Do NOT buy Bolton’s book. He could have been a patriot but chose to be a partisan for profit. Moreover, all the good bits will be in the Times, and beyond that the contents of the book will be self justification.
2
Republicans allow Democracy to die in broad daylight.
My heart hurts.
11
I have always wondered why Gordon Sondland told us about his call to Trump where he blurted out “no quid pro quo” before he could even tell Trump why he was calling. Was he telling the Democrats the fix was in and the deep state was someone always tipping Trump off. John Bolton is our “deep throat” and he knows more than this about the Ukraine business and why Trump was on a national stage beaming with Putin.
6
Even if it's true...so what? It is not illegal. It is one of hundreds of pressure tactics that the USA has deployed against others, for over 200 years. Grow up America.
5
Yesterday’s big winner? John Bolton who received the very best pre-publication publicity tour for his book than even the best PR person would envision. The obvious loser, the American people.
3
There is no need for more gasoline. This fire is already burning mightily hot and high.
3
Dissolve the Senate. This has been a case of shocking political corruption by the former president, current monarch, and the US Senate is now part of the coverup. Fire these traitors. We have wanted a way to fix our electoral college and republicans want a small government- everybody wins!
At least the house is representative of our population, and the senate republicans have been corrupted by this monarch. We are a country of subjects now - lets get ready to rumble with our newfound king. We should all read up on the french revolution for tips! We are the Third Estate!
4
Donald Trump famously said he thinks he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and still get elected. Now it seems he and most Republicans feel he can put a bullet through the Constitution and still get elected.
13
It is amazing what people will say to make money. Bolton’s is a disgruntled bureaucrat. This impeachment process has taught me one thing, bureaucrats are like toddlers.
1
The Republican Party, from the White House to Congress to Fox News, is a vulgar parade of villains. They are doing real and lasting damage to democracy. They will be the first to complain when the shoe is on the other foot. Short-termism at its worst. History will rightly excoriate them.
5
For those who need hope tonight:
“I have found that it is the small everyday deed of ordinary folks that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love." ~ Gandalf from J. R. R. Tolkien’s, The Hobbit
3
We The People should use Social Media to DECLARE a MISTRIAL -- a Do-Over! If you are on Facebook, help start the process and peacefully force the Senate to FREEZE ALL FURTHER BUSINESS until they are willing to listen to 75% of us!
1
Adam Schiff please subpoena Ambassador Bolton. Let him speak under oath. The book trump will cut off at the knees.
3
When trump lawyers talk about the poison tree they are talking about themselves. Devin Nunes poisoned the House hearings. He was directly involved with Parnas and Ukraine, even Fiona hill testified that former Nunes aide kash Patel was involved in Ukraine matters, a go between.
At the senate hearings the other poison was Cipollone himself. He was directly involved with Ukraine dirt seeking mission from the get go. Along with Rudy Giuliani and Mick Mulvaney.
We now find out that Lindsay graham was also aware since 2018 on a Biden dirt seeking mission in Ukraine and he was horribly jealous that his friend Bidens son got so rich so fast. Completely ignoring the fact that Ivanka and her brothers are royally milking their father’s stature, and promoting Trump businesses, worldwide. Right before our eyes. But Republicans are telling us: bribery is ok extortion is ok seeking foreign interference in elections is ok and no president will ever be removed from office.
5
If two more Senate seats belonged to Democrats, we’d be preparing to hear from witnesses.
6
I keep wondering where we would be if John McCain were still alive.
8
Bolton has actually wrote a novel. So take what it says with a pinch of salt.
1
Mr. Bolton should testify in front of the House on Monday. Or do Meet the Press or something like it, immediately, before the Republicans acquit Trump. His testimony will then be part of the permanent record and history can judge these cowards we call Senators. And their obituaries will rightly read how they capitulated to a craven autocrat.
3
It is high time for the American voters to relegate the Republican Party to the dustbin of history, right next to the Whigs.
Volunteer. Donate. And VOTE!
11
Seriously, when you investigate and run a story like this and Trump then issues a tweet or statement denying it, you owe your readers an asterisk * with the phrase “President Trump has told more than 15000 lies during his time as President”. We are long past the days of “t’is so, t’aint” being a fair equivalency. We likely have 5 more years of this activity and lies to endure.
2
Not buying Bolton’s book unless he comes forward NOW with whatever relevant info he has. The Senate won’t listen, but there’s still the New York Times, Washington Post, 60 Minutes, even Fox News. It’s a matter of duty to country.
3
Bolton didn't use his leverage correctly. He should have done what Lev Parnas did and given an interview. Now he is at the mercy of an even more corrupt administration.
3
The wrongness in this current alt-reality episodic tv drama is epic for the ages.
We have a Mob Boss w/an extended profit-taking family that strong-arms our Senate against our will and maybe has the Supreme Court in a vice too. Hilter and Nixon come to mind, but they now seem tame. I thought we knew better by now.
This trial is "absolute power corrupts" loudly and widely broadcast in real-time on every network. It's easy now to gaslight the entire USA populace by nefarious means from external and internal bad players. We are complicit in our own demise. We are thoroughly corrupt now and the world will pity and shun us.
Mitch and Donald were at the epicenter of our shame.
4
It is now up to the people.
VOTE.
3
No one is surprised that Trump actually lied about all of this, he rarely tells the truth about anything.
The Republican sycophants think this will just blow over and be forgotten. How wrong they are. They have incited a riot among the people who usually don't pay attention to elections unless there is something really important to consider.
Remaining a free republic by eliminating a cheap tyrant will be important enough!
2
Boycott Bolton's book and any other books by any GOP members. If they were true patriots they would have testified before the House not wait to tell their stories for personal gain.
The GOP Senators and those who refused to testify before the House are covering up crimes. They are now as guilty as the stable genius (SG). They are trying to save their jobs. They are afraid of the SG and the party base. What wimps!
They are emboldening the SG. Who knows what he will do once this sham trial is over to jeopardize our country? They need to be held responsible for past and future crimes of the SG.
I hope that the independent and GOP voters who are disgusted with this travesty of justice join the Dems and vote them all out in November.
2
Remember January 31 , 2020. Today is the day that American Democracy DIED in the Senate. Forget all your garbage about “we’ve had enough of the country being divided”, the country has been as divided as it has ever been since the day that Donald Trump betrayed his oath of office . And until Trump is removed from office, this country will remain divided, defiled and debased .
3
In American history books, before the Watergate scandal, Teapot Dome was regarded as the "greatest and most sensational scandal in the history of American politics." Now the Ukraine scandal outdoes both of them. Soon American history books will have to have a whole chapter on "Famous American Scandals."
3
Nobody cares about inside baseball of what Trump said to Bolton during a meeting. The American public could care less about the said - she said. They have their focus on making ends meet, Coronavirus, Super Bowl, the weather, Kobe helicopter crash and similar. It's over due to the slop that took place in the House. The public disgust index for Pelosi and Schiff is hitting 9 out of a possible 10. Stupid, as expected, stunt by Warren to shame Roberts publicly with that fairness question. It backfired. I expect the fireworks show coming with Barr and Durham in the next few months should be entertaining. Has anyone seen or heard from Comey, McCabe, Brennan and the rest of that gang lately ? Nah because they are lawyering-up as we speak.
2
"Top aides" were present, along with WH counsel Pat Cipollone! He lied and obfuscated his role as a fact witness while defending his coconspirator client! He should be disbarred immediately. What a sham within a sham.
4
Now that President Trump has been effectively exonerated: Suppose he goes on to say, during his upcoming, State of the Union Address next Tuesday, something to the effect, "that, I am the Fatherland!" [my caption] Then what?
--
My advise is this:
1. First, (re-)read, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.
2. Then, prepare as best you can for the Trump Takeover of our Government, our Country, and possibly the World.
It’s simple. The cowards are afraid of Mr Trump’s mob methods.
And, Trump is very vile, mean spirited and nasty.
Is this who we want our children to look up to?
1
Drug deal. Smug deal. It comes down to this: Just as we saw McConnell shelve an Obama nominee for the Supreme Court with the assertion that the voters would decide in a year on who should be on the court, McConnell's Senate also takes the position that rather than hear testimony in a Constitutionally mandated trial, it is better to wait and wink at whatever their poster-boy president does in his demonstrated whimsical way of governing. On weighty questions it is better to wait when it serves party and power positions, seemingly also putting brash power plays in the face of the American public with an attitude of damning the public interest.
Mr. Bolton shows his own lack of spine in advising others to go to the lawyers, while he went to his book publisher with plans for a big seller about government corruption planning in the cellar of the White House.
Recognizing inevitability, Senator Alexander at least had the courage to say what was wrong, and suited up to punt the question to the voters. The questions of power over safety in mines, safety in manufacturing and industry generally (whether Exxon in Valdez, BP in the Gulf, Boeing in Seattle plants, Facebook in data falsification) is left to those who profit rather than to those who endure results.
That is what this year will be about, as Trump cash registers ring up with public funds, and people register to vote.
I do not understand why Bolton just does not issue a statement as to the passage in the book.
1
In Monty Python’s “Dead Parrot” sketch hapless pet owner John Cleese cannot convince pet shop owner Michael Palin that the parrot he’s bought from him is dead.
No matter what Cleese says or does, including slamming the lifeless parrot repeatedly on the counter, Palin remains affably unconvinced. “No no,” Palin assures Cleese, “he’s resting.” “He’s stunned.”
The Democrats have a dead parrot on their hands. Meanwhile, the Republicans’ straight faced reply is “No no. He’s resting.”
2
Wait a minute! Another fired Trump staffer selling a book? I'm sure Bolton's book will have about as much impact as Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth's book - can't wait for Stormy Daniels to write a book too!
2
WHAT THE PRESIDENT Believe, and when he believed it speaks solely to the state of mind and motivation. The Congress passed a law forbidding the impoundment of funds that it had designated for specific purposes. Indeed, funds that Trump transferred from other legislatively designated funds were overruled in court. Trump's first duty, according to the oath of office he utterly ignores, is to take care that the laws are faithfully executed. Trump is legally forbidden to place his personal gain above the law. He must first uphold his oath of office and the Constitution. It is then his duty to designate who should properly investigate the actions of anybody for any reason. Not to sully the dignity of the Office of President of We The People, by acting solely for his own personal benefit. The fulfillment of all legal requirements come before Trump's personal wishes, infantile demands and ignorant actions. Trump is a clear and present danger to the functioning of the US government. He constantly acts in ways that are contrary to the requirement that he take care that the laws are faithfully executed and his duty to preserve, protect and defend Constitution. Trump defiles the oath of office, shreds the Constitution and pulverizes the legal foundation of the US. It is not for him to monopolize the right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, while depriving the rest of the nation of those same rights. His way is the way of dictators and Fascists. TRUMP IS EVIL!!!
The MO is identical to what Justice Kavanaugh had to endure: drip, drip, of leaks. The House had their shot at getting Bolton or anyone else they wanted to testify and they passed. It was a rush job and then all of a sudden Pelosi sits on the the articles for 33 days. What's with that? Knowing full well that a Republican controlled Senate in all likelihood not call for witnesses, which the House called on 13 of them, their ploy now is believing the American people are stupid enough to blame the Senate for not doing the job that was the House's responsibility. See all you do nothing Democrats this coming November.
2
It has become apparent that Trump is in on everything that is being done with his staff and advisors, and such. What he doesnt know is another matter altogether, and has mostly to do with broader knowledge about most everything he can disrupt and destroy.
But when it comes to scheming and scamming - he's in the middle of the scrum. Because he's the instigator of them. He's the quarterback calling the plays. (nod to Super Bowl) He might not be the play coordinator, he jobs that out to guys like Rudy the water carrier.
Trump has always been in the know. That he has managed to appear not so, for most of his career, even when its clearly him reneging on a contract, not paying off contractors, etc - he's managed to not get his pants dirty. But he always knows what his minions are up to. He knew what Cohen was doing, He knows what Rudy IS doing. He knows who was in the rooms, and what they know about what he has said.
While he also knows how to further implicate the others in the room. Putting Cipollone on his defense team knowing he was in those Ukraine scheming rooms..only further forces the now shady lawyer, to want to dig in and protect his boss and himself. But should the lawyers problems look volatile, gone! Pushed off the boat!
Trump aint no intellectual, but he's crafty, and a seasoned scammer. He knows how to kill what he touches. (nod to the Rick Wilson book)
In front of his advisors! That apparently included Cipollone, the WH legal counsel! So that makes Cipollone a consummate liar on the floor of the supposedly august Senate, in front of the CJ / SCOTUS! What punishment does he deserve down the road? Jail? Disbarment and loss of licence to practice? Of course, to close this incredibly vicious circle of abject criminality, the guy he saved from the “noose” could also pardon him - in advance!
How low have we reached, with these Republicans in control of the Senate?
Solution?
Vote this November!
Since Bolton is playing us all, let's not buy his book. Everyone cancel your pre-orders and put each chapter online for folks to read for free.
Let his story get out, but let's not reward him if he refuses to do an interview, or appear before the House to testify before Wednesday
1
Stay strong my friends to the south. This might turn out to be good news. Despite some Trump and Republican encouraged Russian shenanigans this summer and fall The Great White North predicts the Republicans lose the White House and the Senate in November. A 60 seat Super Majority for the DEMS is also in play. Then again, I had the Pats winning the Super Bowl again this year. Maybe it will be a bad year for both Tom, Bill and their good buddy Donald. Good luck my American friends!
21
The House managers and Senator Schumer should make a motion to Chief Justice Roberts, the presiding judge, that he declare a mistrial—
Because of increasing evidence that religious zealot Pat Cipollone is indeed a material witness in the matter at hand, as well as being on Trump’s defense team during the trial.
32
Don’t hold your breath....vote for Bernie and we will let the Senate bring an independent investigation.
As a lawyer with 41 yrs of experience, there is a clear violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in my opinion.
The Justice Department should by law initiate its own investigation.
9
American voters are leaving the Republican Party in droves.
The G.O.P. is headed for the dustbin of history, like the Whigs.
15
Too many of the so called "jury" we're involved in the crime. Scared and unpatriotic. It will all come out.
16
How anyone, including Bolton, imagined that the party which refused to consider a Supreme Court appointment and consistently relies on suppressing voter rights to get elected would do the right thing in this case is beyond me.
At this point, if the GOP nominates an angel of heaven instead of Trump, they should still be voted out of office and chased out of town. They, not Trump, are the real threat to democracy. Trump is merely their puppet.
17
What just happened? The ruling class subverted the will of the majority, of the people.
This historic moment exposes our Constitution's inability to withstand concerted corruption. When two branches of government controlled by a political party collude to suspend democracy, then even our Constitution is powerless.
We are powerless!
14
Dear Republicans,
Do you really want America to be ruled by a king? Because that is what it looks like.
Any sane American who does not want to live in a dictatorship must vote against Mr. Trump, and every Senator and House Representative who supported his autocracy, on November 3, 2020.
This is not about conservative versus liberal issues, or particular political positions or policy. Rather, this is about protecting the Constitution, the Rule of Law, and the American Experiment itself.
21
So Cipollone was in on the meeting with Trump, Mulvaney and Bolton? Which makes him a fact witness? Without disclosing that role to the court/Senate? Isn't that an ethics violation that could lead to disbarment?
26
What a disappointing day to be an American, and we haven't even got to votes on the impeachment articles. It's as if the Senate is saying criminality is okay, as long as it's in my political interest. Nevermind, there's a John Bolton jumping up and down in the wings raising his hand to call foul on the whole charade. But this is where the country is. Short of some major profiles in courage stepping up before the next Wednesday vote on the articles, the political status quo seems likely to remain that America is pretty much for sale, as long as it keeps the right people in power and the dominant culture dominant. My gut instinct tell me Trump and his followers are the verge of a Pyrrhic Victory that may consume them and the established Republican Party.
11
It's pretty pathetic that our political figures refuse to report to Congress when subpoenaed, citing 'executive privilege' but are more than happy to divulge that same information in a tell - all book when they can make a buck out of it.
8
The Republican Party just sealed its fate. The G.O.P. is going the way of the Whigs, into the dustbin of history.
This is not your father's Republican Party. Rather, this is the Banana Republican Party.
And registered Republicans are leaving in droves. Because their party left them.
9
- The Trump Republican Party is the party of national suicide. It represents the end of the Constitution, the Rule of Law, and the American Experiment itself. "Deconstruction of the administrative state." The Trump Republicans are an unholy alliance between anarchists, nihilists, and fascists.
- The Democratic Party is the only alternative. We respect the Constitution, the Rule of Law, and elections. We also respect honest and thoughtful conservatives, even if we disagree with them on policy matters.
Vote accordingly.
6
Trump's authoritarianism has been emboldened today.
Trump will now think he can act like the authoritarian Republicans have told him he can be. Will he have Bolton imprisoned if the book comes out and trump doesn't like what it says ? Will trump have the official documents of the impeachment trial doctored to say is was all a lie and an attempted coup (as he likes to say) ?
I hope Bolton is able to tell his story. Many former trump insiders have told of trump's insecurity and incompetence. Bolton just puts another nail in the coffin.
8
This Tuesday, in the most corrupt city in America, the State of the union (lower case intentional) speech will occur.
On Tuesday I ask all American patriots to publicly display the flag in inverted position. That represents the true State of the union.
Sincerely,
Tom Taylor
Viet Nam era vet
13
Trump has done the country a favor; both parties in congress should immediately start a bi-partisan investigation into the flaws of our elected gov't.
This is an opportunity to prevent a corrupt, unethical, populist politician from gaining the presidency and manipulating power for his own benefit.
3
If Bolton is telling the truth, Pat Cipollone is a co-conspirator.
If Bolton is telling the truth, attorney-client privilege is gone for the meeting he describes.
If Bolton is telling the truth, Pat Cipollone knowingly and willfully lied in public to the Senate. His law license should be in jeopardy before every bar where he is admitted, at a minimum for lying to a tribunal and for bringing disrepute on the legal profession.
The Republican Senators will be remembered as the most knowingly and willfully corrupt group of Senators in history.
We need to defeat Donald Trump and as many of his Republican enablers as we can on November 3, 2020.
