican comes out strongly and forcibly on the side of the law, I think it would turn the tide. I believe there are millions of principled, moderate Republicans who've been shocked and sickened by the Trump spectacle. They are hungry for honorable representation and leaders who don't subvert values and integrity for power.
88
@Bruce
Mormons don't particularly like Trump either. I think they would rather follow Romney than Trump.
37
@Bruce
Koch Adelson Mercer MONEY. That's what.
Myth Romney is not what he portrays. He started out with a hefty load from daddy, like Trump. He wasn't the "respected" Governor of Massachusetts. He tired of the job and spent the last two and a half years of his term running for President and never missed a chance to badmouth Massachusetts when out of state during that time. He's a male Susan Collins. You can't rely on Myth to do the right thing.
42
No surprises in the GAO report, the Parnas interview, the additional findings about Giuliani's shenanigans in the Ukraine. Nor am I surprised in the least by the deplorable behavior of Stephanie Grisham, the Senate Republicans, or the Trump adulators on FOX.
What I do find utterly incomprehensible is the fact that so many of my fellow countrymen--fellow citizens who purport to care about the health and longevity of our (imperfect) republic--would still, in light of an overwhelming body of evidence, stand by a man who has done nothing but disgrace his office and our tradition of holding all people accountable--no one, as we all say, is above the law.
If we don't believe this, if we don't live this truth, then we are no better than Russia, North Korea, China, or any other penny ante dictatorship.
No one is born to be our leader--we have no blood aristocracy, no titles, no hereditary succession to the presidency: Trump represents us at our will, not at his. If he is above the law, then there is no law.
818
@G. O.
Perhaps it has always been this way but I have become convinced that the majority of people are dysfunctional in many ways and are probably clinically mentally ill and would benefit from professional therapy. I see no other explanation for the rampant willful ignorance that permeates our society right now.
As a people we seem to no longer value facts and hide from that which we find unpleasant. As a people we no longer value honor, honesty, law, and decency.
As a people we revere aggression and dominant threatening alpha behavior, only so long as it is not being directed at us. We embrace hypocrisy and double standards. It is devastating to watch.
This certainly does not describe everyone but as the events since 2016 show, there are enough to cause significant disruption to the stability of our society and our government.
40
@G. O.
Joni Mitchell had it right with Big Yellow Taxi, 1970.
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
They took all the trees
Put 'em in a tree museum *
And they charged the people
A dollar and a half just to see 'em
Hey farmer farmer
Put away that DDT * now
Give me spots on my apples
But leave me the birds and the bees
Please!
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
14
@G. O.
Great discourse!
7
Can it get any crazier? Yes. If you were placing bets, you'd bet on more disclosures emanating from this swamp.
4
A: More, which is why McConnell wants to give this "trial" in his kangaroo court the bum's rush.
2
This seems to be classic Pelosi.
“We have to impeach the president in order to know what the evidence is”
5
@B The evidence is there and it is abundant! Why else would Trump order potential witnesses to refuse to testify and for them to refuse subpoenas to testify?
Just ask McConnell. You may rest assured, he knows!
3
Hold on a moment. Nancy Pelosi wasn't strategic when held back the articles from the Senate, she held them back because she couldn't bargain with Mitch McConnell over the rules of engagement. It was either let the articles of impeachment set in the House and let her look even more a fool or send them over to the Senate for disembowelment. Either way she loses.
5
@Kurt Pickard If what you say is true, why are some Republicans scratching their heads in wonderment while others have become extremely defensive?
Let's face it, Nancy Pelosi is a genius.
Let's face it, Donald Trump is not.
13
I would like an expose on Bill Barr. Who is paying him to protect Trump? Who originally suggested him. How can we get rid of him ASAP?
5
Keep spinning this. It was a gift to her base over the holidays. The ones who received the gift need to believe it was something else. Hence, this story. Emphasis on 'story'. Want to keep being called fake news keep writing articles like this.
4
@GregP Are you even reading the content of the whole story? Have you followed this from beginning to end? Fake news... really? There is evidence to all of it... rock solid, primary source evidence. If the media and Democrats are making it up, they're getting a lot of help from the people who participated in this whole affair. How can you just keep denying what everyone is seeing with their own two eyes? You are in denial!
It will be an end of an era when the republican senators betray their country by allowing this corrupt oaf to undermine its very existence. This has been about 30 years in the making. Now the republican party will look America in the eye and brazenly lie, giving the country over to the global mob, the final act of their 30 year crusade. And that will be that.
4
He was "joking around" about killing someone? Sorry, that means serious jail time, my friend.
6
What a laugh. Parnas is the new great hope.
Remember Avenatti? It will turn out the same. Different personality act, but result will be the same.
All of you cocksure Democrats will be left holding the bag, again.
Five more years of Trump.
1
@James
Why is the President of the United States of America associates with creeps such as Parnas and Avenatti to begin with? Apparently the concept of "Character Counts" doesn't apply to the Presidency any more, as far as Trump supporters are concerned.
You are correct that some ugly facts have found daylight in the last month.
Here's another ugly fact: In the last three years, we've found that the Republicans among our so-called leaders are nothing more than a zombified bunch of followers. Or criminal co-conspirators. Take your pick.
5
Democrats are such wimps. What would republicans be doing now if a Democratic president had done anything like what this president is doing and democrats in the senate were acting like these senators? Can you imagine? Why aren't any commentators talking about this? Posing this question. Everyone should be bringing this up. It should be a general topic of discussion. Can you imagine if the roles were reversed?? If a democratic president was acting like this? Doing these things??
2
For those questioning the Speaker’s decision to hold the articles of impeachment: This idea was suggested by Harvard law professor Lawrence Tribe.
SEE:
abajournal.com/news/article/harvard-law-prof-pitched-the-idea-of-withholding-impeachment-articles-is-it-constitutional
1
I see this as bribery and extortion. And to get by with it, Trump and henchmen were willing to crush Yovanovich's reputation and destroy her job. I'm astounded at the number of people who were knowledgeable or involved in getting Yovanovich "out of the way". The fact that Trump is still attacking her — I think this whole story shows an astonishing depth of viciousness in Trump's misogyny. Imagine that the reward he was seeking in return for this character assassination and job destruction of this diligent and principled woman was simply an advantage in the next election to be gained by smearing his opponent. This stinks to high heaven.
8
If as expected GOP senators continue to ignore evidence of wrong-doing, it will not stop that information from leaking. Failure to do a decent job during the impeachment trial will come back on those complicit in 45's crimes when it comes to the voting booth next fall.
It won't change the minds of those with their heads deepest in the sand, but it will spur introspection and voting by those who actually care about the U.S.
2
The Watergate affair played out for many months, starting in 1972 when the break-in occurred. The Senate hearings were the following summer, May 1973. The House began impeachment inquiry in October, following the Saturday Night Massacre. The actual impeachment articles were drafted in July 1974.
The point is that this disaster simmered for well over a year before it came to a boil, and Nixon resigned less than a month later. The simmering caused public support for removal to grow slowly, but inevitably.
103
@Ken L, but Nixon wasn't trying to kill every positive American value every day. This is urgent because of the speed of Trump's destruction of our country and the world. So what's the rush? Clean air. Clean water. Climate change. Nuclear weapons in the hands of enemies who feel freer to use them. Enough reasons to rush to get rid of this menace?
35
@CP I agree that there is urgency for his removal, but if the Republican controlled Senate and Senate majority leader McConnell won't allow for witnesses, testimony, or enforce subpoenas by the House for documents as well from the Dept of Justice, the State Department, etc.... than there is no chance of removing him from office. They will vote to acquit, and he will run for office in 2020. The waiting game allowed more evidence to come out, and every month, more will come out. Pelosi waited to send the Articles of Impeachment because she was trying to negotiate the terms of the trial with McConnell, and he publicly stated he was with Trump and the White House and would not be impartial, as well as Lindsey Graham. So sending the
Articles would not and still may not speed anything up. We need the trial in the Senate to include witness testimony, documents and let the truth come out. And Lindsey Graham has been implicated as well as Devin Nunes in the scandal. They all have a lot to hide, and everyone is hiding behind Trump.
8
The bottom line is that the republicans are willing to protect Trump no matter what he did. Facts and learning more from witnesses have no place in the republican sphere. The fix is in and will lead to Trump gloating that he was a victim of false charges and a witch hunt and that the senate trial has vindicated his innocence. The message will be amplified by conservatives, the religious right and Fox News. Case closed and onward to the reelection of Donald Trump.
I'm having trouble understanding how "more evidence" makes much difference, when Donald Trump has admitted on national television that he asked the Ukrainian's to "do us a favor", and that favor was to dig up dirt on Joe Biden. Doesn't that make Trump's own words the "smoking gun"?
"Extortion, by any other name, would smell exactly the same".
2
Why do we need more evidence. We’ve been told repeatedly that this case is a slam dunk!
Is it not?
Does pelosi think it’s not?
Does the EB think it’s not?
I know I think it’s not.
1
@alan
I don't think the question is if they require more evidence for the existing articles but rather what other crimes were committed.
4
@alan It's not a "slam dunk" when Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell says he will abdicate his responsibility to hold a "fair trial" in accordance with the constitution. He has already said that he will collaborate with the defense, bar witnesses and any pertinent documentation. Who ever heard of a fair trial without witnesses' testimony and supporting evidence such as letters and other documents? Who ever heard of a judge openly stating he would take sides and bar witnesses and any corroborating evidence?
How can anyone allow this?
3
@alan so I guess from the comments it wasn’t a slam dunk.
If Pelosi & the House Dems were as concerned with the country as with politics they might have pursued the House's investigations in a more complete & serious manner (including taking everyone in the White House to court for refusing to testify). They might have considered a more complete list of articles of impeachment. They might, at a minimum, have argued back at the Republicans who during the hearings were calling them liars & traitors with every breath.