16
Read an interesting take from Anthony Scaramucci on. HuffPo on Trump Employment Syndrome. I submit that there will be a Trump Voter Syndrome which I hope combines with Democrat/Independent/ normal humans to expel the fraudster in Chief in about 10 months.
3
The Republicans had a chance to prove they cared about more than money and corporate interests. Republicans again failed the constitutional test of ethics and integrity. Time to replace the Republican Party with another one. Bye!!
5
Coincidentally Britain leaves the EU on the same day the US leaves the free world, against the will of the majority. Is irrational behavior now the norm in democratic governments? Where’s the „shining city upon a hill?“
10
My cynicism runs so deep that I am not at all surprised with the actions of McConnell's senate, nor am I surprised with the silly game Bolton is playing to gin up book sales, and I am certainly not surprised with Trump's lies and stonewalling of witnesses and evidence. This is like watching a slow motion train wreck, knowing the tragic results but unable to look away.
I wish I could see some good coming from this disaster, but hard as I try, I cannot. The lights are going out in that shining city on the hill.
7
1. Pat Cipollone conflicted due to this revelation, is a material witness and represented the President in his impeachment.
2. Mitch McConnell conflicted, his wife is a direct report to Trump. He worked hand and fist with the White House on the trial.
3. Jay Sekulow and family siphoned $65.0 million from an NFP.
4. Rudy Giuliani conducted U.S. foreign affairs without an official appointment, or Senatorial approval.
Trump has the audacity to think this is business as normal and he should be elected again and the Senate should stay in Republican hands. I pray for the U.S.
8
Bolton's now over-ripe book has decayed into a self-promoting profit center for a man who never saw bloodshed he did not relish.
Bolton never had much credibility. Now that the Republicans have shredded Constitutional rule of law and codified an American dictatorship, it makes no difference whether Bolton is believed or ridiculed.
2
Fool me once, shame on you, foll me twice shame on me.
If the last few years has taught us anything, perhaps it is we should wait to make judgements about political bombshells until the raw facts are in. The Mueller report is an excellent example with regard to whether or not the Trump administration colluded with Russia. The Ukraine call transcript seemed to have a very different color than what the Whistle Blower was claimed to have said (We have not actually heard from the Whistle blower).
Do the authors have first hand access to the book? Or is the article based on what unnamed sources claim is in the book? I the characterization of the book is hearsay, should be expect it to be any more accurate than the other example above? I would really like to see a quote from the book in full context before making any judgements.
We need to learn from the past. That we need to take a deep breath and wait when here bombshells. We need to wait until we have raw data or first hand accounts.
who to believe, Trump/Giuliani or Bolton? That's a tough one. On one hand Trump/Giuliani lie almost every time they open their mouths, on the other hand, I'm not aware of any proclivity of Bolton to lie.
2
Who heard all about it directly from the President? The "officer of the court" representing him in this fake trial.
3
Guess Vegas is still the only place where the House always wins!
But, seriously, I have never seen such hypocritical hand-wringing, finger pointing, and foaming-at-the-mouth as has been displayed for the past few days by the House Managers, especially Adam Schiff and his scene-stealing sidekick Jerry Nadler! (Oh, wait - there's always the CNN anchors!)
Hopefully, when we're finally free from this 24/7 media circus and never-ending assault on Donald Trump, perhaps we can refocus our energy and efforts to elect Amy Klobuchar as the next President of the United States.
A mayor running for re-election faces some stiff competition.
So, he calls up the mayor of another smaller, poorer town and tells him he’s going to give them a $4,000,000 grant from his police department’s budget. But first, he needs the mayor of the smaller town to have his opponent investigated for fraud. And, maybe a DUI as well.
Nothing wrong here. Nothing that any other mayor wouldn’t do. Certainly wouldn’t want to fire a mayor for that. After all, he’s doing this for the good of his town; “fighting corruption.”
Just another election in Trumpistan.
3
Hummmm. A few months ago, before his unplanned exit, Bolton was talking about how cordial "the call" was and there was no hint of a problem. Now, just as his "tell all" book is about to be released, he says there was a problem...actually there were problems, plural. Timing is everything, John!
1
I think John Bolton timed his revelations partly to promote his book. The manuscript is in the White House for evaluation of classified information. Considering the statements Mr Bolton made in the book, Mr Trump is guaranteed to try to suppress the book’s publication on whatever false grounds he can contrive. Mr Bolton’s revelations explain why Mr Trump is eager to suppress publication, thus making it difficult for Trump to justify suppression, and his revelations also promote his book. For these reasons, I believe Mr Bolton’s motives are mercenary.
Regardless of his motives, Mr Bolton’s revelations regarding Mr Trump are entirely consistent with other evidence. He provides additional detail and he establishes that Mr Trump did in fact knowingly and willfully attempt to shake down Ukraine for political dirt on a political opponent by withholding aid to coerce President Zelensky’s compliance. Mr Trump abused his office for personal gain. Quid, say hello to Quo.
Mr Trump’s vehement denials are just noise. Mr Trump is a habitual liar who even lies about what lies he told. I believe John Bolton because as a rule, Mr Bolton does not lie.
Of course Mr Trump slanders Mr Bolton, but that’s to be expected. Malicious personal slanders are how Mr Trump rolls.
I am confident Mr Bolton won’t be the last White House staffer to confirm Mr Trump’s criminal behavior.
2
I don't think Trump will leave if he loses the election. I think he will declare an emergency and become a dictator.
3
Bolton needs to agree to an interview this weekend on a major news network and spill every little detail about Trump’s abuse of power. Bolton should relax and do the right thing. He does not need a subpoena to tell the truth to the American people. Bolton will sell lots of books no matter what. We are desperate for one Republican, who is a loyal patriotic American, to come forward to tell the truth. Bolton— let it be you!!
The American people demand and need the truth— the truth that the spineless cowardly Republican Senators withheld, choosing to follow Trump off the cliff.
If Americans re-elect Trump in November, it will be the end of the great American experiment in democracy. God help us all.
3
I'm assuming then that if president Obama had done the very same thing while in office that the Republicans would be okay with it. I'm also assuming that if a Democrat is elected president and decides to solicit aid from a foreign nation regarding "security concerns" on a potential presidential candidate they will be okay with that too! How daft and short-sighted can you Republicans be?
3
Now that we know he won't be removed from office, can Congress at least take away his Twitter account?
2
What sorts of people are these who are running our government? What special qualities do they have that make them worthy of guiding us through troubled waters. Are they so obsessed with power and privilege that they need to threaten and harm others? What for? Being president or having a position in a dysfunctional administration? Money? Where is their honor and commitment? Why would people want them leading our country? To what depths have we sunk? It’s an obscene situation. We should be embarrassed. More importantly, they should be embarrassed...
2
I'm sorry I won't likely live to see how history judges all of this.
3
I refuse to buy his book. I’m not giving money to a man who values profits over his conscience. Instead of testifying when he could have he held off in order to sell more books. Nauseating.
1
America got robed from listening directly from Bolton. The Trump team in all ex-braches of government must have read the book who would detail Trump's role in the Ukranian affair.
So the Supreme Court does have Trump Justices. At least one. Three branches of Government became one. Trump and his corruption are not exonerated but he just got a license to cheat in the November elections. His foreign friends need not worry. Now they can keep working with the Trump re-election team.
Krugman was right when he stated that it does not matter who the democratic candidate will be. But for another reason: the cheating electoral license granted by the Senate yesterday. Probably China will need a couple of days to produce a Biden "dossier".
And, it is official: From now on, judges will not have to "waste time" with witnesses or documentation to sentence.
3
Bolton could have been an honorable man with country before party. He chose money before country. Whatever he represented before is now gone forever. He could have stopped the hoax impeachment and left it to a Senate that is afraid of POTUS.
1
This is one moment in time, one moment in history, when I am especially proud to be a Democrat. I have watched the entire Senate "trial", and even though Republicans will win on blocking witnesses and will win on the vote to acquit Trump, I am certain that history will not be kind to their disregard for justice and the damage to our democracy, all for their own political self-interest against the majority will of the people. Republicans should enjoy their "win" now, for they will pay the price of their actions in November.
44
One has to hope that the voters make the right decision at the polls in November, because the Republican senators would not stand up and make the right one.
18
Ok, Mitch, give Trump the acquittal he wants, and the 75% of voters who wanted a trial with witnesses in the Senate will give Trump and the Republican Party the election they deserve in November.
29
There is nothing wrong with seeking intelligence about a political opponent. What is wrong is to use government assets, people employed by the government, to seek such evidence.
In days not long ago, we would call this an abuse of power.
19
Not a word of this has been spoken in the corner of Mississippi I live in. But thanks to the Times and the Post, it has bothered me greatly. Like many, I feel that Trump is a gangster and this is becoming a gangster state. Much has been written about his role in The Apprentice but I think another cultural icon is a better description. Trump and his crew are modeled not on The Apprentice but on The Sopranos. Imagine Tony Soprano somehow elevated to the Presidency and I think you have a pretty good idea of what is being played out in Washington today.
16
The president, this president, can do anything he wants. He can claim the November election is not in our nation's interest. Donald can claim that he needs to remain in office--national interest. Why not? You can't argue with that an expert said.
8
Acquittal without a serious and honorable trial will bring into question the legitimacy of the Trump presidency.
14
Well so what? He knew trumps lawyer was in the room but still never showed up to testify. Now that trump has been let off the hook it doesn't matter what's in his book. It's not even worth reading at this point.
8
The Presidents counsels argued that bribery was not included in 'abuse ot power' and not included in the 1st article of impeachment and an indictable crime was necessary to convict. The House managers argued just the opposite.
Therefore, if the President is reelected and the Dems are elected to control the House and Senate a new article could be generated to accuse bribery. This assumes POTUS does not commit additional crimes which is unlikely. Sad
6
The Senate, supposedly the "world's greatest deliberative body," has proven that is true though only true for a cover-up for this lying, unlawful president.
To say that Bolton - who has first-hand knowledge of what the president said and did - is not relevant to be called to testify, is a first-class obstruction.
That this is the first time the senate has held a trial without witnesses is part of the big cover-up.
Bolton has revealed that Mr. Cipollone, the White House's lead counsel, was in the very meeting with Bolton and other relevant Republican witnesses who heard from the president his plan for gaining dirt on his apparent opponent, Biden, and further giving credence to a false narrative that it was Ukraine, not Russia that interfered in the 2016 election. That was Putin's position also.
Cipollone should be called to answer under oath whether he was present at that meeting because, if he was, his position as lead counsel would show that all of his comments through the proceedings tainted the entire proceeding.
This is why the so-called Senate trial should be called a hearing and is not the beginning of the end, but is the end of the beginning.
Bolton has also said that Trump bends to autocrats. Let's hear more about that because his actions with Putin and Russia should scare everyone.
13
Bolton could have made this all know but chose not to until it went to the senate, that was not going to call on him. This was part of his plan to push his book. Now I hope that Trump is able to stop his book from coming out. It would be just what he deserves for not letting these things be known earlier.
1
As upset as I am, as much as I wanted to hurl seeing that photo of Mitch McConnell smiling and giving a thumbs-up, hearing Murkowski's despicable statement about the hearings being "partisan," something good can come of this. I am not wealthy, but I donate a few bucks to Amy McGrath regularly, whenever I can, and have volunteered to be part of the Vote Forward campaign to send letters to voters in swing states. We just can't give up. I know that the rage I feel at this travesty is shared by countless millions of Americans right now. Let's go. "There is no try."
16
The GOP Senate just handed the neo-con Col. Sanders a guaranteed best seller. Let's hope they also handed the Democrat candidates for President, Governor, House and Senate talking point to carry through next November.
6
Without witnesses, the Senate has conducted a fraudulent impeachment trial. They are effectively accessories to Trump's crimes.
11
Executive privilege extends to acts and conversation done to further duties of the President. In this case Trump has been clear that the Ukraine matter was handled by his private lawyer representing Trump personally , not as President. Further Dershowitz position is that anything Trump does personally is not impeachable since it was to further Trump's view that being President in 2020 was of utmost importance. That is an electoral decision not part of Presidential duties. Lets see the Steno's notes of the Helsinki meeting with Putin and Trump's already audited 1040's while we are at it.
9
I try not to be mean spirited, but I do hope that Mr. Bolton's book will be met with dismal sales.
3
Bolton needs to explain why he wouldn't testify before the House. That was a shameful decision. His testimony won't change the votes of the GOP Trump cultists in the Senate, but it would have been valuable for the American people to know, and for the historical record. He is going to get subpoenaed by the House now anyway. Hiding out before, while people reporting to him showed the moral courage to testify was inexcusable.
3
Proving three elements would show embezzlement, an impeachable high crime and misdemeanor since the 1700's:
1. Congress allocated aid to Ukraine.
2. Trump lacked credible legal authority to withhold that aid.
3. Trump withheld that aid, putting it to his own use before dispensing it, (i.e., by withholding U.S. aid--not Trump aid-- to secure insinuative political dirt for an election win).
The House managers haven't proven that despite Republican's smokescreens?
4
With the Super Bowl pregame shows likely firing up at daybreak, I would think that Chuck Todd (Meet the Press), Margaret Brennan (Face the Nation), and George Stephanopoulos (This Week With George Stephanopoulos) could carve out some market share by securing an interview with Mr. Bolton on their respective programs. Who knows? It might even get a U.S. Senator or two to tune in, along with a nation of constituents.
6
Let's take all the money we made during the Trump economy (our 401ks, solid investments, newly established jobs) and donate every penny to the socialist Democrats. Eventually they are going to take it anyway.
The Dems lost this battle because there was nothing there there.
Bolton already contradicted his book during his interview praising Trumps phone call. Some witness...defense attorneys will prevail again.
1
It's over. This is irrelevant now. As far as Adam Schiff warning that "history will judge those who fail to allow witnesses or evidence" in the Senate trial - history is written by the victors. In case that was vague, VICTORS = TRUMPIAN REPUBLICANS.
An Open Letter to America:
What we have seen take place before our very eyes, is the total and complete unraveling of the United States of America as we have come to know.
It can now be said, without any doubt at all, that the Republicans and those who support them, put party over country. This has just be proven to be a fact on live television.
The little faith that I had in the government is no more. The message that this one single act has shown our children and the world, is that there are no rules, there are no laws.
I for one am done. Elections. Voting. Campaigns. Polls. Speeches. Done
For what we have come to trust and rely upon, is not. It has been said that we cannot hate those who support this person. I'm sorry. I don't believe that. Although hate may be too strong a word, I have no respect for anyone who does - this includes my own family members.
If this impeached person is indeed reelected, the final nail will have been hammered into an already crumbling coffin.
Democracy? Sorry, you can keep it.
6
At least Bolton stepped up - better late than never.
As for Collins and Murkowski, one look at their grins tells me they are playing to their consituents - straddling the fast until the end, then jumping all in the the R's.
I think that both these women are on the wrong side of history, however.
As for Bolton, he'll look good in those books.
And, forgive me for believing that the American electorate will not buy it. Trump will be turned out come November. I will stay positive until proven wrong.
5
It seems to me that the New York Bar should move to disbar Mr Cipollone and also Mr. Giuliani for their unethical involvement through out this entire episode. Mr Cipollone as lawyer and defense atty, and a co conspirator in the whole mess! The entire Republican Senate is now up for grabs, no backbone. should have had the force to join each other rather than singly cave in to Trump.
10
Bolton had his chance and refused to testify. Once the chances of being called diminished to zero he was SO eager to testify. I am glad he did not get to go before the Senate - he is not to be trusted and who knows what he would have said. Let the vote to acquit go down as the blackest day yet for Republicans. I am glad they did not call witnesses - they robbed themselves of the opportunity to call this an impartial trial.
4
There is really only one explanation. The country, certainly the GOP, has lost its moral compass. Us Citizens have been bought by Citizens Unites, gerrymandering and personal favors.
We will never fully recover our prior place in history. The remainder of the world is watching, they see that thanks to Citizens United and gerrymandering citizens have less say over their politicians and the current generation, baby boomers and forward, are more concerned about money than morals.
What country and region will emerge is not yet decided, but it will not be the United States.
39
It is absolutely unforgivable that Bolton did not come forward in the House proceedings.
106
@Étienne Guérin: Better late than never and he can still be subpoenaed by the House.
@Étienne Guérin
Curious why Schiff did not subpoena Bolton?
1
The Republicans are committing national suicide. And they are trying to drag the rest of us Americans down into their doomsday cult.
I refuse to accept this. I refuse to let this happen. Our country is worth fighting for. I will not be a part of this drug deal.
Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republicans may have won this battle. But they are losing the war.
On November 3, vote every Republican out of office. From president to senator to dog catcher.
Volunteer. Donate. And VOTE!
140
@MidtownATL : The more we donate the more we stagnate. No issue that can be exploited for fundraising is ever resolved.
9
Trump won't lose the election, at least not in the Electoral College. The problem is that Dems rely on magical thinking. They thought all the arguments in the world would get Republican Senators to change their minds and convict Trump, even if it meant being voted out of office. Now they think there will be a popular uprising against Trump in red and swing states, sweeping socialist Bernie Sanders into office. More delusional thinking. I'm hopeful that Dems will get a clue by 2028.
3
Sadly, they’re only interested in winning the paltry battle, not a principled war. They know that such a war is already lost! These Republicans are in cahoots with a few right wing billionaires like the Kochs, & several rabid white supremacists, keeping their eyes only on judges. That myopic view - however crass, keeps them in play to keep their right wing agenda alive & well, including gerrymandered districts, long after they’ve gone, decimated in the polls! They also hope RBG will resign, if she falls ill or needs surgery again.
My daily prayers include RBG; for her to stay healthy, clear minded, and energetic. That she remains able to continue writing notable judgements (even if they are dissents!), & mostly to choose the time when she wants to eventually retire from the highest court!
If a cover up is committed in broad daylight live on international TV in front of the chief justice, is it still a cover up?
49
@Opinioned!: Trump has never covered up being the preeminent brat of his generation in NYC.
12
@Opinioned! The world knows this all too well. They had hoped that at least America would be incorruptible but alas!
A just punishment for Bolton's book promotion stunt would be to boycott his book. He is self serving and should not profit more than his book advance. The impeachment outcome is already determined by today's vote and is history. I doubt that anyone Democrats or Republicans would want to revisit this sordid part of our history by reading his book and rehash about what could have happened. Bolton's thought he had great timing for promoting his book. His stunt may have backfired completely.
41
John Bolton deserves no kudos. He may have leaked the portions of the book or not, but he’s no hero. If he wanted to appear on this matter he should have appeared before the House of Representatives and told his story. This “I’d love to talk to the Senate”
junk is just that. It was a forgone conclusion that this Senate “trial” would be along party lines and Trump would be allowed to remain in office. It’s sickening. If Bolton had spoken up earlier, I’d have purchased his book for my whole family and all of my neighbors. Now, I have no reason to put money in his pocket. He has allowed a criminal to reside on the White House.
54
@Summer Smith: Trump will make sure this costs Bolton more than his book advance in legal fees.
John Bolton had a chance to go down in history as a patriot, by not coming forth, he chose to be just another entrepreneur. We still have a two party system, one is the Democratic Party, the other is Putin's party. We had a Democracy, but it looks like we are returning to a monarchy. The noise you hear is the sound of our founders spinning in their graves.
Mike in Ohio
68
This article reveals that there are many liars affiliated with the Trump administration who have failed to come forward truthfully about what they know regarding the Ukraine incident and surrounding issues: Trump, Pence, Pompeo, Giuliani, Mulvaney, Cipollone.
Today, by failing to allow witnesses and documents, Republican Senators have aided and abetted a criminal conspiracy. The framers of our U.S. Constitution wanted checks and balances in our government. However, Mr. McConnell has orchestrated a complete charade in the Senate along with Mr. Trump's legal team that includes Mr. Cipollone who knows first hand exactly what Trump did. Mr. Trump violated U.S. election law by putting pressure on a newly installed Ukrainian President to publicly state he's investigating Biden in order to get military aid. This is against U.S. law.
We see the evidence about Trump's corrupt behavior come out daily. This supports the fact that the House needs to continue investigations and now issue subpoenas for documents and witnesses to allow facts to continue to come out for the public.
53
I would like our democratic senators to ask this question of their republican colleagues:
Joe Biden can call the Chinese government tomorrow and let them know he will he will end all these tariffs when elected. He needs a favor though. Dig up any and all dirt on Mitch McConnell’s wife’s family business in China. And oh, if you’re listening, find the internal trump campaign communications and, oh yes, his tax returns.
Republicans, Americans, are you ok with that? Really?
129
@tracy
You don’t think campaign teams do this kind of stuff?
I bet they all are trying to find things.....but they’re calls are not recorded or leaked from non supporters.
@Tracy Kuehn: Republicans won’t be okay with that, but Americans think it’s a great idea!
If Bolton had relevant information, he should have brought it to the attention of the House investigation. But his interest is selling his book, not the preservation of the American Republic was his primary concern. At this point I hope the White House stops the sale of his book and he gets no money.
27
Congress should subpoena Bolton on Saturday, Sunday they should depose him, and Monday they should hold a press conference to present his testimony. Trump is getting away with his crimes, encouraged by his corrupt Republican senate. Congress needs to get this testimony out now while the trial is still going on.
44
It's time for We, the People, to act..
Can someone please complain to the Bar Association about Pat C's conduct? Let us see if he demands a fair trial and witnesses, when HIS case will come up for hearing before the Bar?
48
Well Gabbard was correct. This should have stopped with House censure. They knew there'd be no conviction, and what was the point of protecting Biden, when he withheld $1B of taxpayer money, even if not election-related? 'So far Bondi's done Ukraine's job, and using mostly liberal media sources. I believe delaying nominations was his idea.
Lamar and Murkowski's excuses are lame. The senate should have called witnesses for some appearance of impartiality, even if Biden once thought that unnecessary. Nothing Bolton will say would have changed the outcome--oh, except maybe the Cippilone factor. Only Bolton knew this? Why was it not called out? What does Shifty Schiff know? Why wouldn't senators have been allowed to cross-examine?
I thought, though, that if you're subpoenaed, you can plead the fifth but at least have to show up. Not these 1%-ers, and everything is more interpret-able than the Bible. So yes, we were dragged through a partisan show, and may have to choose from the lesser of two crooks. There's just a chance that Trump gets too bold too soon and more swing voters will see the future.
3
So, Bolton has a choice . He was waiting for a subpoena and none is coming. That does not mean he has to stay silent. If he is the man of integrity that he claims he is, he should come forward anyway. He should talk to the House now. He could approach Chief Justice Roberts and tell him what he knows. Surely the Chief Justice could facilitate something even if it is outside the Senate Chambers. He could come to the Senate without a subpoena. Will he? I don't know. I am sure Mitch McConnell would wield his mighty sword to prevent that. It would take a lot of courage and I am not sure the there are many courageous Republicans in Washington anymore. I don't know how courageous Bolton is. He has been very quite for a long time. But then again things have never been this terrible. So...maybe. I can always hope and I need some hope because that is even shorter supply than courage.
16
Ukraine should have been pressured to investigate.
3
Anyone else looking to vote out every Republican on the ballot?
84
The 2020 presidential and senate campaigns just started today!!
19
Democracy? Kangaroo court instead.
33
So discouraging.
A coverup in plain site.
36
Bolton is a disgruntled ex-employee who wants to sell a book. If he was so important, the House should have subpoenaed him as a witness. Instead, they ignored him.
7
@Nycdweller
The House did subpoena Mr. Bolton. They withdrew the subpoena when Mr. Bolton lawyered up and fought it.
A real man would have testified.
51
No. He was not ignored. The House made a decision about subpoenas getting held up in the court. They believed, wrongly, that the Senate would behave like part of an honest independent branch of government.
Unfortunately, the Senators showed that in the arena of political corruption, the GOP is at the top of their game.
We will all suffer for it.
25
The Republican majority led United States Senate failed to uphold our democracy. They will pay a heavy price up and down the 2020 ballot and hopefully beyond. Patriotic Americans from all walks of life will not stand for this treachery of voting not to subpoena documents or hear witnesses related to President Donald J. Trumps Articles of Impeachment. Our Democracy will survive but it is severely wounded. The Republican’s have all failed America!
The United States Senate died on January 31st, 2020.
Rest In Peace🙏🏼
36
Please!! May Bolton do a Sunday show and help save our Democracy.
16
I knew he would likely be acquitted but the way they are doing with such hubris it is taking the constitution apart. Having Cippollone openly participate in the scandal yet being the chief WH Counsel is a sham. Similarly Nunes openly participating in the scandal yet overseeing the House impeachment investigation is like a court trial in a third world country. I fear for us, I fear for Ukraine. I think this is worse than I can imagine
52
At this point, their history and sheer grit under fire notwithstanding, I'm surprised Ukraine still exists.
putin breathes down what parts of their neck they haven't yet bitten off to "annex". Now Forbes' 2018 2nd-most powerful person[1] roars with delight again.
[1] The ONLY one NOT vile in their top 10 is Merkel.
@Sara
"like a court trial in a third world country"
Agreed. Sadly, the Senate is run by the Banana Republican party.
1
When it comes to defending democracy, Bolton will gladly send others' sons and daughters to their deaths. But risk his lucrative sinecure? No, that's a step too far.
39
“I never instructed John Bolton to set up a meeting for Rudy Giuliani, one of the greatest corruption fighters in America and by far the greatest mayor in the history of N.Y.C., to meet with President Zelensky,” Mr. Trump said. “That meeting never happened.”
Said the man who's lied over 16,000 times in 3 years.
57
Okay, in this corner we have a crook and compulsive liar and in the other a former servant of the liar and a known embellisher (see Iraqi war 2002 - ???) but admittedly abides by the law. Their word was all that stood between fact and fiction. Fiction won.
Have things really gotten so low in our democracy?
16
Corrupt cabal in the White House including members of the cabinet and congress with the intention of soliciting interference in the upcoming election. Complicit Greedy Old Prevaricators in the Senate, profiles of deception and cowardice, who trample the Constitution by conducting a sham “trial” without witnesses or evidence. And Bolton decides it’s more important to sell his book rather than speak out - is this patriotism?
Vote them all out.
19
Bye Bye Mitch American Pie, and all of our sentimentality about value, democracy, and law. There’s not only a cancer on the presidency, there’s a cancer on the United States.
26
Dear Republican Senators,
You just voted to give Donald Trump the green light to do whatever he wants to do. You told him he is not accountable to anyone.
On July 25, the day after Mr. Mueller's testimony, he called President Zelenky of Ukraine and upped the ante on his autocratic games. What do you think he will do the day after you vote to acquit him on his impeachment trial?
I know you like his acquiescence to your tax cuts, deregulation, and conservative judges. I respect that.
But you have created a Frankenstein monster that you cannot control. You think you can, but you are deluded. He owns you, not vice versa.
But that's all okay. Because you will pay the price on November 3, 2020, and lose your Senate majority.
Was it worth it?
34
Most corrupt administration in US history. A total disgrace.
45
So Bolton really cares about setting the record straight?? Let him call Judy Woodruff and set up an interview on Nightly News. Maybe invite Adam Schiff to the conversation, and get to the bottom of things. I’m sure an end of interview mention of buying his new book would be well received.
12
I’ll still buy the book in digital version so the grandkids will remember the evil Republicans.
10
I wonder who to believe. Trump or Boulton?? Eeerrrr. Can't decide.
4
And Putin is smiling, and cheering the Senate.
29
@Gracie I'm sure that makes Mitch McConnell proud. There's a reason he's called Moscow Mitch.
3
Trump and his whole administration are corrupt and rotten. McConnell and his spineless, corrupt, complicit, senators must be run out of office for not upholding The Constitution and their oath for this impeachment trial. Never did I think this could happen in the U.S.A. How will we ever have a free, fair, election with this corrupt mob boss president unhindered and unrestrained?
35
Your fear about having a free and fair election are shared by those of us who see the goals the GOP and its hero of crime and corruption: it’s leader and it’s Senate Majority Leader, Moscow Mitch McConnell have in store for the country—one party rule indefinitely. Add the militia base to the mix and realize what horror and bloodshed could result when the president signals the base to turn on his opponents and their voters. A dystopian novel couldn’t be darker than this.
2
No honorable senators or representatives should attend the state of the union. Let him speak just to his minions. No respectable network should cover it. The country has had enough of the liar, cheat, and thief I. chief.
30
I agree. Shun him. And all those reporters, still eager to get the latest lie over the sound of those rotor blades- I don’t want to hear it, or see it. Mute button, channel change button. And that goes for his Republican enablers, users, too.
Shift all your reporters, attention to the Democrat primaries- with new ideas, solution options, people that actually try to tell the truth, want fair elections....you know, all that stuff Republicans used to believe in.
2
If in the upcoming election Trump directs Mr. Guliani to ask Russia to manufacture evidence damning his Democratic opponent I pray they will be as courageous as Ukraine and refuse him.
8
@Keitr: Please don't pray. Science has not been able to establish that it mollifies God, or that it doesn't irritate God.
We all need to model Trump. Be a liar, cheater, and a thief. Don't just be the boss, be a mob boss. I have a position in which I can steal millions, which ultimately comes from taxpayers. Never have. But, I should model Trump. That is the message I have received.
18
Mr. Bolton, hold a press conference. Tell your story. Help the country. Or does trump own you?
14
Dear Trump supporters,
It is very fortunate that you were not with Jim Jones in Guyana in 1978. They all willingly drank the kool-aid, and left this earth.
16
@MidtownATL : I wonder who will be left here after the Rapture, them or us.
4
Would be fantastic if the NYTimes would fact check everything said today. I heard more than a few blatant lies based on my recall of the House hearings.
6
Please Mr. Bolton....grant an Interview before the big Vote.
9
“If the political vendetta did not fit,.....Then the Senate must acquit!”
Cast your vote in November for your guy, and then forgetaboutit!
1
@Moe: Staving off unconstitutional legislation is just another perpetual expense, like internet access.
If the truth is allowed to prevail here, this group of GOP senators will go down in history as amomgst the most partisan and cowardly group in history. Perhaps not as bad as those senators who defended slavery, but only because they were not born 150 years sooner. Some (like the wet noodle Marco Rubio) will try to make statements separating themselves from the President. Whatever. Let the record show that when they had the chance to defend the Republic from a would-be tyrant, they voted for the side of tyrants. Democrats, dig deep, donate to ensure every one of these cowards has a fight on their hands come November!
18
@Brian H. We are the partisans. They are the universal benchmark of disinterested objectivity.
Let this be a lesson to the House Dems - you want witnesses to testify to your committees, send the Sgt At Armst to arrest and compell them if they refuse next time....
14
Everybody needs to be SWATted to appreciate how the system works.
So, what’s illegal about a meeting between Giuliani and Zelensky ?
1
The US Senate died a horrible death this evening. Oversight and equality between the branches of government took a massive blow. As Rick Wilson says, everything trump touches dies.
16
@L. McDonell: The US Senate established that it is so irrelevant that it should simply be abolished to eliminate all its fairness issues.
Don't buy the book! Let the NYTs buy it and tell us what's in it. We already know most of what's in it anyway. Republicans are the party of Greed.
10
I don't need to hear any more evidence about a sleazebag I saw through the first time in a few minutes myself. I see only Enrico Fermi's prediction of how long technological cultures last in this universe after they start nuking themselves.
6
My explanation for why the Senate voted against witnesses is the fact that not only is Pres. Trump guilty and impeachable, but so are all the others who were "in the loop", and are listed present at the early May 2019 meeting: Vice President Pence, White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, Mick Mulvaney, Giuliani, etc. If witnesses and relevant evidence would be allowed, that could also lead to uncover the guilt of all those "in the loop". If both Pres. Trump and VP Pence get impeached as a result, who is the next in line to the presidency? It is the Speaker of the House, who happens to be a Democrat, leading to the loss of power for the Republicans. This is all about clinging to power, not about following the Constitution, learning about the truth and what is best for our country. We need to continue our search for the truth and must not rest until justice is served.
25
The bottom line here is that were Bolton a true patriot, he would have come forward and testified before the House when 17 other members of the Trump administration did. The optics of his willingness to come forward now are suspect to say the least.
The truth will come out anyway.
I will never read his book.
12
@sashakl: That is the point. Bolton won't make any money from it either.
Dear Republicans,
I know many of you are happy with the tax cuts, deregulation, and conservative judges that Mr. Trump has delivered to you. I respect that.
But I also know that many of you cannot stand the man, and oppose him personally and on a number of other political issues (such as free trade, foreign policy, legal immigration, or so forth).
The Republican Party has left you.
You should change your voter registration. I completely understand if you cannot register as a Democrat. But you can at least register as an independent or unaffiliated.
And on November 3, I hope you will vote against Mr. Trump. And if you cannot stomach voting for the Democratic nominee, I hope you will at least leave your ballot blank for president.
---
I'll leave you with this thought. Any policies that any Democrat who could be our next president supports will be subject to approval by Congress. Democrats will respect the Constitution and the Rule of Law, unlike Mr. Trump.
In other words, Congress will check your worst fears about a Democratic president in 2021. That includes if Sanders or Warren ends up in the oval office. Nothing you most fear will actually happen.
But can you say the same if Mr. Trump is re-elected, with no accountability as he will not face a re-election, and he has rendered oversight and checks and balances moot? No, he will elevate himself to the status of king.
15
@MidtownATL: There are no limits to what people will do to improve their prospects after death.
1
It seems that if there were an actual criminal trial in court, these revelations would make Mr. Cipollone a material witness and he would have a serious conflict of interest serving as a trial counsel. No? But then this is the Senate which lost the last of its credibility as a deliberative body today.
15
@Barry Fisher: The courts of the immaculate USA are playgrounds for lawyers, but it isn't as lucrative as it looks. There are high expenses for bribes.
@Steve Bolger: Alice returned from Wonderland alive, but she vanished into the US judicial system like the Franklin expedition to the Arctic.
Let the President testify under oath to his belief
6
@Erfa:Trump lies when he takes an oath to tell the truth.
Mr. Cippolone, shall we address you as counsel or co-conspirator?
26
Back in 2005 Democrats like Schumer and company did refuse to let pass Bolton as Ambassor to the United Nation, as proposed by Bush, because they told "he was not trustworthy"
And now they pretend Bolton is trustworthy and actually their Savior !
What a hypocrisy !
4
@Mary: A common clock is right twice a day.
Just heard that Marie Yovanovitch has retired from the state department.
This trump sickness that has afflicted the U.S government... terrible... absolutely terrible.
13
So says disgruntled ex-employee Bolton who wants to sell a book.
2
@Nycdweller: Your writing is so evocative, I think you should write a book. But I cannot afford to pay you an advance.
4
Hmmm whom to believe here??? The 16,000+ lies guy or Bolton? Really republicans?? Really? Everything Trump touches dies.
15
Should Senator Rob Portman recuse from this process? Was he a witness too?
https://amp.cincinnati.com/amp/4596522002
9
I think Bolton outsmarted himself. He should have said something sooner. But bon't forget to write to ALL of the spineless senators involved in this sham trial. Here's a link to the U.S. Senate directory. Oh, and don't forget to vote in November!
https://www.senate.gov/senators/index.htm
6
Bolton and the GOP are traitors and cowards and will go down in history as such. They will wear this scarlet letter for eternity. History is not kind to despots.
15
It's not only American democracy that took a critical blow today, it's the Republican Party of Goldwater (who staunchly believed in separation of church and state) and the Republican Party of my father (who fought in WWII against fascism and demagogic tyrants like Adolf Hitler and Stalin.) It is just stunning to me, and emotionally devastating to witness men like Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump run roughshod over ethical governance, fealty to truth, and our Constitution. Why aren't Americans out in the streets in force expressing their outrage? Thousands upon thousands of people have died fighting for equality of justice and freedom! Republicans in the U.S. Senate admitted what Donald Trump did was wrong (while Cipollone actually perjured himself because according to Bolton he was fully "in the loop" re: extorting Ukraine) – yet all they are willing to do is slap Trump on the wrist. Lamar Alexander was being specious when he said allowing witnesses would be like pouring gasoline on cultural differences. "Whatever you think of his behavior, with a terrific economy (inherited from Obama and under Trump now compiling record debt), conservative judges (who will overturn Roe Vs Wade and everything else) you add in there an inappropriate call with the president of Ukraine (never mind the Constitution and rule of law), and you decide if you prefer him or Elizabeth Warren." Cat's out of the bag. It ain't about Trump at all – it's about a big one-up on the 2020 elections!