18
@Martin
And meanwhile, while Pelosi and the House Dems wrap themselves in the flag fighting for decency and the Constitution and achieving a moral (and also phyrric) victory, Trump remains at large, running unrestrained roughshod over all of those ideals and getting himself elected to a 2nd term.
Sometimes you just have to be practical. Seems a lot of Republicans also see it that way.
13
@Martin Yes going to court is an option that is being explored. The Supreme Court will hear 3 cases in March about Trump's obstruction of justice and with holding of testimony and evidence. And the precedents are on the side of those seeking further evidence, but with our partisan Supreme Court the outcome is not certain.
So the House had to bring impeachment with what they had which was plenty. As Ms. Pelosi has said we could not let Trump's offenses go un answered. trump has always used the courts to delay and intimidate those he considers his enemies. Impeachment right now became the only option.
39
@Martin: "If Pelosi & the House Dems were as concerned with the country as with politics they might have pursued the House's investigations in a more complete & serious manner..."
The Democrats would have also not started the impeachment inquiry behind closed doors and restricted Republicans to the extent they did. So much for "fairness" that Democrats are now demanding from the Senate trial.
2
If the GOP gets its way, and neither witnesses nor documents are allowed, the only thing America will learn in the next 4 weeks will be just how feckless and derelict in their duties Republican Senators have become.
4
No 'new' evidence has 'come to light'. All of the people, documents, events occurred or existed months ago. Rather, 'evidence' has been deliberately metered out so as to support the impeachment narrative.
The Democrat majority house brought the case forward at the time and in the manner of its choosing. (all politically motivated).
The Senate has no obligation to remake the case.
6
And, yet... does it all really matter? Oh, yes, it matters as facts to be digested and it will likely matter to history. Still, in the immediate practical sense the country is very divided between those who see this criminality for what it is and those who support Trump (or, at least, like things he is doing enough to want to keep him doing them) and will write off each and every fact either directly as a "hoax" or indirectly by giving alternate understandings. The latter will dismiss witnesses: Parvas - criminal, not to be believed; Bolton - a failure, sour grapes (ditto for the former ambassador)…
So, the GOP acquits either after opening statements with proclamations that there is nothing there or after making this "trial" all about Hunter Biden, with whom they will wipe their esteemed floor if witnesses are called (maybe Joe too). They/Trump will blanket the country with claim of victimhood and vindication. Maybe Trump wins in November - the country loses...
3
What America learned was that the impetus for this impeachment effort was nothing less then raw politics. It is exactly what Hamilton warned against in the Federalist Papers. It’s exactly what Nadler warned about during the Clinton impeachment. It had nothing to with reality. It was manufactured for the sole purpose of tarnishing the President and giving Nancy an excuse to hand out gold pens with a big bright smile.
5
You misconstrue Hamilton’s words in Federalist #65.
It’s a political as opposed to a legal process. Political because it is the sole means of restraining an out-of-control president. Political because the only role of the Judiciary is largely ceremonial. Do you get it now?
Of our three branches of government, two are political and one is judicial. This is a purely political process. Do you get it now?
Hamilton was arguing IN FAVOR of the proposed impeachment process in Federalist #65. He explains it as a political process.
There will be time for the criminal process AFTER Trump is removed.
Do you get it now?
5
It is stunning to me to hear long time senior Senators like Grassley debase themselves in a ham handed effort to defend Trump.
They are old enough to know how this is all going to turn out and yet remain stubbornly in the bunker with Trump.
Like Grassley, I have been around long enough to see that scandals on the sprawling scale of the Trump Empire and Presidency and connections to Russia cannot remain hidden forever.
We now know Nixon secretly killed the peace talks that might have ended the Vietnam War years earlier, before even assuming office. We also now that four Presidents lied about the Vietnam War thanks to archival documents, including the Pentagon Papers.
We have learned more about global money laundering and illegal activity by politicians and business people through the Panama Papers.
And some day we will watch videos of Senators groveling before Trump and lying to the public, much like the footage we have seen countless times of Sen Joe McCarthy trying to destory the US Foreign Service.
4
I was stunned yesterday by Rand Paul's statement that he will work to destroy any Republican that votes with the Democrats for more witnesses. So, he's intimating jurors for this trial.
10
After all that we have seen in obfuscation tactics from Trump and his team, the Times is still hopeful of a meaningful outcome from the senate hearing? This kind of "gentleman's" gestures from their opponents is what Trump and his team hope for and then work to bully, make it ineffective or go around it. That tactic appears to have worked so far
Mr Grassley and his Senate buddies have had infinite patience for not obtaining Trump’s taxes for American voters- what is 28 days ??
Our president was out cutting deals in Ukraine to mess with our election. He has to be held accountable, Senators.
There is such a thing as being a conservative hack Senator McSally- let’s respect the truth in that courtroom.
3
There is obviously no end to the evidence of Mr. Trump’s misconduct, not to speak of his criminality. The problem, however, is that the former Republican Party, now the party of Trump (the Trumpistas), controls the U.S. Senate and they are disinterested in anything other than a sham, fake trial that clears Mr. Trump. I pray that the voters will not be deceived, at least that is in sufficient number to throw the bums out on November 3rd.
1
She also made sure that the State of the Union will be given while Trump is being impeached. I have a hard time believing Trump will be able to control himself up at a podium like that in front of a crowd. I would love to hear him talk about witch hunts and toilets being flushed 10 times like he does at his rallies. A large chunk of our country has never heard how he really talks.
3
The Government Accountability Office has found that Trump broke the law. We all have known that he behaved unethically, we have known that he was personally responsible, and now, a nonpartisan agency whose task it is to assess the actions of our government in order to account for it to the American people has found him guilty of a crime. If Republican Senators continue to pretend that Trump is blameless, that his actions are not impeachable, they are authorizing the lawlessness of the executive, and enabling someone who is incapable of behaving morally to do his worst. They will also be authorizing a scorn for the law at every level of American life. Think well, McConnell and cronies. If you do not hold Trump fully accountable, you will be the end of America.
1
“Republicans complained about the apparent hypocrisy.”
One of the most obscene characteristics of modern Republicanism is their tendency to complain bitterly when they feel an injustice has been done them.
Their obstructionist “Party-of-No” tactics are “good hard-ball politics.” But criminal, if used against them. Anything that points out their ethical bankruptcy is
“terribly, terribly unfair.”
The performance of Republican presidents, cabinet officials, congressmen and senators are measured by one standard. Democrats by a wildly different one.
Consistency and fair play no longer have a place in a Republican administration. Squealing like abused, frightened piglets however does. And is third-degree hypocrisy.
This “heads we win, tails you lose” approach to governance has no place in our country or in our individual states.
Wake up Republicans in power! You are risking the future of your party for VERY questionable short term gains.
2
If Ms Perosi knew this additional information was imminent in the offing, wasn’t it her duty to sort it out before drawing impeachment to a close. Very cynical on her part, especially if she knew this information was flimsy and best used as innuendo.
2
The ongoing impeachment trial may not be able to remove Lying Trump. The main reasons do not relate to evidence, but there won't be required 67 votes. Lying Trump, the would be felon, will finally win once more.
Nevertheless, the courageous efforts of Speaker Pelosi and other Democrat leaders in defending our constitution deserve our respect and zealous support.
Our great nation has been threatened by foreign interferences and domestic betrayals for three years.
1
It will be a trial that will reveal a lot of what we really don't
want to hear or see; but our republic is in a bad way; we
need to restore it....; and I think we will and I think we can.
It's always been a good fight; and a great cause; and this
reveal of the breakdown in our three branches of government
will survive....I think we all care to work at it ..make it OK again.
We'll get the kinks out...once more....It'll work...
I am glad that Justice Roberts is in charge this time around.
It's all about breaking new ground...and perhaps burying
the hatchets down in DC...so yes we can !!!
2
More evidence and more time for Republican senators to demonstrate that their oath of office is perjury.
2
I'm glad Trump withheld the aid for a whole month or two. It's indisputable that Ukraine is a highly corrupt country and it's not 'government tax dollars' going there for aid - it's MY tax dollars - and yours as well.
But so be it - hold the trial. Call Mr. Parnas to be a witness. Expect Hunter Biden and Joe Biden to be called as well. Let's also call James Comey and while we're at it, put Adam Schiff on the stand so he can explain how he and his office had no contact with the whistle blower - under oath of course.
If this Roman Circus convicts Donald Trump - with this new evidence maybe it will happen - I trust the public will also hold in contempt the disgraceful behavior of the Democrats over the past three years. They've only been plotting impeaching since 2016 - three years before Trump's allegedly impeachable misdeeds occurred. Perhaps then the op-Ed writers at The Times' will have the scales fall from their eyes too.
1
@Once From Rome
Sorry to see that the scales on your eyes are firmly in place.
What was LOST during Pelosi's impeachment delay? Possibly winning Iowa for Senators Warren, Sanders, Klobuchar. If Pelosi had not delayed, the trial would likely be over and the senators would be campaigning in Iowa as they should be.
Can't help but wonder if Pelosi put her thumb on the scale to help Biden. Will a time ever come when Dem leadership let's Dem VOTERS select their nominee?
2
The dishonesty and self-interest of the Republican Senators who have already decided in favor of Trump, and the ordinary Republican’s tribalism and lack of even rudimentary critical thinking skills when it comes to the impeachment are astonishing, but I’m not going to let any of it fill me with despair and cynicism, which would play right into their hands. Staying positive and constructive in the poisonous atmosphere Trump, the GOP, and Fox have created is just part of what it means to fight for our democracy.