7
I hope Bolton grants an Interview before the crucial VOTE!!
8
'Something touched me deep inside the day the constitution died. So bye bye Miss American Pie....
16
Would love to see Bolton go on every single Sunday show this week and just tell it like it is to the American people
13
Cowards, every Republican who voted against witnesses. You forfeit your right to call out Putin and every other autocrat for not holding honest & free elections.
12
@Ben : They have invited Putin to tinker with US elections. Secession is as secession does.
Nothing burger?
2
If this was the early days of the Republic I would wager that the noted journalist and satirist James Callender would refer to Lamar Alexander as Trump's "Poodle", a description also appropriate to his cowardly Republican fellows that know a constitutional crime was committed but are too tremerous to act on it.
10
@Milliband: Poodles are pretty smart dogs. Not quite border collies, but close.
2
@Steve Bolger Also unflinchingly loyal and protective - a great characteristic to have in a canine companion but not such a great characteristic in a human who has sworn an oath to protect the Constitution.
2
Yea, if he gets elected, impeach him again and fight in court the whole time he is strutting around. Force those Senators who are gutless cowards to pay attention until they get it.
7
@GB: A person can only be tried for the same crime once if the jury reaches a verdict.
Tom Brokaw: If you're listening... There's another book for you to write: "The Worst Generation - Profiles in Pusillanimity"
11
@Bob: Please don't blame the hippies. It was rational to drop out.
1
Thank you John R. Bolton.
Do you currently have a security clearance?
If so please consider appearing on the Senate floor immediately.
2
@AnnamarieF. : At this point Bolton is subject to legal fees far in excess of what will trickle down to him for writing this book.
So if Dershowitz is right, Trump can legally call off the 2020 election because he thinks "it would not be good for the country" to have him lose said election? No wonder Trump loves Putin so much. Birds of a feather?
16
@GL: If Dershowitz is right, Jeffrey Epstein never touched a girl under age 18.
7
Bolton's testimony under oath wouldn't of changed anything. Our Senate Republicans are traitors and treason's to our country. The Constitution as a republic is out of date as is our amendments (2nd) and the electoral college. We don't live in the 1700's anymore. Vote , Vote, Vote. Before it is to late
11
Revolution v2?
3
John Bolton, it's time to give an interview. Why not sit down with Chris Wallace on Fox? That way, you have Fox viewers tuned in and the rest of the world will be, too. We want to hear from you!
Everything we already know through the House Managers' presentation will be proven. Drip. Drip. Drip. Or, it may all come out via a gullywasher. Who knows? But, the truth WILL come out. It always does.
And, then, every Senate Republican will look like the Trump sycophant that he or she is. The fact that you voted NOT to let the American public have the full truth from key witnesses will come back to haunt you.
Senate Republicans, you are disgracing not just yourselves today, but the Senate, our once-great democracy, and every single American who has fought and died for our liberties.
Shame on each and every one of you!
14
The 17th century French King Louis XIV put it succinctly: “L’etat c’est moi,” he said. “I am the state.”
12
Seems like Bolton might know some things highly relevant to the impeachment trial of the President. Maybe the Senate should subpoena him... oh right... Republicans.
Another shameful day in the annals of the GOP.
Just disgraceful.
13
We now have a king.
8
And Trump Jr is planning on succession.
2
What must all of those convicted of similar crimes sitting in dark corners in America's prisons think of this man named Trump who would jeer at their convictions of tax evasion, sexual assaults, abuses of power, fraud, money laundering...
12
That they should've gotten themselves elected President.
2
Bolton is scrambling to justify--for himself--the millions he's going to rake in with this book. Like Lady Macbeth, he wants to wash the blood of Lady Liberty off his hands so see can live with himself. He's revealing what a small, greedy man he really turned out to be.
6
Boycott Bolton's book.
8
We now see the final result of a party that long ago abandoned truth and ethics in favor of winning at all costs.
Say goodbye to the Republican party, or say goodbye to democracy! Take your pick in November.
As for me, I've lived in dictatorships. They stink. I can't be sure of who the Democratic candidate will be, but I know I'll never support another Republican candidate, no matter how high or low the office. One does not invite snakes inside.
Grrr... I hate saying that! I've been politically moderate my whole life. No more. I will never again support any Republican in any office regardless of how good they look or how competent they seem, because their party is as rotten and dirty as it can get, and there's just no more apologizing for them or rationalizing yet another egregious blow against the American people.
15
@Art Likely Amen.
None of these Republicans should be given time on the floor to “explain” why they voted no. They caved to a dictator and that’s that. The American public overwhelmingly wanted witnesses and this gutless bunch doesn’t need any press time to rationalize their irrational choice. Vote them all out in November.
16
Will there be a “Nuremberg Trial”
for our leaders who are giving away
our Democracy. Will there be a special
trial for Cabinet officials, aids and lawyers?
6
Is the time for civil discourse over?
One generation got old
One generation got soul
This generation got no dissertation to hold
Pick up the cry
Hey now it's time for you and me
Got a revolution
Got to revolution
Come on now we're marching to the sea
Got a revolution
Got to revolution
Who will take it from you
We will and who are we
We are volunteers of America
Volunteers of America
Volunteers of America
Volunteers of America
Volunteers of America
Got a revolution
Got a revolution
5
Donald Trump can be defeated on November 3, 2020.
In 2016, he barely won the electoral college by about 77,000 votes spread across Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. He has not gained any net support among voters since then. His approval rating has never been above 50%.
Donald Trump has never even attempted to be the president for all Americans. To the contrary, he has actively expressed contempt for over half the American people.
Don't get me wrong. I am not complacent. It's going to be a tough election fight. But Mr. Trump is not entering the 2020 election with an advantage.
15
@Leia
Current polls say that Benrie Sanders would beat Trump in most swing states, including in what you call "flyover country."
I don't believe that Bernie, or any potential Democratic nominee, is destined to lose to Mr. Trump. (Remember, nobody thought that Mr. Trump himself could win.)
I am not writing this as a Bernie supporter. But I will vote blue, no matter who.
Please stop it with the Democratic circular firing squad.
10
'Something touched me deep inside the day the constitution died'.
9
TRUMP = winning! Keep America Great!
2020
2
Who was the one recommended Bolton to be Trump's NSC adviser? Trump was so stupid and naive. Everyone in DC knows this traitor from AEI. George W, Bush nominated him to be our UN ambassador during the Christmas congressional recess. Sneak him in through the back door. Sad.
2
The Democrats said over 30 times that they proved their case, so why are they begging for more witnesses?
3
Over the faint hope that someone in the 53 will be persuaded by hearing about all the lies face to face.
1
The day the constitution died.
10
Shame on every republican that voted for no witnesses. If evil is considered doing harm, every republican has committed evil.
10
Trump is a traitor and deserves conviction and removal from office. He is a national security risk malevolent demagogue, and a serial prevaricator. The Republican Party in participating in this charade has again shown its disdain for the truth, for the Constitution, for the integrity of Senatorial independence, and for a fair and impartial trial that the American public deserve. They are partisans and violated their oaths to be impartial. Instead of seeking the truth, they are going along with Trump obstructing justice in order to avoid revealing his crimes. They hopefully will suffer political losses as a result of their cowardice and lack of moral courage and Patriotism. They chose Party over country and the Constitution and doing what is right!
10
The Democrats has plenty of time to call plenty of witnesses; they blew it
1
@ nycdweller: it’s pretty difficult to call witnesses and/or evidence when every subpoena is blatantly ignored and every request for information/documentation is met with stonewalling. What would you advise the Democrats to do to get evidence? Make it up? We weren’t going to wait for the courts to rule - that would have taken forever, especially with Trump’s delaying tactics.
Please know that every single Trumpublican senator is fired, as of yesterday. They might not know it yet, but they are all lame ducks. I can hardly wait for November 2020, it will be delicious!
3
You had your chance Mr. Bulton. Now you will go down in history as one more traitor to the core American belief in our constitution and that citizens will answer the call of their Better Angels. And even more troubling, your actions are indicative that you only cared about selling your book. You sold your soul to the devil and now there is no going back.
6
My Fellow Americans,
We are witnessing our national suicide in real time. The Fall of the American Empire. The end of the American Experiment.
The temporary majority party in the Senate is supporting a criminal and a traitor who currently occupies the oval office. And they are doing it for short-term political expediency.
Our Founders are rolling over in their graves right about now. My direct ancestor, Thomas Stone of Maryland, who signed the Declaration of Independence, is rolling over in his grave right about now.
God help us all.
===
We have one last chance to save our nation, on November 3, 2020. This is not about conservative versus liberal, or any policy debate. This is about salvaging the Rule of Law and the Constitution itself, and our very American Experiment.
Volunteer. Donate. And VOTE!
17
Why aren't the law licenses of Rudolph W. Giuliani and Pat A. Cipollone under review. They LIE - I know lying is the way things are now done in the White House. But I thought the ABA had stricter standards. Didn't Bill Clinton lose his license for lying?
13
Just wait till Trump settles scores now, he was a vile, nasty gangster and now the gutless Republicans who could care less about the country have let the Frankenstein monster out. Does anyone believe that the nasty man in the White House does not see himself as dictator/king now. The only good news is he will turn on them eventually it is the way gangster work. Lamar Alexander what a coward he is retiring and enough money so what was he worried about. The only news today was the Stock Market has begun its drop through the floor. Lots of bad industrial news including thousands being laid off by Boeing subcontractors. Caterpillar, consumer spending. In the UK the Brits have already caught on most of their products won't be sold into the EU anymore. Like chickens since to compete with the dumping of American chicken products mean for them to lower their standards which makes them unexceptable to the EU. So, interesting how last week the Wall Street and Trump were touted the great economy then now and the excuse of course is the virus from China not the fact that the Fed reported soon the US debt will be 95% of the GDP wow just like a third world country. Payback is coming. Jim Trautman
10
That letter declaring Giuliani is representing Trump on personal matters is basically their version of "If you're a cop you have to tell me, you can't lie". It's a dummies get out of jail free card meant to try to in our faces hide the fact that he is there representing the POTUS not DJT. Anotherof the many acts showing consciousness of guilt in this treasonous administration and political party.
3
Mr. Bolton,
Go to the mic. Now.
8
Shame on Mr. Bolton! I assumed you would put country over your book sales!,,,
9
Dear Democrats,
Don't get mad. Get even. On November 3, 2020.
The most vulnerable Republican Senators are:
- Cory Gardner (R-CO)
- Martha McSally (R-AZ)
- Thom Tillis (R-NC)
- Susan Collins (R-ME)
- Joni Ernst (R-IA)
- open seat (R-KS)
Volunteer. Donate. And VOTE!
===
Mitch McConnell is also vulnerable in Kentucky. He has a 50%+ disapproval rating in a bright red state. But even if he wins his own re-election, he could still lose the Senate majority. He would then want to retire. But Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY) would then appoint a Democrat to replace him in the Senate.
Schadenfreude.
17
You’ll get Cory Gardner’s seat. The rest? I doubt they flip.
Gotta beat Trump and elect a new president.
The Senate and it’s electoral college math assures Republicans will maintain power.
2
@Practical Thoughts
First, defeating Trump but retaining a Republican Senate is not a good position to be in. (Necessary but not sufficient.)
Regarding the Senate.
"The rest? I doubt they flip."
I disagree.
The Democrats will beat Gardner (R-CO), McSally (R-AZ), and Tillis (R-NC). They will lose Jones (D-AL). That is a net gain of two Senate seats, bringing it up to 49D vs. 51R.
Democrats need one more seat (if we beat Trump and have the VP as tie breaker). Or ideally two more seats (51-49). The other incumbent Republicans listed above are all vulnerable in 2020. Let's also defeat them (Collins, Kansas, Ernst, and more).
8
Bolton is a coward. He has had all this time to make a public statement and instead has engaged in teasing drips to sell his book. Never gonna happen here. Never.
8
I am wondering if any senators had prior knowledge of White House Counsel Cipollone's alleged presence at meeting when "President Trump directed John R. Bolton...to help with his pressure campaign to extract damaging information on Democrats from Ukrainian officials."
7
@beberg1
More to the point, do they even care about Cipollone being present at that meeting - or any meeting?
2
Yeah, well, of course he did. Now we get to find out how much courage Bolton actually has. The White House will move to suppress publication, on some bogus national security grounds. If they publish it anyway then we are potentially looking at another Pentagon Papers landmark. If, on the other hand, he succumbs to their pressure, we are looking at just another party hack.
2
Alexander and Murkowski are spineless little cowards. They had a responsibility and they chickened out because the rest of the mob of Republicans were so spineless and criminal that they couldn't shoulder the weight of a whole bunch of weaklings. They have sold their country lock, stock and barrel. There are more people in this country who do not want Trump as President. 2.8 million at last count. To bend to a minority electorate and ignore high crimes and misdemeanors is selling your country out. They should be forever ashamed of their action.
Their comments are some of the most embarrassing answers you might hear from a confused schoolchild who has not yet learnt right from wrong. Well figure it out because we will be watching your abject behavior and will continue to be disgusted until you apologize and come clean.
14
Okay. Let's see just how much longer our democracy can withstand lawlessness such as this. This presidency is the most corrupt in my lifetime, and the conspiracy of not only what the President did to enhance his political chances in the next election, but these people knew, as well, righteous Mike Pence, Perry, Mulvaney, Pompeo, Barr, Giuliani, etc.
Cippolone, who was there and heard the shakedown with his own ears but somehow decided to stand there and lie through his teeth in front of the Senate and House defending the President. Unbelievable! What kind of people are these?
This is how fascism begins. We lie about truth, we tell the public that what they see, hear, is not truth but either lies or to never mind our heads about. And....whatever our leader says or does is good, fine, and we must toe the line.
9
Why has our democrazy gone down the tube?
It has always started with Republicans not doing the job which is the people.
They do not care which way it goes as long as they get re-elected. They are bringing the gov't to a totalitism {spelling} regime.
Remember this in Nov, don't vote for the extreme R, vote with the people of common sense which is lacking with the R and Pres.
4
Welcome to the new banana republic , formerly known as the USA. From now on anything goes so break out your guns and bombs and let's have a party !!
4
Drip drip drip. Lev Parnas just dropped more info to Ari Melber on Rachel Maddow’s show tonight. Speaks of a conspiracy at the highest levels, and dovetails with Bolton’s story.
The Senate shut the door on you, John Bolton. The American people want to hear from you now.
10
Look at the bright side of our demise. Rarely in history has there been a more defined moment when we can clearly see the end of the United States of America and our empire and be present at the end of Democracy. It is a proud moment for members of the U.S. Senate who laugh at our foolish naive beliefs in Law and Justice. What a bunch of fools we have been.
3
I'm sick and tired of Ukraine, Burisma, Zelinski, Bolton, Trump. Could we change the theme? There is world on fire with Coronavirus, falling markets etc.
1
@Crow
Better than the Coronation Virus.
6
Putin wins again.
7
Too late Mr Bolton. You shot your own foot. If only you had the courage to speak out during the House trials. No sympathies here!
2
Vote every Republican out of office on November 3, 2020. Every last one of them. From president to senator to dog catcher.
It is time for the G.O.P. to join the Whigs in the dustbin of American history.
===
For all of you honest and thoughtful conservatives left in America, you need to build a new legitimate and respectable conservative political party, from the ashes of what is left of the Republicans, and completely separate yourselves from the Trump Republicans.
That is on you to do. And you should do it.
11
The exclusion of witnesses marks the end of political polarization and the beginning of the Second Civil War. This was the new Fort Sumpter. Democrats now go to war against the evil of conservative Republicanism.
5
Donald Trump asked his national security adviser. John Bolton. last spring in front of other senior advisers to pave the way for a meeting between Rudolph Giuliani and Ukraine’s new leader.
Mens Rea, "Mr Trump", refers to criminal intent. The literal translation from Latin is "guilty mind." The plural of mens rea is mentes reae. A mens rea refers to the state of mind statutorily required in order to convict a particular defendant of a particular crime.
1
A very poor excuse for not doing the right thing. This is disgusting, appalling, and a new low.
The evidence against criminal Trump is overwhelming, documented and corroborated. That Trump can get away with stonewalling makes me sick. A person only does that when they are guilty. All those who protect him are equally guilty.
How can we possibly recover?
5
Bolton has until the Wednesday vote to speak out.
4
Hello autocracy.
6
Enough with the impeachment and hatred of President Trump a d get back to running the country. AMERICANS are tired of the hatred
2
@Nycdweller
"get back to running the country"
Please tell that to Mitch McConnell. With the hundreds of bills passed by the House that are gathering dust on his desk, as he refuses to even bring them up for debate.
5
Bolton's book should be burned. Bolton should be called out for the lacking a spine when standing upright was needed. Who is really going to plunk down a few greenbacks to read Bolton's tell all when telling all is going to be too late.Trump's elevation to strongman could have been stopped if Bolton had of put values above dollars.
3
@Steven McCain: I am confident that Trump will do everything within his power to prevent Bolton from making one red cent from his literary endeavor.
Bolton is banking on the gullible to buy his tome of lies and laugh his way to the bank.
It is obvious he is not peddling to Trump voters.
2
How many times has the Twitter-In-Chief claimed that something never happened? What a disgrace this guy is. Hopefully everyone will be motivated to vote so we can get rid of him.
8
It's hard to see how Trump's looming 'exoneration' by the Senate won't feed his megalomania; nor that he will be able to resist characterizing this acquittal as a vindication not just of his 'perfect' phone call to President Zelensky but also of his mythic stature, a Colossus astride history necessarily liberated from all constraints, answerable only to his own messianic calling.
And yet as Trump casts aside any notion of the law as a refuge for the just, he projects himself not upwards but rather downwards, down into that desperate and dark world of the unjust, where there is no refuge, only a descent into deeper and deeper circles of hell, driven by the tormenting thought of rivals more ruthless than oneself. Cf. Macbeth.
3
Above anything else, senators are more interested in their own reelections and vote accordingly. Today's senate vote points to the fact that the republican senators fear Trump with his ability to negatively affect their own reelection.
Don't go against Trump because he will use his influence to beat you in your next reelection.
This is the real state of our nation just five days before our president tells us of his version of "The State Of The Nation"
scheduled on February 5, 2020 .
This is also the reason that most american's want a limit of one term in office while politicians prefer the chance for multiple terms.
3
As an attorney it is disgusting to me that Pat Cipollone would "lead Trump's impeachment defense" when the rules of ethics require him to decline representation because he was a witness to the meeting between Bolton/ Trump meeting and he could be called to testify at trial. Oh, wait, this is the Republican justice system---no witnesses and thus, no trial. You're off the hook Cipollone, just like your client. Thanks for establishing a precedent that will certainly assure that this country never again impeach a corrupt president. Your Con law prof must be so proud.
23
It's as if the entire Republican caucus marched to Arlington and passed water over every patriot grave. May God rebuke them.
19
At this point, if I still had an American flag, I’d burn it!
9
John Bolton should call a live film crew and take a lie detector test with a credible examiner. John and Jane Q, Public will as least take note. A memorable image for when they next enter the voting booth.
3
Time to fly the stars and strips upside down. The United States of America is in deep distress, thanks to Trump and his evil cohort in the GOP. The Democrats should refuse to attend the State the Union address. Just don’t show up.
13
Despite knowing the Senate would probably stick by their corrupt, impeached leader; I still felt a strong sense of betrayal when the votes were counted! Hope must have crept in when I wasn't looking. I thought there were enough senators who still strove to represent the interests of the electorate, and may actually have wanted to hear the evidence supporting the truth. I was wrong.
Apparently the Republicans, despite the oath they swore, felt no duty to guard or defend the Constitution while it was being manipulated for nefarious reasons. These good senators voted as if they were unaware of the evidence in the world outside the doors they locked. They are not. First hand confirmation of extortion, and blatantly illegal behavior do exist even if they didn't allow it into evidence. Truth is now disposable along with any semblance of honor, ethics or values! Maybe for the senate.
The Republicans are certain that over the course of the next ten months, the electorate will forget about their willful blindness. Their cowardly failure to defend the Constitution and represent the wishes of the people will NOT be forgotten. I have no doubt Trump has many diversions planned for the nation before November.
I will NOT forget! This great country belongs to the People, not the corrupt,selfish few inhabiting the White House now .
I will change the channel when the State of the Union address is aired. Vote for democracy in November.
Vote blue!
13
I'm not sure what type of game Mr. James R. Bolton was playing but he has lost big-time. If I know anything about people who Mr. Bolton betrayed, they will be ruthless in their revenge. John Bolton will the poster boy of the consequences of what happens when one doesn't toe the line.
There's no honor amongst liars, thieves, and manipulators. In the past fifteen days I've read revisionist history in newspapers about who is and what John R. Bolden stood for. Two words, Iraq War.
John Bolton, The Republican Party, and Trump all have something in common, they're self-serving. We are witnessing the 21 century version William Shakespeares play, Macbeth.
5
A just punishment for Bolton’s stunt would be to boycott his book. He is self serving and doesn’t deserve to profit more than his advance. I believe both Democrats and Republicans will support this boycott.
7
Countless thousands have died for our democracy. The republicans' abandonment of our constitution is a dishonor that history won't forgive. The republicans are failing their duty to provide a check on abuse by the executive branch. They are putting political interest and fear above their sworn oath. Their job is not to be a rubber stamp to whatever Trump does; quite the contrary, it's to hold the him accountable. Yet McConnell is coordinating with Trump.
These republicans are our founders' worst nightmare. They didn't want a king and provided a remedy for presidential abuses through impeachment. If our republic is lost, the republicans are to blame.
14
This is what Republicans stand for: corruption, disloyalty, treachery, criminality, illegality, torture, assassination, unending war, authoritarian government, tax cuts for the rich and environmental rapine. This is their idea of American exceptionalism.
This is what Republicans don't stand for: the constitution, the law, oaths sworn before god, democracy, the rule of law, patriotism, decency, the public interest, and everything that men and women have fought and died for for 250 years.
May history excoriate them; may providence sentence them; and may the people dispossess and discharge them now and henceforth.
16
It's now clear that Trump will walk away despite all the evidence that this villain is guilty of trampling the Constitution and the laws of this nation. This ghastly affair proves that the impeachment put in place by the nation Founders is a toothless artifact. So, now that the corrupt White House occupant and his Republican lackeys got what they wanted, what's to prevent the he and the Republicans will maneuver to win the 2020 election and then work feverishly for four years to enact some law to have Trump able to run for president again in 2024? Or, let us suppose that Trump loses the 2020 election; who is to prevent that he and the Republicans will not accept the results and challenge them in court? Since the courts are now in the hands of far-right judges, there is scant hope that justice will prevail. This nation is in for a tragic transformation that would hand an authoritarian power to a minority Party that could rule the rest of us for generations.
7
The Russian takeover of our government is now complete. Just like back in Trump's adopted Motherland, we now have trials where the verdict is determined before the trial begins.
Is there anyone who would say with any confidence that the results of our upcoming November election haven't already been decided by Moscow before the votes have been cast?
9
Trump thinks he is gong to serve two complete terms, followed by either Junior or Ivanka.
8
They're destroying the country in real time.
They don't yet realize they're going down with the rest of the country.
There will be a revolution, and not the one republicans want.
There is much to be done.
8
I don't have any respect for John Bolton. He should have testified before Congress prior to the Senate trial. His primary concern was to sell a book. I for one won't be buying it.
7
@john Sheldon
Exactly! I will not be reading it either for that very reason.
We are witnessing the last gasp of the Republican Party.
But sadly, this minority political organization is trying to take the rest of us down with their sinking ship. I refuse to let that happen. I will not be part of that drug deal.
- Vote blue, no matter who.
- Vote every Republican out of office, from president to senator to dog catcher.
- Vote to save our Constitution, the Rule of Law, and the American Experiment itself.
- Vote like our country depends on it, because it truly does.
Volunteer. Donate. And VOTE!
11
@MidtownATL
That stinking ship is attracting plenty of flies.
1
@LHP
"That stinking ship is attracting plenty of flies."
And there are plenty of rats fleeing that sinking ship as well.
1
Nancy Pelosi should disinvite the president from the State of the Union address. If the Republicans want to do things that are unprecedented, the Democrats should be able to respond. If I were her, I wouldn’t allow him on my house floor. Today was a disgraceful day for America.
16
And I just saved 15% on my car insurance which means just as much in regards to this lame impeachment attempt.
2
The comments are so triggered today. Bet Putin is laughing at all of this right now by saying see Democracy doesn’t work everyone is pummeling each other for the discontent of one another.
2
I don’t like Jim Comey, because he is the reason DT is president today. But he said one thing that I agree with. DT eat their soul. Folks, if you don’t know who Jim Jones is, please look it up.
7
I've had enough of this country. Leaving within a few years.
8
King Trump wins, the average American loses. I'm counting the days when I can retire and leave this banana republic.
10
@PRB
But where to go?
Do you think this is the end of the attack on President Trump by the Democrats. The Dems lost but as usual they are sore losers. Senator Chuck Schumer still wants witnesses to appear. He just won’t give this up. He needs to let this go. It’s over.
2
@KMW The shoes will begin to fall......
1
@KMW
Do you think this is the end of Trump's attacks on the Democrats?
Would anyone have any doubt that if Obama committed the same offenses as Trump that the Republicans wouldn't call for his impeachment and removal? This is hypocrisy on steroids. Why not just anoint Trump as King Donald?
15
@nzierler
Big difference here. Obama would never have ever committed these offenses. None of them.
7
Why would you believe anything he has to say? He is not exactly honest is he? Remember his attitude serving under W. Bush and at the UN? The guy was a 'Mad Scientist' and probably had trouble not showing contempt for Trump who didn't want to go along plan to reshape the world.
His book is 23.99 discounted from 29.99. I'll stay away from it. It will go straight to the discount shelves.
All's not lost. Schiff and Nadler are planning a second impeachment just before election based on whats in the book. That'll get Biden elected for sure.
2
Bolton is playing this like you play a fiddle.His I got a secret act is getting to be tiring.The daily drip of Bolton revelations will continue to come out to bolster his book sales. It would serve Bolton right if his books sales went in the basement.Bolton is being to cute by a half.
1
It was well played out on both the President's and Bolton's parts. Bolton could have always testified on his own. The President tells people they can't read it. It's a win win for the both of them. The President has now been given power to negate everything that comes up in front of him, unless he personality approves it. Welcome to President's Trump's and Putin's United states!!!
2
I frankly think that nobody inside the government cares one whit about anybody outside it. Impeach, don't, acquit, don't, publish, don't, testify, don't---none of it matters. Society is fractured and angry, uncivil and ungovernable. We are finished. We were finished by late last century, actually. This is just the singing of the stout lady now.
1
These tired, old, lazy GOP senators just don’t have the stamina or the integrity for a real trial which would reveal the whole corrupt, self-serving mess Trump has created. And the GOP senate wouldn’t convict Trump anyway! So GOP senators are staging a strategic withdrawal while their losses are manageable.
10
@proffexpert
Trump could not be there if they weren't already just as corrupt as he is before he ran.
John Bolton had horrible timing. His revelations came too late to be of any service to the country. Trump will now be acquitted, claim exoneration and get back to his dirty tricks. Meanwhile Bolton, who has no future in either party going forward now, just seems like a loser trying to sell a book about being "in the room where it happened" which now describes an event that has passed without consequence to the President. So what's the point of John Bolton or his book now? Precedent has already been set for our Republic going forward for Presidents of both parties in the future.
1
75% of the American people wanted to hear the testimony of witnesses in President Trump's impeachment trial.
On November 3, we the people will vote the Senators who denied us this opportunity out of office. And Mitch McConnell will lose his Republican majority in the Senate.
17
@MidtownATL
You'll have to move to Mitch MConnell's district. Would you stoop that low?
@MidtownATL
We need mandatory voting by all adult citizens.
@LHP
Mitch McConnell could win his Kentucy re-election and lose the Republican majority in the Senate. I don't need to move to Kentucky.
The Senate Republicans who could lose include:
- Cory Gardner (R-CO)
- Martha McSally (R-AZ)
- Thom Tillis (R-NC)
- Susan Collins (R-ME)
- Joni Ernst (R-IA)
- open seat (R-KS)
Good luck to the Republicans on keeping their Senate majority in 2021.
1
Here in Australia, it’s quite easy to get rid of the prime minister. The party simply has to take an in-party leadership vote/challenge and whoever has those votes takes over as prime minister. It’s happened several times in the past few years, sometimes within the same administration. Granted, it’s robbed us of good leaders (Julia Gillard), but it has also freed us from awful Trumpian conservatives (Tony Abbott). The Governor General also has the right to remove the Prime Minister, which has happened once with the delightfully left wing and beloved Gough Whitlam.
It’s ironic that by staying under the umbrella of the Commonwealth, we’ve ended up with a system where the sort of autocratic, dictatorial take-over by one person that’s currently happening in the states is exceedingly unlikely. He wants to be king, and the system in place is somehow allowing it. That system needs to be vastly improved and altered to ensure that when the Trump Train finally runs out of gas, it cannot happen again.
Then again, perhaps this is wishful thinking, and men like Trump will always find a way to exploit the system to gain unprecedented power. I wish we lived in a world where the *best* of us rose to the top. Not the worst.
5
President Trump had excellent legal council. They did an outstanding job defending him and they argued their case beautifully. Of course, it was a slam dunk case from the start but they represented him very convincingly. They are to be commended.
2
@KMW
They were quite free and easy with the facts, including some blatant lies.
4
@KMW Nonsense. Trump's defense team did a terrible job because the facts were not on their side.
1
Article I, Section 3, Clause 6 of the Federal Constitution: The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. Funny how this trial, of all trials, doesn’t require testimony from witnesses. Party before country and rule of law. Shameful. If we somehow can keep our Republic after this administration is through wrecking our Constitution, history will not be kind to the GOP.
8
President Trump won. The Republicans won. Isn’t democracy grand.
1
So.
Where were you when McConnell strangled American democracy?
39
@Opinioned!
I felt less bad on the day WWIII began in September 2001
Goodbye democracy!
15
Immediately following the vote on witnesses, some Republican Senators said that they did not vote to hear more witnesses and get relevant documents, because the fact that Trump performed the acts that led to his impeachment had been proven to their satisfaction.
But for various reasons they will not vote to impeach Donald Trump.
51 of them voted to make the USA a banana republic. They have enabled an authoritarian, who has twice sought to use foreign influence in elections, and who has indicated that he may choose to not leave office. There is no other way to describe the result of their vote.
The Republicans have also dangerously enabled any future president who may be better at doing what Trump is attempting. And let there be no doubt that they know, and the American people will come to know, what Donald Trump is attempting, and what seemed impossible until the Republican Party got on their knees to an ill informed, narcissistic, con artist.
26
No American should have any qualms about impeaching Trump a second time if he abuses his power again.
17
If?!
3
President Trump's WH counsel for his sham trial are now officially known as The New Michael Cohens. They are truly his fixers.
In much the same way that a mob fixer clears away any witness or evidence that may incriminate his mob boss, Cipillone, Sekulow, Philbin, Bondi, Dershowitz, and Starr have told the lies, done the gaslighting, thrown the distraction hand grenades, and FIXED Trump's latest corruption problems.
In fairness, JIm Jordan, Meadows, Nunes, and Gaetz deserve to be named Michael Cohen FIXERS as well. They will trash any moral principle in a HEARTBEAT for their boss. Remember the rich irony of watching Jordan and Meadows mock the corrupt ways of Michael Cohen when he testified before Congress?
And here they all are - WH counsel, too - going much lower than Cohen ever went.
I wonder if Pat Cipillone will be reprimanded by the DC Bar for defending Trump before the Senate when he was a firsthand witness to his wrongdoing? Whatever happens, I'm sure that Trump and Barr will whitewash it into another lie.
23
When you claim to have a great hand and you only have a good hand, your hand looks bad.
Democrats should have gone straight to what Alan Dershowitz focused on - the middle bucket of mixed motivations, and made the case that this cannot, always, be permitted to suffice as a fig leaf when the motivations appear primarily illicit. It would have been virtually impossible to argue against all the SCOTUS-style hypotheticals. It would have framed Democrats in the position we all know we are supposed to admire - that of accepting that someone is innocent until proven guilty, and placed Republicans in the position of having to say, "Yes, I believe that the president's primary concern was corruption," instead of being able to say, "Look, the president is entitled to make policy decisions as he likes, and if he gets hung up on thinking that Ukraine interfered with our election, that's his prerogative."
Only jurors determine motive - Senators in this case. It makes no difference that Trump pressured Bolton, that he called back Yovanovitch, that he made aid contingent on an announcement of investigations - unless his motive can be proven. Dershowitz knew that and seemed to have even assumed that the Democrats would have made the argument too, preparing for this by saying that if there is a mixed motive, then the president is covered.
But the democrats made no such argument. I think Hakim Jeffries seems to have been best equipped to carry out a successful plan, but he was not the boss.
Yeah, right, follow Alan “Never Met A Rich Man Whose Constitutional Rights I Wouldn’t Take A Fat Fee For,” Dershowitz’ lead.
Good thinking; great ethics.
3
This new Bolton claim sounds bogus. Are we to believe that Trump would ask his National Security Advisor (Bolton) to conduct a diplomatic task and facilitate a meeting between Giuliani and Zelenski, while he has a perfectly good and helpful Secretary of State (Pompeo) to whom he can go to?
1
With the book by Bolton now likely to be delayed for months or years
over "national security concerns" by Trump & Co., I really wish that someone who has this unpublished manuscript makes it public in its entirety. Yes, I know that this will cause loud howls of "violating secrecy and national security", but, just like the Pentagon papers, publishing "top secret" information can be the truly patriotic thing to do!
17
@Pete in Downtown... Our national security is already being threatened by trump's occupation of the White House.
9
After all is said, and undone,it is total chaos in this government. Most people see the impeachment as a trial. The GOP senators see it as a political exercise and acted accordingly. The people will decide what it is.
8
The presidency will never be the same. Checks and balances are a thing of the past. Going forward, a president can't be guilty of anything whatsoever. There is a silver lining however - Trump, the Senate, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, the State Department, the Defense Department and others have exposed glaring weaknesses in the US Constitution and the separation of powers.
10
There is a reason that the Founding Fathers picked the Chief Justice to oversee an impeachment trial of the President. Unfortunately it appears the new movie will be “Mr. Roberts goes to Washington, but decided to sit on his hands”.
14
Adam Schiff is a national hero, argued to the end for what’s right as America’s rule of law is suffocated in the night. If he isn’t soundly slapped down in this upcoming election our democracy is loss.
12
Perhaps Mr. Bolton, now that the President is lying about asking him to help Giuliani in the Ukraine fiasco, will be willing to testify in the House. The White House is preventing his book from being published. As long as Trump burns bridges, Bolton should, too.
6
This is a new reality. We really do need to take to the streets to save the country, but not just once on a weekend. We need something akin to a general strike. We need an organizer with big reach (didn't Obama say he was going to to set that up?). Anyway, I wrote MoveOn asking them to do it, and not just the usual GOTV. I urge others to do the same.
12
How relieved Romney and Collins must be that their otes to admit witnesses to this'trial' make no difference as they claim to their constituents that they tried but failed. But Romney and especially Collins have always skated on the edge of electability as they try to have it both ways. Will they cast votes for removal? Of course not. They need to be voted out along with my Senator Burr who fails to answer my emails and tries to lay low in my almost blue state.
9
@just Robert He ignores all North Carolinians. You are not alone!