We learned more, that's true. But at this point, if you don't understand Trump is a criminal, what more do you need to convince you? Trump maintains support because of ignorance and the mutual culpability of national Republicans. Because identity politics is a thing on the right too, low-information voters (and highly educated voters skilled in confirmation bias) identify with their besieged leader, who represents them after all––and remember Trump's attempts to adopt the figure of the forgotten man. He appeals to their sense of wounded identity and culturally frowned upon crudeness before the intelligent class.
Well, here we are. Finally, with our supposedly 3 co-equal branches of government to either show us they deserve to serve or that we need to serve them with walking papers. Of course, Chief Justice Roberts has a lifetime appointment so he isn't subject to the same kind of pressure as Senators who must decide if they have one shred of dignity left. Nor is he subject to the pressure our liar-in-chief is under, whose behaviour is going to worsen by the day as the walls close in. However, don't underestimate the pressure on Roberts. He has to hold this circus together as the people watch closely. I think if anyone can do it, he can. He actually has integrity and is most interested in the Constitution and following the letter of the law, so I wouldn't wink at him if I were you Mitch. And I would tape my mouth shut and wear mittens if I were you DJT. Job well done Madame Speaker. You walked a tightrope and did a fine job as to the timing and strategy of your next to immpossible assignment. If corruption wins, it won't be because you didn't conduct a magnificent battle!
Pelosi has grossly underestimated the impact of the impeachment. All she is doing is galvanizing the mistrust of politicians and the government in general. Trump will be a martyr after this is over. One who is righteous and has suffered undue criticism. There is no way these criticisms will stick. And Pelosi will be greatly diminished after it is over.
1
@rich williams Dream on.
1
Here's the thing.
It doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter how much evidence is gathered, and it doesn't matter how clearly the evidence shows that Trump is a criminal.
None of this matters because McConnell and the Senate Republications have already declared that NONE of this matters.
Period.
The only option available to save this country lies in the next election when voters have a chance to bring in elected representatives willing to abide by their constitutional obligations.
Thank you for this fine summary of the last four weeks by the editorial board. We search through the evidence we have trying to make sense of this madness. But perhaps it is simple, and what it appears to be, a scoundrel's attempt to steal another election with the help of a foreign power and to smear an opponent's reputation. But then there is all the things we now take for granted, Trump's use of the presidency to enrich himself, his friendship whith his benefactor Putin, the nepotism of his administration and the lies to spew endlessly from his mouth like an Indian monsoon. No we will never get to the bottom of Trump's corruption.
1
Too bad Nancy can't throw her hat in the ring. She'd win the 2020 Presidency hands down. Her political brilliance is sine qua non. We won't know for a few weeks whether her shrewd handling of the Donald John Trump Impeachment and finally sending the Articles of Impeachment over to the Senate yesterday will bear the sweet fruit of the removal of said unfit and corrupt president from office. Giving the American people time to absorb the terrible news about Trump's further incidents of breaking the law and abusing his presidential powers may well end a failed and broken presidency to the benefit of our country. To the benefit of the whole world.
The Slow March
None but the stalwarts are still tuning in
To Nancy Pelosi - what’s in the House bin –
The emails, the meetings, the telephone calls
(Their evidence package simply appalls);
But, truth to tell, attention has wandered
Their time in the sun they surely have squandered
With endless speechmaking, no witnesses called –
Peeps – coast to coast – are hardly appalled;
Except – here’s the rub – loved the slow march
From House to Senate beneath the great arch;
Lost time and time squandered can’t be retrieved
No matter that Trump has the nation deceived.
Pelosi’s delay in sending the articles to the Senate allowed the cloud of impeachment to hang over Trump’s head longer, to grow darker as it gathered more dirt. The longer it was there, the more Trump appeared guilty, and the more the GOP Senators who prematurely decided Trump was innocent looked traitorous irresponsible. It was an effective tactic, just what the Republicans would do if the shoe were on the other foot, except the Democrats do it with truth on their side. Kudo’s to Pelosi.
1
What can we do when criminals are in power! It’s such a hopeless feeling.
1
The only point of interest is that the GAO said Trump had no right to withhold the aide. Is that really worth impeaching a President less than 10 months before the next election? I highly doubt anyone in red or swing states thinks its a high crime
3
@MJG What it's just a low crime? Ukraine was at war.
1
To avoid charges of being in haste and acting with partisan bias Speaker Nancy Pelocy delayed transmitting the articles of impeachment that warranted a fool proof case duly supported by actionable evidence against Trump. She also knew the real intentions of the Republicans who wanted to scuttle the impeachment trial by delaying the proceedings hence Nancy Pelocy wanted to leave little time for manoeverings by the Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell. What is also well known is the fact that even with a strong case of impeachment, the timid and Trump loyalist Senate Republicans will still vote for the acquision of Trump making mockery of the whole constitutional process of impeachment.
1
Nancy Pelosi will go down in history as one of the best and brightest Speakers of the House.
Keeping the wide swarth of Socialism-Lite to Moderate Conservative Democratic Members of the House on the same page has been a job worse than controlling a large number of tigers.
Lesser people, mostly men, have ended up politically eaten alive doing the job - too bad she’d rather pass the torch to a new generation than run for president.
In short, you are saying, there was no substantial evidence when the House voted for impeachment. So, apparently that whole charade was simply political theater and a waste of taxpayer funds for political purposes. Seems like that's enough evidence to impeach Pelosi herself.
4
Why in this article of what new things have been learn since the delay in delivering the Impeachment Articles was Lev Parnas' incredible revelations not included or even mentioned? From all I have seen, Parnas' credibility is being received favorably by the public, especially after seeing and hearing him first hand on Rachel Maddow show? Let's not let the President throw Parnas under the bus. It is already too crowded there with all the other persons Trump has used and then discarded.
GOP Senators who play the short game of partisan politics and dismiss evidence and testimony by witnesses will be met with grave consequences in the long run. They will have acquitted a criminal. History will harshly eradicate their legacies after their blatantly corrupt actions during this momentous trial. If they put on blinders and follow McConnell’s orders in lockstep with the White House, they themselves ALL will be indicted permanently from the same very corruption that plagues this Presidency. Their willful ignorance and contempt for reality and the truth will come back to haunt them in a very big way. This trial’s verdict may be quickly rendered and will result in letting a criminal President off scot-free, but the Senators themselves will suffer the greater stain of having indicted themselves for all eternity. They won’t be able to survive their votes even with all the dark money in the world. History will judge their corrupt actions on the true scales of justice and they will all be doomed to infamy.
1
The back and forth chatter between Parnas, Giuliani and Hyde reported so far is chilling, sickening, and despicable, as is the hypocrisy, lying, and refusal of Trump's Capitol Hill enablers to be true to their oaths of office. That the State Department was fearful for Ambassador Yovanovitch's safety proves that many knew something was gravely amiss, and all the hot air from the President, and all the self-righteous, oh-so-"indignant" Republican grandstanding of the last few months cannot blow away the stench of the moral rot at the heart of the Trump White House.
2
McConnell has to be thinking about how to hold the Senate in 2020. He has to protect the moderate members of his caucus and those running for re-election. That imperative may force him to abandon his posturing and allow witnesses and additional evidence. If that occurs, I anticipate that, like Mr. Parnas, more rats will jump the sinking ship, initiating a cascade. One can at least hope.
2
Trump has in 4 years of campaign and office changed the Republican Party almost beyond recognition. They were boisterous bunch who pulled together in campaigns, but came in many kinds, from Libertarian to Moderate and Conservative Christian to gay. Now the key is Loyalty to the Don.
Suppose 20 senators decided to save the party. Would Pence be such a terrible leader for at least 11 months? Only 1/3 run this year, the rest keep their seats for 2 or 4 more years. If Trump were to be removed. what would be so bad for the Party? Trump would face a flurry of indictments from states. Other Republicans could play White Knight. The Party would thrive again while Trump sinks slowly from view. Who would they nominate? One of the 20 who voted Remove and saved the Party?
61
@SpeakinForMyself That is an optimistic view of the Republican party. It encompasses some ideal vision that the GOP of my lifetime (I go back to Eisenhower) has actually cared for improving the lives of all citizens of the US rather than governing in favor of preserving the status quo of the 1950s (MAGA?). I will give Nixon a bit of a pass with his environmental accomplishments, but he did resign in disgrace having tried to game the electoral system. Reagan and trickle down? W? Newt? McConnell v B. Obama? Now Trump? Trumpism is not an odd blip in the history of the GOP, but a continuation of the quest for power. The truth is that The GOP, being a minority party and losing its base to the demographics of this century will grow even more in the direction of Trumpism in an attempt to hold power - as a minority - for as long as they can get away with it. Which party has attacked voting rights?
17
@SpeakinForMyself
The problem with Pence is that he is a co-conspirator.
17
@SpeakinForMyself
Give him credit for one thing though.. he made the Tea Party movement obsolete.
Unfortunately.. he replaced it with essentially a banana republic approach to governing.
9
The Russian hackers are "perhaps searching" for material embarrassing to the Bidens. Or could it be that the Russian hackers are "perhaps planting" material embarrassing to the Bidens?
3
Never doubt the wisdom and power of Speaker Pelosi.
Period.
8
The latest revelations would bring down most administrations: lies exposed, images of Rudy partying in a Paris bar with thugs, Trump posing with a principal he claims he didn't know, disturbing disclosures about the stalking of a U.S. Ambassador and the complicity of Pence, Pompeo and Barr.
A worthy sequel to Jimmy Breslin's "The Gang that couldn't Shoot Straight."