4
The Watergate mantra of “who knew what and when did they know it” is dead. If the republican senators don’t care to get the facts and allow the public to hear Bolton, does it matter if the fix on Ukraine was settled in May or July? We’ve been living in a post facts reality for a while now and now we are watching the death of our constitution. In its place is paternalistic dictator-like magical thinking. If papa Trump thinks it, its okay. And this sits squarely on the shoulders of power hungry Moscow Mitch and the republican senators who have lined up to destroy our country by absconding their jobs of proving checks and balances on the power of the presidency. I hope whatever victory toasts they make tonight are made bitter by the taste of their blackened, shriveled souls. Their legacy will be the destruction of this great country. I am crying for her tonight.
6
OK lets play devil's advocate.
In what circumstance does a private US citizen have a legitimate interest in speaking to the president of a foreign nation in order to induce that president to cause his government to investigate a fellow private US citizen?
The answer is none.
6
I predict that Mitt Romney will run for President again in the future, and that he will win. He will be the only remaining bastion of true conservatism once this nightmare is over.
But who is the short-term beneficiary of Republican cowardice in this trial? Joe Biden. Not calling witnesses doesn’t exonerate Trump. In fact it just makes the case that Biden is the candidate who can beat him. Republicans are going to regret this big time.
12
I hope when each and every one of these Republicans are up for re-election, this vote will be a part of their opponent’s campaign and they will be defeated by a Democrat ( capital and lower case d)
9
My wife (who is Russian) and I were in Boston today with business in the state building at One Ashburtin place. After leaving we made our way back to the Park Street subway station passing the Augustus St. Gaudens bronze relief memorial on Beacon Street honoring the 54th Massachusetts Regiment of Infantry and it’s a Commanding officer, Robert Gould Shaw. There we stopped and my wife admired the monument as I explained the bravery and contribution of Black troops to the Union cause in the fight for their country. As we turned to leave, we passed by an elderly woman who was handing out “Bernie” pamphlets and I said aloud...”unlike Donald Trump, who has never fought for anyone but himself and his grifting family!” And then I thanked her for her political activism. Semper Fi!
15
Had Bolton, Mulvaney, Pompeo and others testified and confirmed what obviously took place,Republicans would be voting the same way. They were never going to convict no matter how much evidence or how many witnesses confirmed Trump's indiscretions. Having said that,Nancy and Democrats did the right thing by honoring their oath to the constitution. The Democrats are true patriots!
12
The Republican senators obviously thought that more witnesses were not necessary. The house had 17 witnesses and could have called John Bolton during their trial. It must be remembered that the Republicans were not allowed to cross examine any of the witnesses. The Democrats just wanted to delay this trial far into the election year to hurt President Trump. The trial is finally over. Their scheme failed and now they need to get back to work.
3
What do you mean “Republicans didn’t get to cross examine”? There were closed door hearings, where Republicans got equal time to question witnesses, and then there were the public hearings where Nunez and Jordan used up the the Republicans equal questioning time grandstanding and pushing Russian propoganda.
8
@KMW You are entirely wrong.
House committee members (including GOP members) questioned all witnesses before the House Judiciary and Intelligence Committees. Please see coverage of those hearings from Nov. 13-20.
Don't trust the NYT other than as a vehicle for your patently untrue comments?
Here are a variety of linked sources to help you out:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impeachment_inquiry_against_Donald_Trump#House_Intelligence_Committee_hearings
Your comments are just always demonstrably false.
And I'm tired of them. Tell the truth or go elsewhere.
3
@KMW I suggest watching the hearings, both Republicans and Democrats got equal time to ask questions.
5
There was no impartiality in this impeachment farce as far as the Senate is concerned. Senators doing crossword puzzles and making paper airplanes during evidence submittal proved that. The fact that Lindsay Graham said beforehand that he would vote for acquittal...without hearing one word...and Mitch McConnell saying that he was coordinating every Senate plan and action with the White House proves this was a sham. There was no open mindedness, no impartiality whatsoever. It became simply a way to rub it in the face of the House. With the prime lawyer being comprised, this is a disgusting abuse of power.
Let us just hope that the democracy of this country has not fallen to a petty, petulant, perverse man who should probably be in jail rather than the Oval office.
18
I think more witnesses, including Ambassador Bolton should have been called.
Nevertheless, I find Ambassador Bolton's resistance to testify before the House but all ready to testify before the Senate as suspect.
Why did he change his mind? I try not to be a cynic, but his motivation is a little too facile.
3
I certainly wouldn't want to be in Zelensky's shoes, who knows what additional corrupt practices will be demanded of him to benefit Trump personally, now that all the guard rails are off.
6
John Nance Garner famously observed that “the vice presidency is not worth a bucket of warm spit.”
Nor are Senate Republicans.
11
Election Day, I can’t wait. Only one of my Senators is up for election. He was a coward, afraid of the truth. Support your blue candidates. We just moved a little closer to Moscow.
12
Witness Tampering... should be the headlines everywhere. Maybe the biggest Gangster move perpetrated in politics.
Best that can be taken away is if GOP voters have an iota of honesty or they just care about winning. Brace yourselves, here comes the shameless gloating. Republicans don't represent the majority and exist for the next time they can get close to the treasury to launder it disproportionately for the Boomerang Effect of campaign donations bouncing back into their laps. The Electoral College is all wound up and ready for Trump to steal another one, while we talk about getting numbers to the polls, electors aren't required to vote per their states' majority. Not sure what adjective to put in front of the word coupe to fit the description. We can point our fingers and scold but prepare for the courts to get stuffed with more oligarch supporters for LIfe Ruth, hold on baby.
2
Now it is up to the people.
VOTE !
14
One question. Why did Bolton refuse to testify in the House?
7
@Old blue: I think at the time, he thought he could still get his book out. "Have his cake, and eat it too." The refusal by the NSC to publish will, I hope, change his mind. Just because the end of the impeachment process is at hand does not mean there won't be more evidence.
1
@Old blue
Maybe because the POTUS would have him arrested before he could appear?
1
There is a fool born every minute. P. T. Barnum
Donald and Rudi are running the country - The GOP's a total sell out to a huckster realty tv guy reciting the 2nd amendment over and over saying I can do anything I want to.
What could go wrong?
Everything!
7
Why did he not speak out sooner? What was he holding out for?
2
@Momof2boyz
He was "holding out" for exactly what has happened.
He wants to create the impression he is a good loyal American when the fact is he is only a good loyal republican.
The man had nothing but himself preventing him from appearing in the House when asked and for not speaking until now. There is no legal authority behind Trumps telling him not to talk and all moral authority says he should have talked as soon as Trump tried to get him involved. All of them should have.
5
What prevents the House of Representatives from issuing a subpoena to call John Bolton to testify before a house committee on Monday afternoon?
6
@Michael Mahoney
I wonder why there has been no action against Devin Nunes who was apparently involved in this attempt to force Ukraine during the intelligence committee impeachment hearings where he was ranting and raving to us about how it was all fake?
2
Nothing. But that will almost surely be followed by the Trump administration claiming executive privilege, and perhaps Bolton challenging the legality of the subpoena as well. That, of course might lead to a court battle, but only if the Democrats don't act like scared little chickens who are afraid to go to court, like they did during the last round of house earrings.
1
So the lawyer leading the president's defense was a material witness. No wonder the Republicans didn't want to call witnesses!
20
At the end of the day, we all know that any of Trump's Ukraine actions (or countless other scandals), had they been done by a Democrat, would send every single one of these Republican Senators into fits of impeachment-demanding apoplexy.
10
OK, right about now we can probably use a good laugh.
Go to CNN and check out Chris Cillizza's hysterical piece on the latest Bloomberg ad about Trump.
Bloomberg confesses, "Yeah, I hired Trump to run a golf course. But that's the ONLY thing I'd hire him to do."
The ad is peppered with shots of Trump, on the golf course, all starkly realistic as to his obese, lumpy body.
There is a shot of him attempting to ascend a hill on the course - on all fours. I'm roaring just thinking about it.
I would give my eye-teeth to see it. Unfortunately, they don't run political ads in Alaska for national races. Not enough electoral votes.
Pity. Guess I'll have to wait for you tube.
11
Open another impeachment inquiry immediately, while this trial is running, and call Bolton to testify in the house Monday. (!)
8
The President doesn't want the book published; the Republicans refuse to hear this, or any other witness in a trial. Your democracy is long past being in trouble; at this point, sadly it just looks doomed to those of us on the outside looking in. Elections bought by big money, fraught with fraud and utilizing debunked conspiracy theories perpetuated from the top in a heavily armed country full of true believers. How long until you just become another Lebanon...really.
7
This is one of the darkest days I've ever experienced and I am not even a citizen. Your sense of betrayal must be so much greater than mine! You have all the support I possess even though I know it will not be enough.
If Trump succeeds with this assault on the Constitution; everything you hold dear is in jeopardy. Nothing will be safe from his perverted, seditious behavior. Protest and march en masse until justice is served. Your democracy is worth the effort!
10
Now we know exactly who needs to be voted out.
12
@CLee
I am moving to Kentucky for a week just so I can vote McConnell out of office. Unfortunately I live in a state now that has responsible, sane senators and reps.
3
@LHP I use to live there, don't go. I did my duty and voted against him. He only wins by a small margin each time he runs. There is hope.
3
@LHP
Ha, I’ll meet you there!
2
Shame John Bolton. Anyone in favor of additional witnesses, upholding the rule of law and holding our elected officials accountable should not buy Bolton's book—they can read about it in this fine paper. He played the Democrats and the system so that he could stay cozy with conservative power. He easily could have spoken up at anytime prior to today's proceedings to give either Congress, the Senate and the American people a fuller picture of what went down in the Trump "drug deal." He is lock-step with the Republicans allowing a president to (try to) cheat and exist above the law. Shame on them all.
4
I hope no one will purchase Bolton's book and it will be a major money loser. I have been hearing that no one from the FOX audience will be reading his book and now I don't believe any Dems will be interested in Bolton's book.
2
My two Republican Senators from Georgia, David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, are among the nastiest and Trumpiest of the bunch.
In the 2018 midterm elections, every statewide Democratic candidate in Georgia won at least 48.5% of the statewide vote. Georgia is turning purple.
The Democratic Senate opponents to Perdue and Loeffler are not yet determined, pending the March 24 primary election.
But after that date, please help us turn Georgia blue on November 3, 2020.
Volunteer. Donate. And VOTE!
===
Also please help:
- re-elect Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-6);
- and elect (flip a House seat) Carolyn Bourdeaux (GA-7).
9
It seems obvious that the senate republicans would not turn on @potus - both sides said and knew that upfront. Yet, the Democrats pushed on. The question is why. Is this part of a master plan? Or did they just feel the process was necessary for historical posterity? Either way, will be interesting to see what happens over the next 12 months. These events make a moderate democratic nominee more likely.
1
@Arblot:
Why did he Democrats push on even youth they knew Republicans wouldn’t turn on trump? To be on he right side of history, to show that they stood up to this vile human being, to show that trump isn’t king. And yet here we are—trump can do anything and get away with it. At least the Democrats tried to rein him in.
3
Evidence = Conviction
Afraid, Afraid to convict. The Senate just voted for a lack of Evidence.
What happened today is not just this once.
What happened tonight is not just for this turn of the news cycle.
This vote of fear forever harms this nation's brave and fragile project of Democracy. Fear of what?
3
The House should start all over again. Impeach Trump again. There is plenty unfolding, and plenty that wasn't included the first time around.
14
Why can't Bolton give his public testimony in the form of a TV interview before Wednesday? Not that it would change minds in the Senate, but at least it could be part of the public record.
I am concerned that President Trump still believes he did nothing wrong in asking for a quid pro quo. Can the Senate GOP provide a statement of censure that says "Trump's actions were wrong, but they did not warrant impeachment"?
5
I’m hoping that Ambassador Bolton spends this weekend writing a full page op-ed piece for publication in Monday morning’s NY Times. I see this as his last best chance to stand up as a Patriot. There must be one left somewhere in the Republican Party.
1
@Lindsey Everhart Reese and anyone else mistakenly thinking what she wrote.
The thing you allege is not real.
The attempt to get investigations is an entirely political/criminal effort.
There is no evidence upon which anyone might legitimately base such questions as you raise for Trump.
You have the freedom to think what you like, everyone does.
No one has the freedom to use the people's authority to go after anyone without just cause. Reasonable belief requires reason be applied. When it is applied to the theories proposed by Giuliani/Trump there is no reason to believe them.
Reasonable Belief-Reasonable Belief exists, when there is a reasonable basis to believe that a crime is being or has already been committed.
Evidence- the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.
Just Cause-A reasonable and lawful ground for action.
Mitch McConnell has closed the record, so that no new evidence can be submitted.
I'm actually happy! McConnell can close the record, but that does not mean that there can't be bombshell revelations between now and Wednesday's final vote. Even if new information won't be entertained by McConnell, I would relish watching the GOP squirm under the camera lights as more bad news emerges and their vote to stonewall a real trial would come to look like a naive cover-up.
So bring it on -- leaks; admissions from patriots inside the Administration; a dump of tax and other documents. I think that the time for all of this would be now, and the damage to the GOP would be overwhelming.
11
The next election will determine the future of America. Next week the GOP Senate will determine their future! In addition, the Chief Justice, sat silently while lawmakers were undermining the US Constitution! We know our government is broken. Let’s fix the problem not the blame.
4
Ok, honorable Americans, let’s start pumping money into Mark Kelly’s campaign to defeat McSally, money into John Hickenlooper’s efforts to defeat Cory Gardner, financial support for Jaime Harrison’s challenge against Lindsey Graham, money into Amy McGrath’s campaign against Mitch McConnell, etc.
After today and the last three years, it has become apparent that we no longer live in a democratic republic. If we wish to regain the democracy that a number of us have enjoyed for a long time (recognizing that African Americans and others have not experienced nearly the same rights as white Americans), every Republican senator up for reelection/election in 2020 must be defeated except MAYBE Susan Collins.
15
@Joan Susan Collins needs defeating as well. She's no profile in courage. She waits until her vote doesn't matter to cast it (witnesses during impeachment trial) or goes along with this pack (Kavanaugh). No respect for her.
4
@Joan You had me until you maybe absented Susan Collins who is as bad as the rest in her slipperyness.
3
This is anti-democratic but it isn’t all bad. Seventy-five percent of Americans wanted to hear witnesses. That the Senate will not hear witnesses sharpens the focus of what is really going on here. If anyone was looking for facts to help them decide who to vote for, this abdication by the Senate Republicans makes it very clear that if American voters want to keep their democracy, they can’t vote Republican. This can be more powerful than any attack ad.
10
No one should buys Bolton’s book or give him one minute of publicity to promote it. For all his years of service, when his country needed him to step up and defend democracy he didn’t step up.
1
The action today by the Senate should remove any doubts about "moderate" Republicans.
As Rep Schiff said, this case will forever now be cited as precedent for eliminating the need for witnesses in trials.
3
The precedent has be set, there is no going back now. All future impeachments will require years and years of litigation all the way to the Supeme Court to obtain any documents and witnesses from the executive branch. Oversight is officialy dead. Date of death 1/31/2020. The Senate didn't just let Trump off the hook, they gave away our power to check a corrupt president. Our power, not the power of the transient occupants of the house and senate. It was not theirs to give away.
No one is above the law, has now become, Just one is above the law. May they live to regret the enormity of their great mistake. A pox on the those members of the Republican majority who could have still have had their certain acquittal but upheld the rule of law by forcing the White House to pony up the documents.
5
The archetypal story of Star Wars feels all too pertinent right now. The Dark side may have won this battle, but the Rebels will win the War.
4
A minority of American voters are completely happy to have Donald Trump installed as our King.
They know nothing (or perhaps care not) about the original and persistent American values, as espoused by our Founders and embodied in the Constitution, and elaborated upon contemporaneously in the Federalist Papers.
The rest of us must reject this national suicide, on November 3, 2020. This is the most important election in the lifetime of any living American citizen.
Volunteer. Donate. And VOTE.
Like our very nation depends upon it. Because it does.
11
Everyone knew from the very beginning that the GOP Senate was not going to remove Trump, no matter what the evidence may be.
No new witnesses are needed because the House has already demonstrated beyond a reasonable doubt that the President obstructed Congress and that he abused the power of his office by asking Ukraine to aid his re-election.
Every GOP Senator knows they are defending a guilty man.
3
If the White House honestly believed that Mr. Trump had done nothing wrong and said it would welcome anybody for a new witness, would Republican Senators have voted differently?
My direct ancestor, Thomas Stone of Maryland, is rolling over in his grave right about now. So are his contemporaries, the Founders of the United States of America.
We do not have a king. We have an elected president, checked by Congress and the judicial branch. And we are a nation subject to the Rule of Law, not the rule of a single man. (Or so I thought.)
Shame on the Senate Republicans. But more importantly, shame on the minority of the American people who support this travesty against the Constitution and the American Experiment itself.
Apparently, the answer to Benjamin Franklin's famous question as he walked out of Independence Hall in Philadelphia is, "No, we cannot keep our republic."
I hope I am wrong.
And I'm still fighting to prove so.
Our country is worth fighting for.
November 3, 2020.
Volunteer. Donate. And VOTE!
8
@MidtownATL
And I should add that my direct ancestor, Thomas Stone of Maryland, signed the Declaration of Independence.
2
I don't know who is going to get out of it a loser or a winner but let the people decide come November. In the meantime, there are important issues to be dealt with. Just like the Russia collusion, impeachment has lived.
An unpublished leaked manuscript is hardly guaranteed to be . the unvarnished truth.
The Dems need to try and garner some dignity and admit defeat.
The public has suffered enough.
Work on improving your 17% approval rating
2
@Norville T. Johnstone you apparently missed Lamar Alexander's takeaway.
BTW, this isn't about approval ratings, it's about the rule of law.
5
@Mike
The Dems called for a first degree murder conviction when a charge of assault would have been more appropriate or more directly they would have gotten bipartisan support if they went for censure. To remove him from office through a few month before an election though was a desperate overreach.
Optics do matter even when you claim your "on the side of the law" Often those that claim that the loudest are not.