4
Pity the Republicans. Lacking even a scintilla of exculpatory evidence, they're reduced to obsessing endlessly over process. The original hearings were held in a basement. Imagine! A basement! Now that articles of impeachment have been delivered to the Senate, all Republicans can talk about is how many pens Speaker Pelosi used to sign them, nonsense which only goes to show Democrats aren't the only ones who've come to believe the case they're bringing against the president is irrefutable.
3
Who will be the first GOP senator to follow in Senator McCain’s footsteps and make a courageous vote like he did when he put his thumb down on the healthcare vote?
111
@M. Natália Clemente Vieira
"courageous". Sadly, a bridge too far for them.
7
The Democrats are desperate. They botched their impeachment proceedings. Now its in the Senate. The Democrats are frantically trying to reopen the process. The NYTs is doing their part raising more shaky claims that they claim are a facts. Its too late. It seems likely Trump gets acquitted.
2
She knows how to work with what she has. Nancy makes something out of little and for that she deserves our Kudos. She went into this knowing the deck was stacked and still I believe has taken the upper ground. Now it is on The Senate Leader to not end up with egg on his face. Reminds me of the old commercial that said ' Pay me now or Pay me later', I recently read that the two Senators with lowest approval rating are Susan Collins and Mitch McConnell. Collins knows if she does her normal act of wringing her hands again that it is not going to fly. I think some of the lemming on The Right are going to start jumping ship. Pelosi to her credit is shaking the bush and allowing the chips to fall where they may. If the Senate trial looks like a farce the Senate might be in play in November. It must be driving 45 crazy the daily drip of more incriminating information.
4
Feels like we're all sitting around congratulating ourselves for all the new evidence that has come to light since the House voted. A real question is why we're so happy all the evidence came to light AFTER the House voted? Pelosi raced the impeachment vote (after she steadfastly promised not to) without giving hardly any time for all these events to unfold. Now on the eve of a trial they want to introduce mountains of new evidence, when Republicans don't feel the need to include it based on late discovery.
What was the downside to waiting? Could Democrats simply not wait 28 more days for all this to be revealed and make the case for conviction 10x stronger?
1
It is time for folks to be a presence to reckon with. Stand outside senators' local offices demanding relevant witnesses. Write and call. We can write all we want in response to NYT columns, but senators need to hear from voters. Now is not the time to relent. Continuous mass demonstrations in D.C. I am afraid folks are just giving up and giving in. That is not democracy in action.
3
Much was gained in the way of evidence and pressure on Republican senators by the delay tactic. It would probably have been beneficial to hold the Articles even longer or to transmit the obstruction Article and hold the other for a while longer. Splitting transmission of the articles would have forced the Senate to hold two trials, which would have created more time for evidence to come forward and delayed the Senate from its business of appointing incompetent judges.
3
Not only did more evidence arise over the past four weeks, but also several Republicans agreed that witnesses should be called in the impeachment trial.
Trump has most Republicans on a leash because he controls the RNC, which in turn controls the flow of political donations to election campaigns. (One more reason to get private money out of the election system.) Nevertheless, a few Republicans are rebelling (though some, such as Susan Collins, talk from both sides of their mouths).
If the rebellious trend continues, there might well be enough dissidents to achieve a majority vote for conviction of Trump, even if the vote falls short of the 2/3 required to evict him. And that, for Trump-The-Thinskin, would be a stinging outcome.
And I would not rule out a conviction; Pelosi and her posse are on a roll!
11
With new evidence coming to light almost daily, it would be rich if the House began new impeachment proceedings against Trump as soon as Moscow Mitch brought the gavel down on the Senate trial that he has vowed will be a sham. I vote to give Trump the distinction of being the only POTUS to be impeached twice.
12
What we gained by the delay is further gravity. The stakes, from a historical perspective, could not be much higher. If the Senate does not honor it's oath and responsibility to the Constitution now by allowing a fair trial, I don't see how we can function as a single nation anymore. What good is a document that encodes the spirit of this nation if a party can simply ignore it and rig a trial whenever it suits them? Either republicans allow a fair trial now and fulfill their obligation to vote impartially or they abandon this country and everything we stand for. This is a pivotal moment in our history that could result in drastic consequences for our shared future. I pray they do the right thing and remove the criminal in the executive or it will forever haunt us as long as this country exists.
17
@NowCHare Bottom Line: a trial that does not call on witnesses who were actually involved or aware of the improprieties and does allow documents that may convince one that there was a crime committed or, on the other hand, exonerate the accused, is absolutely not a fair trial.
5
What America has also learned in 28 days is just how irrelevant all this new information is to the Republicans. They made their decision to protect Trump at all costs before the impeachment process even began, and they are sticking to it.
17
On top of all the other information, what we've learned in 28 days has filled in a few more blanks, substantially fleshing out what happened. Pelosi's rather brilliant move to wait lets us know that her gut feelings are far more impressive than Trump's gut feelings. Trumpian Senators are hopefully aware of how much more the truth will need answering, as well.
7
A republic is a form of democracy. Republican politicians act anti-democratically (and are poised to violate their oath). And, as Facebook decrees, the is no more truth in advertising. Welcome to the Dystopian States of America.
8
What America hasn't learned is why our legislature does not serve the common need of the public who elected them.
Virtually nothing has been agreed upon in House and Senate and signed by the President, save extending our growing national date on our grandchildren's children. How else can we keep our impotent polticians employed?
We have learned nothing. We have forgotten everything. That includes Pelosi, McConnell and Trump.
Back we must go to learning Representative Governent 101: Serve the people.
3
The buzz that Pelosi damaged the Dems' case with the delay has already been overtaken by the optics of the delivery of the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate, and the swearing-in of Senators.
In hindsight, the delay was a brilliant move mostly because it moved all of that until after the holidays, which enable the American public to focus on the proceedings without distraction. And McConnell and the Republicans seem to be finding it more difficult politically to just blow through a trial without calling witnesses.
17
Pelosi is making a mistake releasing the articles of impeachment before the election. If she allows more time to pass even more evidence will surface and key court rulings will take place. Also the Senate Republicans will not conduct a fair trial so waiting until after the election will improve the chances of a fair trial, assuming trump is re-elected and the democrats win the majority in the senate.
1
@Ski bum
Waiting until after the election would have one of two results. One is that Trump will not be reelected and the point is moot. The second is more devastating in that if he is reelected and then convicted, the Republicans will still hold the White House and another Supreme Court nomination will be skewed further right for generations. This is not an acceptable outcome.
3
@Ski bum : Trump is so bad, he should not be POTUS for even one extra day.
Well, it won't be a "trial" unless there are witnesses. If the republicans don't step up, we then know for sure that our government has failed us all. And by ALL I mean, the entire planet.
16
We need to keep in mind the difference between information and evidence, but this editorial is accurate that Democrats have gained leverage with the public because Speaker Nancy Pelosi delayed delivery of the two Articles of Impeachment and that during the delay much has been learned.
Too bad that a tougher fight was not pressed to secure some of that information before the impeachment vote in the House.
As matters stand, Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, Bill Barr are faced with the unpleasant task of improving Donald Trump’s re-electability by continued stone-walling at the cost of damaging the electability of all Republican candidates at both the federal and state levels in 2020.
14
@sdw : In other times, when America was Great, both sides were interested in justice, instead of one side ignoring their oaths and duties to the Constitution.
1
What did we learn from the Commemorative Bullet Pens given out yesterday at the signing of the Articles? A whole lot more than we learned in the last 28 days that's for sure.
5
@GregP You opened your eyes only once in 28 days, and what you saw was some pens. Politics can be tiring, but it would be wise to stay awake if one can, and notice more.
1
What do Republicans fear most? The facts. They are unable to refute them. Who do Republicans fear most? Nancy Pelosi, who brilliantly slow-walked handing over the impeachment to the Senate in order to buy time to produce more facts that demonstrate to the country that Trump clearly abused the power of his office.
52
This whole Impeachment Decision and the new evidence that has been reported by the news media will make for some great TV ads. If I were the DNC, I would be running those ads right now, including some of Trump's lies. And pummeling the voters with them.
34
@Jean :
If I were the DNC, I would have a massive majority of Congress. The DNC is hapless.
@Jean I agree; he Dems need to quit being wussies!
Excellent summary. Great reading for any American who wants to be brought up to speed on where we are in this impeachment.
20
If Trump is not convicted of high crimes and misdemeanors and obstruction of justice, the trial will have been a sham and a circus. If there is an exhaustive trial with relevant witnesses testifying under oath and subpoenaed documents and all Senators live up to their oaths to be fair and impartial jurors, there is no way he won’t be convicted unanimously. I feel the evidence is that strong and compelling. The American public must demand justice perhaps with a march in Washington for that purpose. Given Pence’s likely involvement in the corruption he should be forced to resign as well as all major cabinet figures who participated.
Our government must be cleansed from this corruption which is a direct threat to our democracy and a flagrant violation of the Constitution.
59
@IN the fact that Trump continues to lead all presidential candidates in fundraising suggests that the truth is only relevant when it’s convenient. This truth is decidedly inconvenient just as was Al Gore’s. As long as the NYT prefers to ignore Al’s truth to focus on trivial and hopeless pursuits such as impeachment, it will continue to be part of the problem.
@IN
Sure, except, the Bullet Pens do PROVE it was all just a Partisan Exercise. It is, in fact, a New Normal. Minority party holds the House, the President WILL be Impeached. Democrats aren't the only ones with long memories.
@IN Hear, hear. If people in Hong Kong can muster the courage to stand up to the power of Beijing, what is wrong with us?
3
What is certain is that the delay resulted in three senators unable to campaign in Iowa, while Trump is meanwhile likely to campaign in the swing states.
5
Sometimes country comes before party.
3
@novoad
Be that as it may, your thoughts on the new damning information that has come to light?
The amount of enthusiasm for Nancy Pelosi's strategy is amazing. Reminds of the similar enthusiasm for Mueller.
That one did not end well. Could we wait a month to see how Nancy's moves play out?
8
"He [Bolton] has firsthand knowledge of Mr. Trump’s actions and motivations during that time. Curiously, while many Republicans complained that the House impeachment hearings consisted largely of “hearsay,” almost none have expressed any interest in hearing from Mr. Bolton now."
No, it's not "curiously," it's "naturally." The Board still writes as if Republican attitudes towards this impeachment are mysterious, when they're clear as day.
Driven by fear of this president or fear of the truth, the senators have already parked their impartiality at the door, oath or no oath.
What's going to make this impeachment even more maddening- than usual-especially for Democrats-- is to watch the disallowance of new, and potentially crucial evidence Republicans have cried for all along.
They claim the Democratic case is thin, but won't lift a finger to fatten it up with the abundance of new facts sprouting faster than dandelions in summer.
It's sickening to watch.
93
This column has cemented my view that, while the U.S. may or may not be "ready" for a female president, we are absolutely ready for a female prime minister, and would probably have had one by now if we had a parliamentary system (which I often wish we did). I guess one could easily be depressed by this, but I'm choosing to find it heartening.
18
@Amy Vail Our House of Representatives operates in a 'parliamentary-type system.'
@Amy Vail
At the very least. we need to amend the constitution and end the electoral college.
1
@Amy Vail My wish too.
I find it ludicrous that anyone would attempt to say that House Dems decided to table, ignore, etc. the testimony of key witnesses that they wanted since the subpoenas involving them would not have been resolved until well into the term of the next president.
The current House subpoena of Mcgahn,the white house council, from last April, is *still* on appeal and best case would end up in the SC no earlier than this sping. Any other subpoena of key staff would likely take the same trajectory.
Having said this, I'm very disappointed that Pelosi, Schiff, or Nader didn't immediately subpoena Bolton after his statement about testifying in the Senate trial. He would have no legal standing to deny a house subpoena after this.
17
@Texan in Italy
Maybe they still will subpoena Bolton, while the Senate trial is being held.
2
@Texan in Italy The House can subpoena Bolton if the Senate won't. They are and can investigate and continue to bring Articles of Impeachment against Trump and send them to the Senate during the trial.
From the moment Speaker Pelosi announced that she was holding off on sending the impeachment articles to the Senate people asked, "What has she got to gain?" My response was always, "What did AG Barr have to gain by delaying the Mueller report." As far as I can tell, she managed to shift the conversation to focus on evidence in the Senate trial, and lot's of additional evidence emerged as well. It may not change the final outcome, but it made it that much harder for McConnell to do a whitewash. History will remember.
91
@syfredrick
Thanks. I hadn't thought of this obvious point. Barr did manage to neuter that report with his delay.
4
@Brown And Barr didn't just delay it. He never released what Mueller gave him, that was prepared to release to the public, in redacted form to protect other ongoing investigations and sensitive intelligence information. Barr delayed by rewriting it. We never got Mueller's original report. Barr should be disbarred. He should go down with the rest for his involvement in this scandal.
1
This and more evidence won't change the result of the impeachment, but I think the accumulation of evidence plus POTUS ongoing reactions and actions will create the impeachment result into an island surrounded by toxic waste. Now, is this desirable? Well, it the voters for Mr. Trump speculated on potential outcomes before they voted, Merry Christmas!
5
Will the “jurors” in the Senate lead with the courage of their convictions? In the knowledge that the President will excoriate if they vote guilty. Odds on favorite are no, vested interests equates to self preservation of perks and privilege.
13
@Tabula Rasa :
There is a reason that JFK's "Profiles in Courage" is so thin.
Nancy has done what every battle commander would have done before the battle started.
Think from the standpoint of a general before entering into a battle. When impeachment resolution was passed, Democrats have declared the war on Donald and taken the battle position, and the Republicans knew the war is coming.
Since the battle is unavoidable, the initiative is with the Democrats because it won't start until the resolution is delivered to the Senate. By holding it back, Nancy was using the time to prepare her troops while the Republican waited and unsure of when the battle will start and make preparation for it.
That is the standard military strategy, learned over thousands of years and effective as always. The perfect example was the first Iraq war under old Bush in 1991. U.S. troops were posted at the Iraqi border for months and had confused the Iraqi army, before it launched the invasion to retake Kuwait.
Additional information on Ukraine came as a bonus, and Nancy would have not known what and when the information will come.
17
@paul good analogy and it seems the White House twiddled its thumbs while waiting instead of planning their own defensive positions. From Trump’s tweets yesterday, seems he had no idea he was impeached. He thought he was only impeached when the articles were sent over not when the House voted on the articles last December. Guess he thought McConnell could actually stop the whole thing. Oh well.....
17
This seems a perfectly obtuse interpretation of the events. That the investigation lumbers on long after the Impeachment Articles were voted upon actually highlights the rushed and inadequate nature of the initial process. The Senate's role is not to complete the investigation and tie up loose ends for the House but rather to conduct a trial upon fixed charges contained in the Articles. The rushed nature of things never had anything to do with the urgency to remove the President based on this Ukrainian misadventure, all pious utterances to the contrary aside. The shotgun approach was deemed expedient because of the quickly narrowing political calendar in an election year.
8
@Frunobulax
"The Senate's role is not to complete the investigation and tie up loose ends for the House but rather to conduct a trial upon fixed charges contained in the Articles."
That is exactly what Moscow Mitch said, although he did add words to the effect, "It is not our job to perfect the House's case", words which strongly suggest he knows that is exactly what a true trial would establish.
That three-mice position means that a trial is to be blind, to not ask a single question since any question could drift beyond the "fixed charges". Heaven forbid a search for the truth!
22
@Frunobulax
If Trump’s messing with an American election, it makes sense to confront the perp before the election. If the process is looking for the truth new evidence is relevant.
32
@Frunobulax Talk about "obtuse." Given your interpretation, prosecutors could only present to jurors the same evidence heard by a grand jury before it handed down an indictment, but none discovered afterwards before or during the trial. Of course, there's no such limitation in the U.S. judicial system, nor does anyone advocate one. The impeachment was the House deciding to indict; the Senate's job is to conduct a trial, which means weighing all available evidence, whether or not it was available to House investigative committees.
How about this little idea: Let's find out the truth, in spite of the White House's obstruction -- which is Article 2 of the impeachment. You and your ilk may consider the House's process rushed, but with Trump taking every issue to court -- despite the established precedent which requires providing witnesses and documents, with which both Nixon and Clinton complied -- would have dragged the case through the election while Trump and the Russians continued their attempts to co-opt the electoral process.
Justice delayed is justice denied, and Trump needs to be brought to justice regardless of the Republicans' obtuse cover-up.
48
Speaker Pelosi's delay will harm the Presidential aspirations of three Senators who will not be able to campaign in Iowa while sitting in Washington for the impeachment trial.
So this delay will benefit former Vice President Biden, which Speaker Pelosi had to know. If you are a Sanders or Warren or Klobuchar supporter you probably think this is dirty pool. If you are a Biden supporter you probably think this is permissible hardball politics.
A politician can have multiple reasons for doing something, and some of those reasons might be underhanded, but that doesn't make doing the thing wrong. Let us grant that Speaker Pelosi had multiple reasons for the delay. And let us grant that President Trump had multiple reasons for wanting Ukraine to investigate Mr. Biden and his son. The astonishing Hunter Biden payments certainly merit an investigation. Just because such an investigation might also benefit Mr. Trump personally did not make it wrong for Mr. Trump to ask for Ukraine to investigate the Bidens.
4
@Cenvalman Isn't Bernie the one who constantly says that senators should be able to walk and chew bubble at the same time? It seems to me that he does follow that philosophy as much as possible and I don't think that he has complained about having to pause the campaign.
Not *everything* is a conspiracy against your favorite candidate.
Besides, if after so many months of campaign you still don't know who you will vote for and you need to see your candidate visit your state again, I don't trust your decision-making skills.
5
@Fabio
I agree, and I'm no supporter of Biden.
The headline leads one to the question, "why not 28 more days?" I know that we can't ask that question ad infinitum, but it seems that to some degree, more evidence is better than less, so some degree of longer is better.
7
The delay by Speaker Pelosi has yielded a trove of additional evidence in support of the two articles of impeachment conveyed to the senate today. the delay has also provided additional time for Senators to reflect on whether to subpoena additional witnesses during the Senate trial, a move having the support of an overwhelming majority of American voters. The choice before senators is clear. Will Senators allow a presentation of all relevant evidence bearing on the question before them, allowing an examination of all the facts available, or will they abandon an impartial search for truth and attempt to sweep the matter under the rug for political expediency? The people are watching.
34
Dean Smith, former basketball coach at North Carolina, used to run the Four Corners Offense. Once he got a lead, he used that offense to take time off of the clock. That strategy deprived the other team of the ability to make a comeback.
Nancy Pelosi is using what I call the Four Quarters Offense. Only, in her case, this is a strategy to put time back on the clock. In her version, the House Impeachment is quarter #1; the Senate trial is quarter # 2, and the forthcoming election is quarter #3. Those three quarters are designed to remove Trump, setting in place quarter #4, which is a trial in court followed by prison time for both Trump and his accomplices.
That interregnum between the House and the Senate was a careful use of time; an attempt to bring attention to this broader strategy. Pelosi's approach allows for the continual disclosure of events, essentially allowing her team to score points with the clock stopped, not unlike hitting free throws in a basketball game.
The Republicans, as an authoritarian institution, are thinking in terms of today, believing that an acquittal now means victory. In a dictatorship, it is all about today; there is no tomorrow, which is why they do not want free and fair elections.