1
Murkowski on Twitter:
"The House chose to send articles of impeachment that are rushed and flawed. I carefully considered the need for additional witnesses and documents, to cure the shortcomings of its process, but ultimately decided that I will vote against considering motions to subpoena. Given the partisan nature of this impeachment from the very beginning and throughout, I have come to the conclusion that there will be no fair trial in the Senate. I don’t believe the continuation of this process will change anything."
Listen, fool: The House had enough evidence to indict, and that is what they did. Why do you suppose every single impeachment trial in the Senate has had witnesses? Hint: trials have witnesses. Real trials do.
Republicans - with the exception of Romney and maybe a couple others - are the partisans in this impeachment. The facts led in one direction only: guilty as charged. Of high crimes against the Constitution, of high crimes. Only partisanship can explain why someone would not only fail to find a mountain of evidence gathered by the House convincing, but also vote to silence every senior administration official and squelch every document.
8
It doesn’t matter. The republicans do not care. Not enough of the country cares. But the democrats were totally right to pursue the process. When history looks back to see how the US slid into autocracy and hatred, Democrats will at least be able to say they tried. What will the GOP say? There won’t be a GOP as it will have been replaced by the MAGA party.
8
This while impeachment debacle was such an unnecessary waste of time and resources. None of the Democrats can beat Trump. They have wacky economic plans.
Tom Steyer is the only decent candidate. He won’t get enough votes. Warren and Bernie can’t beat Trump. Biden has much of the stagnant Obama-era policies that don’t belong in the post-recessives economy.
Trump will be re-elected.
1
Democrats need to ask the UN for observers in the election.
Who can be confident at this point that Republicans won't attempt fraud?
The entire Republican Senate just lied under oath, bar the only decent man left Mitt Romney, and la manipulatrice par excellence Susan Collins who got a calculated free pass from McConnell because of Kavanaugh.
8
Sorry Democrats, but nobody cares about John Bolton or the farce impeachment you made the country endure. The voters will send the Democrats a message of disdain this fall removing the party as the majority party in the House. Vote for America--Vote Republican.
6
@Jonathan
Good luck with that. You are in the minority opinion of American voters, including in the swing states. Your president won by 77,000 votes spread across PA, MI, and WI, in a fluke electoral college win. That fluke will not repeat itself.
Donald Trump has never tried to be the president for all Americans. To the contrary, he has openly expressed contempt for over half the American people. That is not a winning political formula.
8
@Jonathan
I am sending you a message of disdain. I knew for a long time that the GOP is a criminal organization, but I am uneasy how I could be so right for so long. I fear for this country.
10
He committed the crime alleged, you guys just don’t care. No one will trust you again, except the small group of true believers.
4
Am I the only one who thinks the no witness vote is long term good for Dems? The base is hopeless, but we knew they weren’t going to remove him, but the truth will come out making the rush to judgment all the more outrageous. This will get people off the coach in Nov.
19
@Joanne - if the objective was to make the Republicans look as craven as possible, it's certainly achieved that.
2
How you can think this is good for America eludes me.
I trust that somewhere someone is making a political commercial showcasing Dershowitz's legal theory that Trump is the State.
15
this is only going to get worse. in a few months the gop will be wishing they'd bitten th bullet, ejected trump, and installed pence in his place.
17
Bolton, if you're out there and reading these comments, please be interviewed by a journalist on TV, live, and do the right thing. That's what Adam Schiff pleaded for in the senate, to do the right thing.
24
If Bolton gave two whits about his country or Ukraine security he would have testified during the House Investigation.
30
All Trump advisors know Trump is a doofus. They exploited him for their benefit by working for him and praising him to get what they want. Senators like McConnell, Graham, et al. supported the activities in White House for their own benefits. They are treating Trump like an adult child and stealing what they want. Bolton ain’t saint. Few good people took the exit early.
11
@Kodali - you are spot on with your comment
1
So much for "moderate" Republicans like Rob Portman who think voting for witnesses (whom three-quarter of Americans want to hear from) will further divide the country, or Lamar Alexander who said: "It would just pour gasoline on cultural fires that are burning out there.”
The fire, gentlemen, you should be concerned about is not a "cultural" one, but a conflagration of outrage from every thinking American (no matter where they lie on the cultural spectrum) lit by your own dereliction, hypocrisy and epic cowardice. I fervently hope it rages you all out of office, although I fear it won't -- and that will be on us.
There IS a serious cultural divide in this country, (if one wants to call it that) and that is between ignorance and truth. I was struck by the Times survey last week about "How Americans Are Thinking About Impeachment". Did anyone notice that the majority of self-identified republicans had a flimsy grasp of the issue, while most of the democrats knew the salient issues and even the major players?
We must honor the personhood of every American, but must we honor a willful ignorance, or a lack of caring enough to obtain the available facts in so momentous a situation for our democracy as impeachment of a president?
I refuse. Wake up, America or soon enough you'll wake up to living in a country without the rights you say you cherish so deeply as the bedrock of our republic.
27
How ironic that Mr Trump's ham-handed attempt to extort an announcement of an investigation of Joe Biden has resulted in the uncovering of more and more and more 'dirt' on Trump himself. And there will only be more revelations in the months ahead.
Republicans have traveled from denying Mr Trump did anything wrong to proclaiming he did something wrong and even broke laws but nothing he did warranted removal. A little more time and some key testimony would have destroyed that absurd position.
14
For the sake of god people, do not send Mr. Bolton’s book to the best sellers list. Cashing in has been his calculated plan since the House hearings. It’s a day late for him to be the knight in shiny armor.
9
@JWC:
Although sane people disagree with his policy, most would agree that he is a patriot and not a liar.
@JWC:
Although sane people disagree with his policy, most would agree that he is a patriot and not a liar.
1
This is one of those events that I am sure I will remember for the rest of my life. God himself may run as a Republican but I will NEVER consider voting for the party that killed democracy today.
39
Who knows how god would vote but I’m pretty sure if Jesus were walking the streets of America today he would be a Unitarian.
1
Once again you fail to name your sources. I sure hope you aren't being played. The House should have taken their time and subpoenaed Bolton if they thought he was useful. They didn't and they lost. Bolton may have nothing to say.
5
The House DID try to get Bolton to testify. He refused, and threatened legal challenges that could have dragged on for months. Anyone who says they didn’t, is flat out lying.
7
You know you're in trouble when the verdict is....either way i'm innocent cause i have the Affluenza defense of proper methods and procedures. He had the best education money can offer. See kids, this is what happens when you sleep in class.
6
It's official. Kellyanne Conway was right. There is no such thing as "the truth". There are only "alternative facts" . Which is really really good for Trump and really bad for us....
20
The book has no meaning by now, even if everything might be true... Bolton five minutes of fame ended today, and will be killed completely by Wednesday...
7
This must have started when Bush stole the election from Gore, then the next one, which told the GOP that they can do whatever they want to get elected without a fight from the Dems. Next, Trump stole the election from H with the help of Putin and other major criminals--again the Dems were unable to fight back effectively. Here we are now with a dictator, his power growing, planning and plotting his theft of the next election, the starry eyed Dems still believing that justice and law will prevail. Meanwhile the Red State/Slave State Republicans are celebrating like they just won the Civil War. Who thinks Trump's behavior will get better now?
29
@Hector, How the heck do we fight T from stealing the next election? That scares me the most.
Whatever Mr. Bolton could contribute to the case against Donald Trump, the first trial in the history of humankind without witness testimony will prevent him from doing so.
2
Well, that was unexpected.
1
The Senate proclaimed Trump is above the law, yet they voiced fake morality principles when they declared Clinton was guilty and published his sexual escapades on the Internet. It’s disorienting to know America no longer stands for justice. I believe Trump’s true motive was to coerce Ukraine to fabricate dirt on Obama. Trump won’t rest until he destroys Obama’s reputation. A sad day for our country when truth doesn’t matter.
10
We have just witnessed President Trump, “Cover-Up Leader” McConnell and Senate Republicans shoot the U.S. Constitution down on Fifth Avenue and get away with it.
Get used to it.
It’s only the beginning.
37
We used to have a republic. Sorry Ben, we tried but we weren’t able to keep it.
34
I feel your pain, but our Republic isn’t dead, yet. We’ll find out in November. Vote Blue No Matter Who!
2
The Second Impeachment of Donald J. Trump has been set in motion. Two hundred and fifty years of laws and wisdom won't just though up her hands and get over it.
12
Wow - this is great news. As soon as this news was out - as expected Trump & his sycophants will deny it and label John Bolton a liar.
More great news - Senators Romney & Collins voted 'YES' for Bolton & other witnesses to be called before the U.S. Senate impeachment trail.
Ssadly the vote was defeated 51-49.
So, it would be more great news if Mr. Bolton appeared on the Sunday TV News circuit to tell his story to Americans, who will decide Trump's fate in November 2020.
11
Some Republican Senators have amitted that they did not vote to see more witnesses because the facts against Trump have been proven. But for various reasons they will not vote to impeach Donald Trump. 51 of them have just voted to make the USA a banana republic.
27
Romney: a man for all seasons.
5
The Senate does not fairly represent the American people by having two Senators represent each state no matter how many people live there, with many states being heavily gerrymandered.
Same with the Electoral "College"
We all know it is tilted by corrupt practices of gerrymandering, judge choices, stacking the supreme court, voter repression, to make it likely that Republican win.
This is where we are now, and Democrats will not win elections and the middle class does not have proper representation on the national level, as we all know.
Today was bad. We have to vote them out. The cards are stacked against us. It is important that we all put forth a lot of effort to do our part and more to evict the Republican Party in as many states and positions of power as possible at every level not because all of them are immoral, because enough of them are immoral and they have to lose power till they choose better people to represent their points of view..
We have to get every Democrat registered to vote and out to vote. We can make an important difference when we get out there and do the work on the ground.
10
How can Republicans say that what Trump did was wrong but the electorate should decide, when the information the voters need to make an informed decision is being withheld? It is outrageous. It is essential that the Senate is flipped to Democratic control in November.
22
Hear ye, hear ye, my fellow believer in democracy. All is not lost.
We knew that 2/3 of the Senate was not going to vote to convict Trump, and that it would boil down to the election. Trumpian nonsense about being the victim is undercut by his not allowing (or his Republican toadies not allowing) witnesses. And it increases the question: what does he have to hide (I know, we know, it really isn't hidden).
Also, with drafts of Bolton's book floating around, some patriot (think Ellsberg, Snowden) is bound to out it to the media- though it is already known by the media, i.e., The New York Times.
All we need is a whistleblower who believes in the public right to know to put it on the internet?
Is there a hero in the house?
9
I have many questions as to how the new non democratic king based US government will work now that the Senate has bequeathed its power to Trump. Trump has taken it on himself to say when and where government funds will be dispersed as he held up Ukraine ear marked defense funds for his own personal advantage. Will the House or Senate have any control at all of government resources or will it all be spent on Mara logo housing or investigating the rest of the Democratic field?
13
It's distressing to know that the person in the highest office in the land is held, by Republican Senators, to a standard that is far, far lower than the lowest standard in the land expected of citizens.
39
Distressing, yes. Surprising, not at all!!
Immediately following the vote some Republican Senators said that they did not vote to hear more witnesses and get relevant documents, because the fact that Trump did the acts that led to his impeachment been proven to their satisfaction, but for various reasons they will not vote to impeach Donald Trump.
51 of them have just voted to make the USA a banana republic. They have enabled an authoritarian, who has twice sought to use foreign influence in elections, and who has said he may not choose to leave office. There is no other way to describe the result of their vote.
The Republicans have enabled any future president who may be better at doing what Trump is attempting.
Let there be no doubt that they know what Donald Trump is attempting.
31
For the first time, I understand why many people don't bother to vote. I no longer have one shred of faith or trust in our government and judicial system.
16
@TL For the first time, I understand why many people bother to vote, even if the candidate they're voting for may not have been their most ideal choice. We need to point this country in the right direction again.
15
So its all over but the shouting. Bolton will not testify before the Senate and part of the reason for that is Bolton's own obstinacy as he defied the House. Bolton is volatile witness as are all witnesses involved with the volatile Trump. Bolton must now come out and support Democratic candidates and use his new found influence to help dethrone Trump. No equivocations. No slippery Trump tactics, only the truth shouted from the house tops perhaps in the House istself.
8
And so a trial with neither witnesses nor evidence, held in the self-styled “world’s greatest deliberative body” has brought to an end the days of America’s posturing of moral superiority on the world stage. Without so much as a whimper, much less a bang.
23
The GOP may have voted not to call witnesses, but Bolton’s book is going to come out anyway.
At which point their decision, in Senator Alexander’s own words, is going to retrospectively be seen as having “poured gasoline on cultural fires”.
9
After these revelation and his acquittal remember do you want four more years of this juvenile rodeo. Vote fo Bloomberg he will keep the economy in good shape and he has a record of forming good teams for policy Decisions. Please get this man out of office. Get behind a person who can win. Biden will fall apart and lose it and he will become an embarrassment when he goes head to head with Trump. He has nothing definitive to say. Get someone to run the country with strength and integrity for 4 year and then see if you want major reforms.
8
@Richard Spiro I like Bloomberg, but at this point, any of the Democratic candidates, including Biden, would be above and beyond better than what's stinking up our white house now.
9
@Richard Spiro
vote for any Democrat on any and all levels of government
any and all, no matter who
10
Check out Andrew Yang on YouTube. He can beat Trump and lead us into the future.
1
There is absolutely no issue whatsoever with a president requesting or giving the advice or opinion To investigate someone who he thinks is corrupt. Especially when that particular person is running for president. We as Americans should do our due diligence and put any candidate under ample amount of scrutiny and do any and all types of investigations no matter where it comes from (as long as it is a credible and verifiable source). I think it is fair and safe to say that this should be a full formal investigation into the situation with Joe Biden and hunter biden in particular their involvement in the Ukraine M the statement where Joe Biden, Confidently with lots of bragging and with Pride. Saying that he threatened to with hold tax payers money that was designated for foreign aid to help Ukraine. It was a bit of good luck it was caught on camera and a lot of bad judgement on Mr. Bidens part. No surprise there.
No let's look at Mr. Bolton. Here we have someone who has then fired and professional, Politically and personally humiliated by being kicked out of the White House. Not literally kicked but he was forced to leave mediately after his termineation. It is no surprise that Mr. Bolton loves war and given his track record over the last decade (+), End after his services were no longer required and he made that determination that he can not continue to provoke and insist the president engagin In warfare with country such as Iran (and others).
And get rid of Pelosi!
2
@Joseph barnicle
So why did he refuse to go through official channels when asked to do so by the Ukrainians?
Answer: Because he wanted his political opponent investigated to help his re-election and that is not only illegal it rises to the level of a corrupt quid pro quo.
3
Excellent comment
@Joseph barnicle Yes, there most assuredly IS something wrong about asking a foreign power and their government to investigate a political rival. That is the core of the issue: it benefits Donald Trump; it is the personal over the good of the country.
I don't care how you spin it. Soliticing a foreign government's help in this way -- AND by holding up bi-partisan aid to get this accomplished -- is an abuse of power. Hunter Biden is nothing but a red herring to flog -- Did Joe Biden engage in nepotism? Well, yes, but that's not criminal. Otherwise you'd be baying at the moon to have Ivanka and Jared leave the White House. Right? RIGHT?
2
Lamar Alexander said that removing Trump would be like pouring "gasoline on current partisan fires".
Senator Alexander, this country survived the Civil War that resulted from abolishing slavery. We certainly can survive the removal of a corrupt and dangerous so-called president, someone who is a constant threat to our national security.
What's sad is that every Republican in the House and Senate know how much of a threat trump is. They know that had Obama done even a fraction of what trump did, in this one incident alone, they would've had him removed already.
Republicans care more about their jobs, their wallets and their own power than they do about the country, our Constitution, and the rule of law. They've made that abundantly clear.
23
The fire was started and continues to be stoked by the president with his “base.”
4
David Frum's prediction certainly came true today.
"If, conservative become convinced that t hey cannot win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism. They will reject democracy."
The ease and speed with which they took a match to the Constitution tells me they didn't care too much for democracy begin with.
43
No wonder the White House people are scared to testify. They are all incriminated. Cipolline should be disbarred. He disgraces the legal profession (which is pretty hard to do in the first place).
48
This is the day the USA officially became a Banana Republic.
28
As bad as trump is, the republicans in our Congress are so much worse. trump is and always has been, a con man. But these republicans at one time had souls, had beliefs. Well they can’t sell that anymore. They are trumps, now and forever. And to John Bolton, you are no patriot, you are out to make money. And only when you saw that chance slipping away did you deign to speak out. Too little too late. And Mick Mulvaney, feign ignorance all you want, we know who you are and so will history. Vote Blue to show all republicans that their willful refusal to acknowledge the evidence did not save their jobs. And thank you to Pelosi, Schiff, Nadler and all the democrats who did a wonderful job trying to save our government.
43
So Cipollone, the president's attorney was implicated in the Ukranian scheme while defending Trump and the White House. He was in the room. He was in the loop.
How does the Senate trial become a mistrial because of the news Bolton released today?
Every one of these guys will go to jail if the truth comes out.
They were all in the loop.
Democracy dies today if we don't right these wrongs.
32
We have just witnessed President Trump, “Cover-Up Leader” McConnell and Senate Republicans shoot the U.S. Constitution down on Fifth Avenue and get away with it.
Get used to it.
It’s only the beginning.
30
Wow, I thought I'd never say it. Mitt Romney is the only Repub with a backbone. Susan Collins got a hall pass. Craven is the word for the ages.
20
@Laughable, this is debatable. He voted to allow witnesses only after being virtually certain no such thing would happen.
Looks like republicans have poured gasoline on the culture wars and our democracy.
11
They need to stop calling the Senate the greatest deliberative body in the world. Those days are gone.
29
No one outside the US ever did.
2
Mr. John Bolton should speak out publicly now.
America needs to hear what he has to say, ASAP.
Please do it, Mr. Bolton, for the sake of America.