Pelosi believes in tomorrow. It is why we have elections. In Pelosi's world, in that tomorrow, those elections have consequences. It ultimately does come down to a battle for time.
124
@PB
This game has more potential "quarters" in that there are more investigations in process. The President's finances are still held under court review. There is the potential to have these circle back to the current articles before the Senate. We have heard nothing about the progress toward getting Trump's tax returns. Eventually, they will come forth, and if there is evidence of illegal loan activity, payoffs, or other corruption, the process of impeachment will repeat. If Trump is re-elected, and if the House remains in opposition, the next iteration is inevitable. In addition, with the latest revelations from Parnas, we remain in the dark about just where the money for all of this activity has come from. "Follow the money." I suspect and hope that the House leadership has planned these pathways.
17
@PB Thanks for this. I don't know if you are right, but your analysis is appealing. I like the idea of a prominent Democrat taking the long view (and I think she has plenty of pressure from the left not to do so). I have second guessed her plenty. She's almost always been right.
15
@Jeff I Completely agree with you on this. I watched the Rachel Maddow interview Wednesday and Thursday with Parnas. Some very interesting facts came to light. He confirmed everyone was in the loop and added a few new names. As Vance said in the commentary, it is as if he is showing investigators which doors to open. He also stated that Giuliani set up his legal team before he went on trial and was put in jail. He said that he trusted it because he had Trump's lawyer. They told him he had a three way case not to testify because of attorney client privilege. At some point, Dowd visited him in jail and gave him directives on what to say and to protect Trump. It was at this point, that he realized the were not going to protect him. He asked them to leave, fired them, and got a new attorney. Trump and his lawyers were going to bury him. This interview is all over the news. If the Senate does not call him as a witness, as he said he wants to testify in the Impeachment hearings, but couldn't until a certain point because of his court case, the House should call him. He is at the center of the second channel of foreign policy described by Yovanovich and Fiona Hill. The one Giuliani was running. It the truth comes to light, many high level actors will go down. If.
2
These points reveal the brilliance of Pelosi's strategy and completely undercut the dubious Republican talking point that Trump was concerned about fighting corruption (yeah, right), or his oft-stated claim of "hoax." The Impeachment managers will clearly use all this information before the Senate.
In light of this, what will Mitch & company do? They have to allow witnesses. If they're so confident that there is no impeachable offense, what are they afraid of?
48
@Steven Dunn
If Pelosi's strategy was so brilliant, why didn't she simply choose to let this inculpatory information come forth while she took the subpoena and document issues to court?
It now seems clear that time was not of the essence, so why was she so afraid of going to court?
7
@Dan Because going to court takes time, a lot of time and given Trump’s history, everything would’ve gone to the SCOTUS. Basically she took the game pieces away and the Senate is forced into doing one of 2 things: 1) hold a real trial or 2) refuse to hold a real trial. The first will reveal the entire corruption in the administration and 2 will put every Republican up for re-election at risk. Neither choice a good one.
47
@Dan
Because Nancy Pelosi knows that court decisions could be very delayed - perhaps even past the Nov. 2020 election. A good example: Democrats subpoenaed Don McGahn months ago. He is still fighting that subpoena, even after a judge ruled against him in Nov. , 2019.
36
Goodness gracious, this editorial proves that the rush to impeachment was a disaster and there was insufficient time to make out the best possible case for impeachment. That is required when the most explosive political device in our Constitution is invoked to remove a sitting President. All too often, Democrats are well intended but then rush into a solution without thinking things through. Another gem, by the NY state legislature, was to abolish cash bail for 90 percent of all crimes, putting all citizens at risk. Democrats remind me of immature college students engaged in student council politics. Our country needs much better than that and fewer Democrats for the time being.
5
@Alex If there was the slightest indication that the courts would have moved materials or evidence in advance of 2020 then the impeachment hearings would have considered that. But there wasn't. So, thank your Democrats that this must has become clear by now, intimate for you and me and everyone to be alerted to the fact that Trump tried to fix another election, before we got into the final stretch. You may have already assumed it, I was expecting it, but now we are clear that the goal was to take out the key opponent in November, doing whatever it took, and using slimy and even illegal tactics. And you say fewer Democrats? Because, why?
31
@E Campbell
Whether or not expedited court proceedings could have been held so as to allow a timely trial in the Senate is uncertain to me. Perhaps an expert witness in the Senate trial could clear this up.
Given this timing issue, and the timing of the Whistleblower's complaint, and any possible collusion between the Whistleblower and Rep. Schiff's Committee becomes more apparent. Perhaps a fair trial in the Senate would require that the Whistleblower, Schiff, and his staff become necessary witnesses?
I haven't even gotten around to the Bidens. Oh, that's right. You and Sen. Schumer only want those witnesses that could potentially support your positions. I assure you, trials don't work that way.
2
@Dan
Trump was impeached for extorting a foreign country to aid his reelection and for obstruction of justice. Biden was not involved as he was a civilian and not in government at the time. He has nothing to add to this discussion. To make this trial of Trump into a fishing expedition of Biden was not what the founders intended when they implemented impeachment of a President.
1
I'm hoping that, somehow, DJT will be held to account in the Senate trial--with new evidence from key witnesses allowed--but I have a question about the May letter from Rudy Giuliani to the Ukrainian president-elect: at a few points, the letter's word usage sounds too odd and careless to be the work of a high-priced American attorney or their administrative assistant. How can the letter be authenticated? In the rush to unearth new evidence, we need to remain wary of possible disinformation planted by the other side.
4
@John or Jonathan "but what about...?" It would be good to have that letter, but there would be enough evidence if it is allowed to convict Trump without it - assuming Republican senators grow a sense of vision and a spine.
6
@John or Jonathan The most obvious way to authenticate the letter is to ask Giuliani about it. Under oath. In the Senate trial.
2
I'm hoping that, somehow, DJT will be held to account in the Senate trial--with new evidence from key witnesses allowed--but I have a question about the May letter from Rudy Giuliani to the Ukrainian president-elect: at a few points, the letter's word usage sounds too odd and careless to be the work of a high-priced American attorney or their administrative assistant. How can the letter be authenticated? In the rush to unearth new evidence, we need to remain wary of possible disinformation planted by the other side.
1
@John or Jonathan Just because rudy is/was a high-priced attorney does not mean that he is smart. Ever heard him talk? He and trump might be the only ones who understand each other.
1
the points made by the editorial board are overshadowed by the manufactured rush for a quick vote on impeachment which ended up shelving the testimony of the most important witnesses.
The rush now seems disingenuous in light of Palosi’s failure to send the articles to the Senate. Unfortunately Palosi’s credibility (and that of the whole impeachment process) took a huge hit as a result.
Worse still, Pelosi is now dependent on the good will of Republican Senators to call the witnesses that were so cavalierly discarded but are now deemed vital.
8
@Nmb The testimony of the 'most important witnesses' was not shelved, but blocked by the current administration when they issued orders for everyone to defy subpoenas.
25
@Nmb
It's quite ironic that you say that the testimony of the most important witnessess were "shelved".
I didn't realize that the word "shelved" was a synonym for "forbidden by the President & his minions".
3
@Nmb
There are no "discarded" witnesses, only witnesses who Trump instructed to dishonor a subpoena.
The "most important" witness is Donald Trump.
What is keeping him from testifying?
2
One thing we already knew is that Trump is an autocrat and sees himself above the law. This new information further confirms that and I expect that whatever takes place in the Senate trial the result will be to confirm that the Republican Party supports autocracy. What remains puzzling is why so many Americans support autocracy or as they would put it a strongman. One thing we know from voter surveys is thatthe people supporting Trump are relatively poorly educated which fits the type of people who typically form the political base of demagogues. So it really shows that down deep the US is not different than other countries. The formula for keeping democracy going indefinitely was not actually discovered in the US as many believed. Therefore, the weaknesses of democracy that can be exploited by a demagogue do exist in our democracy as in probably all other democracies. And the internet has made such weaknesses much easier to exploit and has even allowed Russia to play a major role. The one hopeful sign for preserving democracy in the US is the blue wave in 2018. That may be a signal that although a demagogue was elected president and has full support of a major political party, democracy in the US may yet survive this assault from the right.
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@Bob
The “blue wave(s)” of the past is what got us Trump.
A return to power of the of the same ideas and values that got us here is neither the answer nor likely again-blue wave or not. We are headed into a new era hopefully without the
madness of Trump nor the same blindness that had been the norm prior.
1
@Bob Our country not only has to survive the assault from the right, the misinformation and the propaganda by Fox News and other right wing media outlets, it must survive foreign interference in our elections. It has been reported recently in the NYTimes that Russians hacked into Burisma with the same tactic used in the 2016 Russian interference into our elections. Trump has done nothing to stop that, and with a Senate controlled by Republicans who support Trump, the Democratic controlled House can't successfully get it passed, as it will sit on McConnell's desk. We are looking at potentially much worse interference in 2020, so while people have faith that the Americans can vote Trump out of office and that the voters can decide, we have the problem of the Electoral College, Russian interference as well as the Republicans who continue to engage in voter suppression.
1
Anyone notice in the Parnas interview with Maddow, that he is NOT choosing his words carefully, or conferring with his lawyer? In other words, he does not appear to be strategically fabricating his answers, or weighing every question from a legal posture. It will be interesting to see some corroboration.
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@Steve
I did find it strange that Parnas did not confer with his lawyer before answering Maddow’s questions. I thought it meant he had nothing to hide.
29
@Steve
Is it possible that his lawyer required agreement going in that any questions or answers his lawyer thought inadvisable to make public would be edited out of the material that was broadcast and designated off-the-record?
7
@Steve, Parnas is already corroborating things others have said as well as laying out a road map to new possible witnesses and avenues of investigation. Remember that the cover-up is almost always worse than what is being buried. Parnas has everything to gain by telling the truth. So does America.
14
So oaths were sworn to deliver impartial justice. Yet from the sworn oaths upon taking office of GOP Congressmen and Senators in 2016, and the sworn oaths of GOP witnesses during the Kavanaugh hearing, including the sworn oath of Kavanaugh himself, who among us doesn't assume that sworn oaths mean absolutely nothing to the GOP Senators who will be judge and jury during this impeachment. Absolutely NOTHING.
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@B.R.
Perhaps I was reading too much into it, but, Yes, as I watched the Senators sign the book with the Oath for impartial justice, Democrats focused on their serious moment, but some Republicans rushed it and glanced away, as would be expected if they were lying.
32
@B.R.
and we should accept the accusations of the four woman (all 'activists') regarding Kavanaugh....
Believe in something, even if you can't remember anything.
2
If the Senate GOP is in favor of a democratic system of government for the United States of America--a government of laws and not of men--then they have no choice but to vote for Trump's conviction. Trump corrupts every American institution of government he touches.
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@Ken Trump corrupts "everything" he touches.
6
@Ken
Do you think Trump can claim insanity as a defense against all the charges against him?
I mean, isn't it crazy to do what he has done-- trying to get a foreign government to fake an investigation against his rival.
Of course, even crazier is the Republican party following him over the cliff. This makes Nixon's impeachment look like a parlor game.
The current events explain a lot about why the best are not running for president. The best are Pelosi and Schumer... class acts, working for the good of our nation, holding us together. These are things that the puppet masters who control elections abhor, because they think it should be all about them; the American public are only there to be manipulated. It seems that anyone running today has to ditch the nobility and the honesty and take on a cartoon persona (and why some, like Harris, have bowed out), while all the Republicans just line up like toothpicks in the box. The noble and honest won't sully themselves with an election system that can't be changed.
8
Why did the House rush it’s investigation and fail to uncover these issues ? If Speaker Pelosi lacks the courage to confront McConnell , she should resign and allow AOC to lead House Democrats.
4
@Common Ground
Uh. Total White House refusal to comply with subpoenas and a litigation strategy to push discovery past the 2020 year election?
8
@Common Ground
Given the White House's efforts to thwart the inquiry via their complete stonewalling, withholding of documents, and refusal to honor subpoenas or allow witnesses to testify, the House had no hope of "uncovering" more evidence or summoning other witnesses, nor any choice but to proceed with the evidence and witnesses they did have access to. As the White House was completely aware, uncovering the evidence you refer to would have involved months if not years of legal proceeding. That's why.
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Moreover, Congressman Schiff emphasized that action is needed now, not later, because the president needs to be stopped right now.
4
I don't expect to learn much from the Senate trial since Mitch McConnell and his Republican soldiers are strictly sycophantic to their Dear Leader Donald and appear uninterested in....but I do expect the courts and the press and patriotic leakers to continue to reveal the ugly truth to America about their lawless President.
With time, more Trumpian lawlessness and the full extent of the Giuliani Deep State will become public.
And there's nothing that prevents the House from impeaching the President again when more damaging facts surface.
But for the moment, we're stuck with the Party First: Country Last Republicans drowning impartial justice, the United States Constitution and due process in the Senate Bathtub.
Nice GOPeople.
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@Socrates
More damaging facts have already surfaced.
The House can file additional charges at any time.
About half way through the Senate trial would be perfect.
20
Nancy Pelosi, you ROCK!
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@Babs
You can say that again. OK, I will.
Nancy Pelosi, you double ROCK.
4
If the NYT learned so much in 28 days, imagine how much you would learn if the Dems waited until November!
1
Pelosi is a ninja.
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@Mexico Mike Pelosi is a warrior who battles in the open. She is smart, a true patriot and defender of the Constitution.
11
The question to ask McConnell and GOP Senators is not whether they will call for witnesses, documents and new evidence but whether they are interested in finding the truth and see it as their job as jurors to search for it during the impeachment trial. Which brings us to the real problem: the lack of political education amongst the electorate. It is remarkable that some 40% of American voters are unprepared to defend America against a President and Republicans in Congress who are bringing the country and its institutions crashing down with impunity. In the end, it is up to the people. If American voters cannot see the GOP tactics in the Senate for what they are, a reckless and shameless cover-up for Trump, and if they know and care so little about the rule of law as to let the Constitution be shredded in plain view, they deserve to lose their democracy and end up on the garbage heap of history.
71
The republican arguement that DJT was acting as an corruption fighter is beyond laughable. They have ignored the facts thus far; theres no reason to believe that more facts will change that. However the slope gets more slippery in a Senate trial. Trump won't be removed but the travesty of justice will be in significantly greater focus for all to see.
37
Given Trump's sloppiness with insecure communication devices, I suspect the next shoe to drop will be his unmistakable voice burying himself.
36
@James Ricciardi "Mr. President, this is a recording of you saying that. It's you."
Trump - "He's lying. I never met the man."
7
The republican arguement that DJT was acting as an corruption fighter is beyond laughable. They have ignored the facts thus far; theres no reason to believe that more facts will change that. However the slope gets more slippery in a Senate trial. Trump won't be removed but the travesty of justice will be in significantly greater focus for all to see.
8
We’ve known about Trump’s pathological lying for years, and certainly he has ramped up his prevarications since taking the oath of office. But it is his continuing, pervasive, and corrupt coverups that truly show his utter disregard for the Constitution and our system of laws. Ditto for most of the GOP.
88
“From the beginning, it’s been unclear what the goal of this hurry-up-and-wait tactic was or what the country stood to gain,” said Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa.
Umm, did Mr. Grassley not notice Trump’s own flip flopping about the impeachment schedule?
13
@NM
Don't confuse Chuck with the facts. He's already half gone.
3
Can Trump be subpoenaed? It's a striptease of information and all roads point to Trump. He is the linchpin-he never trusted anyone except himself to see all the pieces. Subpoena Trump.
32
None of this matters. Republicans will not convict for one reason, and one reason alone. Remaining in power equals access to money.
22
@Kevin
I don’t know about that.
With these new revelations, McConnell has been forced in a position where he HAS to call some witnesses to give the appearance of a fair trial, or risk incurring the wrath of his State’s Voters.
12
@LD The wrath of Kentucky voters? You must be joking.
1
@Kevin
EXACTLY!!!!
And there's a roaring, steady stream of Koch/Adelson/Mercer money that props up these nitwits. And they all know if they step out of line, they will lose that financial support that got them where they are today, and it will go directly to a primary challenger who will run against them. This is how right-wing politics is run these days.
What a day (April 16, 2020).
Trump administration issues new religious freedom, to pray in schools.
Against what backdrop?
Two weeks ago (?) Speaker Pelosi saying "I don't hate anyone. I'm a Catholic Christian; I pray for Pres. Trump."
And new disclosures about who knew what, when on Ukraine, etc. Pres. Trump, VP Pence, etc.
And the order of succession if both Trump and Pence were impeached for lying?
A Christian, Speaker of the House, for whose religious freedom Pres. Trump advocated today?
7
@Tom
It would be a huge Victory if Pelosi ends up becoming President for the remainder of Trump’s term.
Let it be so!
29
@LD
From your lips to God's ears . . .
@Tom In our Democracy that we are trying to protect from dissolving, every American has a right to worship freely. Pelosi has a right to state she is Catholic, just as you have a right to state you are not. Senator Mitt Romney is Morman. What Trump did is the opposite of protecting religious freedoms, it actually blurred the important line which separates church and state. It did not protect the freedom to worship, rather it endangered that freedom. It can mean that a teacher can force children to say a specific prayer, that may not be your religion, by the dominant religion in that area. This was all for his Evangelical Right wing, who believes Trump was sent down from Jesus. They have got his back. It was a gift to that voting block, just as he rallies the White Supremist Wing of our country and whips up hatred and anti-semitism.
1
Don’t know if it is brilliance or luck with Nancy, but I don’t care. Any way you cut it, she continues to mop the floor with Mitch and Donald.
176
@Huge Grizzly It's likely incredibly great instincts!
3
This impeachment is such a farce. It will only ensure Trump's re-election.
5
@KR trump was not elected. he was reluctantly appointed by the electoral college.
1
@KR
that was a clever one !
And, despite Trump’s spin, the impeachment is about him and his abuse of power, not the Biden family.
61
It is up to the American public to let their Senators know that their vote will not be forgotten.
Every.Single. Senator. needs to know that their vote is about the office and powers of the Presidency—not just this one man-child.
29
@Babs Almost every single Democrat in the House voted to Impeach. For the lone Democrats who live in Red states, a phone call to McConnell, Lindsey Graham won't make a difference. They have made up their minds. What if Senator McSally of Arizona is your Senator.
From Wash Post: On Thursday, McSally fielded another process question about impeachment. “Should the Senate consider new evidence as part of the impeachment trial?” CNN reporter Manu Raju asked. She replied, “Manu, you’re a liberal hack. I’m not talking to you.” Sean Hannity on Fox tweeted in support of her, and Fox ate it up and made her center stage. There are two realities out there. These Senators have their minds made up.
Thank you for this. I’m so tired of seeing headlines from opinions columnists about how this delay was a mistake. If you’re looking for mistakes, focus on the White House. Madam Speaker knows what she is doing and I trust her experience.
151
@Kat M
Pelosi is Amazing!
1
Déjà vu....for those of us around in late '73.
13
@A. F. G. Maclagan Except Nixon was concerned about his legacy and was truly a smart man. Unlike Cpt. Bonespurs, who sees no reason to resign.
3
@A. F. G. Maclagan Except Trump will never 'get on the helicopter' and just go away. The GOP is getting their Faustian bargain.
3
I seriously doubt someone with Speaker Pelosi's skill and experience ever expected to get any concessions from someone like Moscow Mitch, who is also skilled and experienced.
But in addition to this fresh, damning information (like we needed any more; but I guess a sizable portion of the public only pays attention to what they heard yesterday as the Mueller report experience proved) she also allowed time for the GOP Senators to stew with the situation, confer with each other, and hear from constituents, thus softening the party's stranglehold on a singular, hardline message.
26
@J Darby
Yes, and allowed time to draw public attention to the fact that McConnell was refusing to call witnesses
3
Proceed carefully with the likes of Lev Parnas and Robert Hyde. Relying solely on the former proprietor of "Fraud Guarantee" as a witness in the impeachment trial would be reckless and a gift to Trump and Giuliani. That said, if Parnas is corroborating testimony taken during the impeachment investigation, it would be much better to on the original witnesses like Fiona Hill, Marie Yovanovitch, and others.
4
@Mark
yeah, the only value of these grifters is in the documents they can produce or links to new witlesses. their testimony itself would likely lack credibility.
1
It is ironic that Trump complained during the 2016 election that the system is rigged but found himself the beneficiary of an Electoral College victory while losing by 3 million votes on the popular side of things. Russian interference and Comey's ill-timed announcements contributed to the rigging, but now we are seeing that he is above and beyond the law and the Constitution thanks to Republicans in the Senate who will absolve him. As Pelosi rightly observed, his time in office is now stained and regardless of what "all the President's henchmen" and women might do, history will judge him severely as he deserves. Ultimately, it is up to the American public to consider the clear evidence of wrongdoing and vote him out of office when he runs again in November. The court of public opinion must render a verdict of guilty as charged if the Senate does not have the courage and the ethics to do its job. We must repeat his favorite line from the Apprentice, "You're fired!"
86
@Please fire this president
...and further, vote out every Senator that went along with this huge miscarriage of justice.
8
@Michael Roberts I miss John McCain. I didn't agree with all of his policy positions, but he had the courage to stand up for his principles.
1
If the vote to remove Trump from office were secret I think there is a reasonably good chance now that he would be removed, but when the first Republican is asked for his vote he will vote not to remove. He will understand that he is breaking his oath to uphold the Constitution, but his desire to remain in office will dominate his decision.
94
@Richard Phelps
I agree, but I don’t really get it.
Who would sacrifice their honor, dignity and reason to hold a senate seat serving the worst president in the history of our Republic? It makes no sense.
At present, I believe a majority of American voters would go far out of their way to avoid having anything to do with D. J. Trump.
Who would sell out their country to continue being bullied by a national embarrassment?
9
@Tom W A majority of American voters did vote to avoid having anything to do with trump. The outdated electoral college system is what absolutely needs to be thrown out along with trump.
7
@Tom W I agree and hope you are correct. We will find out once the returns come in from this year's election.
The election of Trump may actually end up being a good thing for our country by making voters aware of the fact that Republicans do not take their oath of office seriously and therefore voting them out of office.
I was aware that Republicans seemed to be drifting away from adherence to their oath to uphold the Constitution (eg when McConnell refuse to accept Obama's Supreme Court nominee), but did not realize that this included virtually every single one of them.
1
The problem isn't the nature of the quality of the evidence . You can shine a light all you want. The problem is that the Republican Party isn't interested in looking at it.
Find a way to get them interested and you'll get the necessary Senators to vote to impeach.
39
@JRD and how?
@Vanessa Hall
Since you asked may I make an observation?....Americans love America but they don't seem to like each other.
This is not how most of the rest of the world works.
1
Allowed, or accommodated? Evidence, or accusation? The Senate will try the House case, which concluded last year. What America learned, indeed.
2
@Matt Andersson It is Impeachment case. America already knew he is evil and corrupt.
Speaker Pelosi has once again shown how shrewd she is, though it is doubtful that Republicans like Lindsey Graham, Ron Johnson, and especially Mitch McConnell will honor their oaths sworn this very day before the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to deliver "impartial justice," despite the mounting evidence of Trump's culpability, anymore than they've honored their oath to defend the Constitution. In a normal trial situation they would be excluded, but they have announced long ago that they're more interested in defending Donald Trump than the "rule of law." It a sad, and potentially tragic, day for our Republic that the now misnamed Republicans are more concerned with party, power, and fear than they are with democracy as they cast the most fateful and important votes in our history that very well may end the era of Constitutional governance and begin the dark reign of the autocratic lawless rule of Trump.
151
The strength of a nation rests in its institutions. To make America first you have to RESPECT THE LAW.
101
@JCost
America FIRST Respects THE LAW
1
I’ve decided that Republican members of Congress have made up their minds. By continuing to back this so called “president”, they have made a conscious decision to betray the oaths of office they took, as well as to be impartial jurors in the looming impeachment trial, and by extension have betrayed their country.
The lot of them will do anything to hold their jobs. How easy it is to be a Republican member of Congress. All they have to do is show up for work, and do whatever their leaders tell them to do. There’s no spine or brain required.
329
@Wayne Being a Congressman/woman or Senator requires a great deal unless you are in lock step with the Republican Party as you say, and do nothing. You simply don't pass anything the Democratic House sends to the Senate, or ignore and try to simply defeat anything a Democrat tries to accomplish. The Democrats passed over 400 bills in the House that languish in the Senate on the desk of Mitch McConnell. That is a lot of work. And that work is the work they were elected to do for the American people. We pay their salaries with our tax dollars. Trump is robbing this country blind. Using our tax dollars in a fraudulent way. He is lawless, and uses the courts to delay. We still don't have his tax returns.
6
The whole country knows Trump used his office in a criminal way to help in his reelection, but what matters now is, what we'll do about it.
You can pile on the incriminating evidence over the next four weeks, months, or years, but what will we do with it? Ignore the facts, like so many have, claim it's all fake news, or the only truth is what Hannity and Fox News have to say.
It's rather sad to think, just a handful of moderate Republican Senators may hold the the levers to tip the nation back towards a Democracy, or the other direction, the abyss.
I have little hope now though that justice will be served.
343
@cherrylog754-Hopefully principled Republicans realize this may be their last chance to return the country to safe footing. Trump has put the country at risk and more and more voters see this: parents concerned Trump's actions against Iran jeopardize sons registered for the Selective Service who can be called up; a looming recession already in evidence after 5 months of lower manufacturing output and reduced investment, $1 trillion added to deficit (now up by 17%) each year Trump's been in office; rolling back the ACA--denying more vulnerable Americans affordable healthcare including those with pre-existing conditions; lower revenues to run the government due to corporations taking tax holidays following the Trump-Republican tax overhaul; the farm bailout with 1/3 of the tax monies going to foreigners; climate change denial and continued gutting of the EPA and environmental protection regulations; pardoning of war criminals and others; hollowing out of the U.S. diplomatic core, civil servant experts; denial of foreign influence in U.S. elections; stepped up cybersecurity threats with no plan to combat them; continued shredding of America's stature abroad and abuse of human rights, etc.
27
@cherrylog754
ECT. a horrible role model for boys, an exploiter of girls and women, a fraudulent businessman-- the scam of Trump University, using a charity he founded to instead use the money as his personal piggy bank.
He and the Republican Party have chocked the life blood out of our republic and lead us to the inevitable question how do we rebuild our country when one political party is rotten to the core? Can we even do it?
8
@cherrylog754: I share your pessimism because I've seen absolutely no evidence to the contrary. What seems obvious and real to us, is the polar opposite to Republicans.
We have lost the measures of objective truth. A country cannot survive with two versions of reality. There is only one, because the other is a piece of propaganda used to grab and maintain power. If you can convince enough of the people that up is down, well, you can operate as if up is down.
I'm getting the sense that what I feel now is how any oppressed people feel, where it was Europe in the late 30s or Russia today. Jean Paul Sartre wrote a play that has more relevance now, here, than ever before:
No Exit," which shows how 3 characters in hell are forced to live with the choices they made based on certain facts--false assumptions-- and thus become their own torturers into eternity.
8
Having learned these things is there a mechanism to file additional charges?
48
@Bronx Jon
The House can file additional charges at any time.
About half way through the Senate trial would be perfect.
7
One of our Founders, John Adams, wisely observed, "Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence."
It is an admonition Republican Senators should keep in mind when they place in the coming weeks their legacies in the hands of a person with such contempt for the truth and such willingness to actively conceal it.
If there are more smoking guns and crimes that are being hidden, you will be constructively charged with the knowledge of their existence when you actively enabled the President to conceal them.
198
@Didier
Unfortunately, alternate facts are also stubborn things.
17
@Didier-If Republicans fail to call witnesses who have thus far been shielded by Trump from testifying, fail to demand all of the documents, and if they forego their duty to carefully scrutinize the evidence as would be required by any jury in a court of law. And if they give Trump a pass, they gravely reduce their power, authority, and status as a co-equal branch of government. Not to say shred honor, credibility, and dignity. With so much at stake, will Senate Republicans sacrifice it all for Donald Trump?
14
@Didier
Our government now exists in a parallel universe.
A severely warped parallel universe.
5
Worth noting: none of the revelations helped Trump's nonsensical defense. None was remotely exculpatory. None was neutral.
It will only get worse. And - to date - the GOP looks intent on being on the wrong side of history.
298
@Joe
Agreed.
And if Bolton does testify I believe his testimony will be underwhelming.
As to the rest of them? A pox on all their houses.
43
Bolton’s testimony would probably be quite colorful. After all, he has a book to sell.
20