20
@SalinasPhil He should. But it won't stop Trump from being emboldened to do whatever he pleases to benefit himself, to the detriment of the US. He's already done so much harm, it boggles the mind to realize that Republican Senators have given him carte blanche to do much more.
6
@angel98 Yep. Not just this criminal and immoral president. They've effectively destroyed the constitution's impeachment mechanism.
@SalinasPhil
Dear SalinasPhil,
He should have testified before the House. Why did he refuse?
1
Bloated and vacuous, without a moral center, personal or institutional integrity, the Republican Party has just collapsed on itself like a black hole. Trump and all his executive branch staff will be slowly dragged in and torn apart to the atomic level by history. They all imagined they were famous, now they will just be infamous and their families unto the 2nd and 3rd generation will be shamed by their sir names.
19
Re the opprobrium to be visited on so many of the GOP leadership: please the Lord that Americans never forget, not to the “nth” generation.
Mitch McConnell's attitude: "Witnesses? Witnesses? We don't need no stinkin' witnesses!" Pat Cipolline breathes a sigh of relief. His attorney's license is safe -- for now. This is a sad day for the rule of law and the entire country.
45
When the articles not authorized, no witnesses are required.
In a perfect world, Bolton would have made, at his peril, of course, these disclosures before Trump fired him. He would have quit in protest and then vented his spleen without the taint and whiff of retribution or grudge. I believe him, I just wish he had felt this duty to tell the truth much, much sooner. What a lot of time and effort could have been saved. It would have been a different impeachment process and definitely a different outcome.
24
@Kathy B
I would not be so sure about Bolton.
Why back in 2005 Democrats senator Joe Biden, Schumer, Hillaty Clinton and Barack Obama, sank his candidature as ambassador to the United Nations, as proposed by Bush, because they all told he was not trustworthy?
And now is he trustworthy?
What do we do? What can any of us do when the President is out of control and we have a Senate that has gone rogue? Frankly, I’m panic-stricken. Everything our forebears fought for us crumbling. Crumbling. I’m afraid. Panicked and afraid.
34
The president is so out of control that we are on the precipice of a great economy with economic justice for all.
@Stephen, yes. Many of us are but have not wanted to admit it. Many people are and should be panicked about what happened today, the corner we seem to be turning. One positive thing is that the truth will come out. Eventually, the whole truth will come out and everyone will know.
3
@Unhappy JD
Yes, economic justice for all when the top billionaires in American increased their wealth by half a trillion dollars. Sounds super fair to me! /s
https://thehill.com/policy/finance/476103-worlds-richest-500-people-saw-their-wealth-jump-25-percent-in-2019
Did your wealth increase by 25% last year? Mine sure didn't and I'm pretty sure for the rest of the 98% it didn't either.
8
And the Senate just now voted against having further witnesses and documents in the trial (49-51). A vote that was to be expected, but is nonetheless disheartening.
Patriotic Democrats like Representatives Nancy Perry and Adam Schiff, as well as every Democratic Senator who voted for a normal trial with witnesses and documents, are the only ones doing their jobs of keeping a check on an out-of-control executive branch. They're the only ones fighting to minimize and limit Trump's damage to our Constitution and the rule of law.
Republicans like Mitch McConnell and the rest of the GOP have officially become Trump's political lackeys -- they exist only to protect and enable a corrupt president and his compromised administration ... at all costs to the country and our national security.
We cannot afford to risk another 4 years of trump, or his Republican lackeys in the House and Senate. It won't be safe for any of us.
Vote them all out.
26
Lamar Alexander said that removing Trump would pour gasoline on current partisan fires. Well Senator, but ignoring you r constitutional duty in the face of overwhelming evidence that is exactly what you and your fellow Republicans have just done.
49
@Milliband "Lamar Alexander said that removing Trump would pour gasoline on current partisan fires."
Senator Alexander, this country survived the Civil War that resulted from abolishing slavery. We certainly can survive the removal of a corrupt and dangerous so-called president...trump is a constant threat to our national security, and what's sad is that every Republican in the House and Senate know how much of a threat he is. They know that had Obama done even a fraction of what trump did, in this one incident alone, they would've had him removed already. Republicans care more about their jobs, their wallets and their own power than they do about the country. They've made that abundantly clear.
2
It's just like white male judges looking at white collar criminals and giving them light sentences. "That guy looks like me, he could not have possibly done that." Except the difference is Republicans do all of this, all of the time to win - gerrymandering, Merrick Garland, lying et al. So really when they are looking at Trump, they see themselves. And if they investigate, convict - they surely know then it "could be" them. "If he's guilty, I'm guilty." And that is face that not a one of them can stomach seeing.
14
Bottom line is treason and collusion with Russia is fine if it serves the President's purpose in getting elected. I am sure Putin is calling Trump to congratulate him. The July 25 phone call and demand that Ukraine accede to Russian disinformation to get an audience with Trump while preventing military aid to defenders of Russian aggression was treason. The Senate was the last hope of stopping a Russian asset from having unlimited powers as President.GOP will go down in infamy as having sold out our democracy.
20
Exactly how this is reason. When you strip out the emotion and look at the facts, where is the treason?
I did not learn in law school or two bar exams and 2 law licenses later that these actions meet the elements of the crime of treason.
For Heaven's sake: if you must read Bolton's book, get it out of the library, borrow it, stand in a bookstore and read it in the aisle. But don't pay a dime for it.
22
Read Schweitzer’s book instead. He makes very good cases for criminal proceedings against many democrats and their family members.
@CM
good point
1
@CM In the mean time, our taxes pay for Trump’s golf trips to his own golf resorts. Why begrudge Bolton a few million, when Trump and his kids are making much, much more off US tax payers?
2
Trump has so far succeeded to block and bully first hand witnesses from testifying in the House. Now that the Senate has pledged their fealty to Trump instead of Democracy and the Constitution, it should be interesting to see if John Bolton will NOW be able to publish his book. The WH claimed YESTERDAY it was "full" of classified information and would not be allowed to be published.
Now that the "threat" [to Trump] of John Bolton's testimony has been neutralized, I wonder if his book is fine TODAY and suddenly contains NO classified information at all, as Mr Bolton said all along.
Any guesses?
4
Why is this information, claimed to be from people who have reviewed Bolton's book draft, coming out in dribs and drabs, just a little at a time? Yes, it makes Trump look bad, but the timing and manner of disclosure and publication here undercut its credibility a lot.
3
Apparently, Lamar Alexander (and many other republican senators) believed that calling witnesses such as Bolton in the senate would have led to conviction (see Alexander's comments about pouring gas on the fire as reported by the NYT). So, they didn't call Bolton or other witnesses because they didn't want to be in a position where they had to convict. That's says it all about the republicans. Sadly, Bolton didn't have the integrity to quit his job immediately and hold a press conference with the reason why. Bolton got religion too late, and most of the republican senators never.
29
Trump won. Democracy is in peril. What next? Will Fox News become the state Ministry of Propaganda run by Stephen Miller?
Will the Democratic Party be banished and liberals branded or marked with snow flakes for the faithful to know who to shun?
Will the next elections be won with 99% by Trump? Will the handicapped be banned from vote, as will be the colored voters?
I know, I exaggerate, but really, did this just happened in America today, the GOP senators to succumb their will and integrity to king Trump?
31
@Nicholas
"I know, I exaggerate"
No, you did not exaggerate.
16
@Nicholas no need for warmongering, if trump wants to be a tyrant or dictator it would already happened. If we’re in a tyrannical dictatorship like Nader kept saying we are in, we wouldn’t be able to freely discuss this without you, me, and everyone being sent to the gulags.
Maybe we should be worrying about Democrats wanting to hold power and be rightful usurpers to the throne like Nader and Schiff themselves fantasied.
@CD
That's what the good people of Germany kept telling themselves in the 1930s.
4
Lamar Alexander conveniently ignored the fact that additional witnesses and documents could well be analogous to Nixon’s tapes, the smoking gun that finally turned the public and Republican Senators against him. Once rock solid evidence of guilt and gross presidential misconduct emerged, Nixon was toast, resigning to avoid Senate conviction.
So Lamar's vote effectively leaves unextirpated the cancer on the Trump presidency. Trump is free to extort new favors with foreign interests for the 'national' interest, wink, wink.
And why should such questionable practices be limited to Trump. Underlings or private lawyers acting on his behalf can feather their own nests. Just make sure the big boss gets a taste, like any crime family.
And breaking news, Senate Democrats will probably be 'allowed' to extend the final vote into next Wednesday afternoon. That actually means Mitch didn't have 51 votes in his caucus to get the vote done before the State of the Union address. Consider it a time out for our misbehaving president, something akin to taking his car keys away for a day.
That should teach Trump a lesson...
5
@Michael Tyndall So if it is still going on next Tuesday that means Trump will go into the SOU still impeached but not removed. I want to see that and see how he handles himself. Will he be his usual full of himself, or will he be a tad cowed. I will also be checking for his habit of sniffing or lack thereof. Should be interesting tv. I forgot he really is a reality tv star.
3
WOW!!! And they are about to acquit. America is in deep trouble.
19
Bolton isn’t a hero, he’s just another symptom of the malignant cancer which has infected this country’s federal government.
14
Dear Republicans,
You are welcome to destroy your own political party from within. But it is beyond the pale to destroy the United States as collateral damage.
Shame! You are on the wrong side of history.
44
I am a legal immigrant and after 15 years of struggling to get to this point where I am now able to become a Citizen I am no longer certain I want to. I still love this country, it’s people and the opportunities and life it has given me, but I’m afraid for where things are going both in terms of our government and our divided culture. Even a few years ago I would have never thought I’d feel this way but this is where I am today.
35
@Danny Holland me too, and my first american ancestor came here in 1640
13
@Danny Holland Please for yourself and your family get your citizenship. The US is a great and wonderful country and when you take the oath you will feel very proud to be a new American. What is happening right now will not last but what I have seen is a reawakening for many US citizens of their history. Majority don't like it and will not allow it to happen again. Perhaps for some it is a wake up call but be assured that the US is much greater and stronger than what is happening right now and she will survive. Make sure to wave that flag heartily and also make sure that you vote in every election so you can say "I did my civic duty."
4
Please carry on with becoming a citizen. Then VOTE!!
3
We now have a Putin style government thanks to the republicans. We have a unlawful government .
23
@AACNY,
The Steele dossier was commissioned by the GOP because that time they believed Trump is a liability to the party.
8
@AACNY
There are reputable news sources out there. Please access them.
7
Let me politi-splain this to you. Putin owns Trump. Trump tweets scare the GOP. Hence, Putin owns the GOP. Long live the Government Of Putin.
28
Does that explain why we have more stringent sanctions on Russia than any other President?
You do know the Javelin rockets approved by Trump for Ukraine to use were for killing Russian soldiers?
Why didn’t Obama approve them if everyone thinks we should be antagonistic towards Russia?
Half of the house managers actually turned down lethal aid to Ukraine and now they are indignant ?
1
@Unhappy JD Remember, Russia went into Ukraine fairly late in the Obama presidency. It can take time to determine the best response and also to tell whether the Ukrainian government should get Javelins. You are forgetting the timing issue. It makes sense that our nation would take a little time to see what was happening in Ukraine and with the changing government there before committing to specific weapons.
3
@Irish let me politi-splain it to you. Americans owns Trump, Democratic ideals scares the enemy of the free world. Hence, Democracy owns America. Long live United States of America, land of free and home of the brave.
Thank you, Mr. Bolton for your cowardice and greed. You really were an excellent fit for this grifter administration. Now is too little too later... Well done!
17
Well the vote is in and we lossed. Our country lost. Well, just like when the Trump was elected, I swallowed hard and hoped for the best. It is like an Auschwitz Inmate that sees bombers and hears the Russian cannon but still must go to work everyday for free. I know something is coming, I just don't know when and if I will live long enough to see it.
15
Just what one would expect from the legislature in a one-party state.
12
After the vote to allow no more wittiness how or who can help organize a march on Washington against the Republican senate?
20
@Mary
yes, its time,
no more annual marches,
we need to march in real time in real response to specific situations. this situation warrants a march
asap
1
@Mary Don't just march on D.C. March/protest wherever you are.
1
I guess the house could re-open investigations based on Bolton's and Parnas' public comments this past two weeks. Subpoena both of them, and get them talking.
What else is left?
17
@LauraF and see if they try and block people from testifying yet again....
@LauraF
"What else is left?"
November 3, 2020.
Volunteer. Donate. And VOTE!
1
@MidtownATL
Wish I could, but I'm Canadian. Trust me, if there was a way...
But I'm up here thinking about you and hoping sane people succeed in voting the monster out, along with his GOP minions.
It was the Republican party that was on trial.
18
@Cassandra
And they couldn’t be more guilty
3
Had the trial gone on with witnesses, it would have sunk democrats and re-elected Trump. Trump's sovereign to sovereign contact with the new PM in Ukraine would be easily explained away as perfectly rational and appropriate. Finding rational reason to suspect corruption (what? gambling going on in Ukraine? Here are your winnings Mr. Biden) would simply cement the whole case for Trump in his favor.
Republicans missed a chance.
They know he actually broke the law and don’t want the public to hear the details. But indeed, most people don’t know that the President’s power is constrained by the laws Congress passes in how he spends money. So we think he has absolute power. He tested the theory and the GOP has declared it so: the President has absolute power, absolute. Remember this well and I repeat: The President has absolute power. Please remember this when a democratic president is in office and you don’t like what she does: The President has absolute power.
15
@Excellency
Smokin' that northwestern good stuff?
8
It was anything but rational and appropriate.....numerous Republican Senators agree...however they maintain it wasn't impeachable to insulate against Dear Leader's wrath.
2
Sadly, there's no integrity(or even appearance of) left in the US government. The Constitution is on life-support. For all of the hundreds of millions of hard-working Americans, this vote to acquit by the GOP majority is a collective stab-in-the-back to the Founding Fathers and what this great nation, once represented.
15
@Ned
None in the GOP. The Democrats did the best that could be done. In November we'll see the decency of the American public, or not. Anyway, they'll deserve what they get.
Too little, too late, John, for yourself and for the country.
Though he often doesn't appear to be the sharpest knife in the drawer, Trump is smart enough to know that from now on nobody will be able to hold him accountable. He will double and triple on his abuses of power.
As for Bolton's book, that will forever be tied up in the White House national security review process.
11
When we have true bipartisan agreement on egregious behavior it will in fact be sufficiently egregious that impeachment will be a forgone conclusion. Nuff said.
Impeachment never was a real trial... Not when a majority of Senators can block witnesses. No, at best, it was a political charade more typically seen in a Banana Republic.
Regardless, Trump was never going to be removed from office nine months from an election, where voters will choose the next President.
Trump is no angel... But the impeachment case has always been week.
The left is happy because they may choose to campaign by hitting Trump with a cover up (as opposed to making their case for election with their own ideas) and Trump wins because he will remain in office and can claim his innocence and state it was all a witch hunt.
The truth is Americans could care less about what happens in the Ukraine.
5
@NorthernArbiter
If Americans didn't care about Russian collusion, they were certainly not going to care about a phone call with Ukraine.
David Axelrod and others have said that no one is mentioning impeachment in their focus groups.
This is between democrats and their Leftwing base. They've put us all through it. Thanks a lot.
3
@AACNY
the democrats put this country through an experience where we could see the duplicity and moral bankruptcy of the gop every day for months.
for that I thank them
I am no wimp who cannot tolerate seeing the truth. I am not hiding from the facts by embracing fake news like some people
3
Actually you are mistaken. It is not that we don’t care about the Ukraine it is more the sort of general ignorance that is rampant in the country. I tried to watch as much of the trial as possible when I wasn’t working. The audience for the Super Bowl will be much larger than the total number of people who even glanced at these shameful proceedings. The reason we were not able to keep our Republic was our apathy and childlike ability to distract ourselves from things that require critical thinking. God help us all.
1
In USSR, Russia , China, and North Korea "Senators" rubber stamp whatever position that is advocated by the authoritarian leader. Regardless of obvious lies, contradictions with their prior positions, or claims of religious or moral righteousness. Typically, unanimously. vigorously, and with applause.
This line up now includes the United States.
10
So any foreign company that hires a politician’s close relative is untouchable. That’s what the Democratic Party says. A very bad precedent to set. This whole debacle has hurt us more than anything a single person can possibly do. To quote Do they have no shame. the lies the 1/5 truths the creation of conversations. There is something wrong with schiff
6
@John S
Tell that to Jared Kushner (whose failed 666 building was bailed out by the U.A.E.).
Tell that to Ivanka Trump (who received Chinese trademarks after Daddy's first meeting with President Xi).
Nepotism.
Emoluments Clause.
17
Actually Schiff has information that is damaging to Trump but it implicates several high level Democrats in illegal activities.
1
No, not really. There is a proper way to handle such a thing - within the rule of law. But don’t be drawn into propaganda. The House simply said the President has to follow the law and both his actions and motivation suggest he did otherwise. But hey, if you want a monarch, congratulations. You’ve got one! I can’t wait til he kills someone and gets acquitted for that too
6
Dear Senator McConnell,
You just lost your Senate majority in 2021.
Dear Senators Gardner (R-CO), McSally (R-AZ), Tillis (R-NC), and Ernst (R-IA), you just lost your Senate seats on November 3, 2020, along with Sen. Collins (R-ME).
41
Please guarantee that you’re correct and that Democrats don’t lose their House and Senate seats. I’ll file it with the certainty by the media and Hollywood that Clinton would be elected in 2016.
1
@MidtownATL In light of today's events, I just donated to all of their top opponents. I will continue to do so until November!
6
@William McCain
I can't guarantee anything regarding the Nov 3 election. And neither can you.
But Donald Trump has never even tried to be the president for all Americans. And he openly expresses contempt for over half the people of America. That has never been a winning political strategy. Good luck with that!
8
John Bolton, if he cares about this country we all live in, should walk into ABC, NBC, CBS which ever he chooses and just have an open mic to speak freely. He is an protected by free speech. He can add that this is what he would have testified if he had been asked to go to the impeachment hearing. If he was a true American who cared about this country that is all he should do. Book deal or not. He has sold out the country and just like the Republican Party of the congress all traitors.
13
Bolton is much more believable than tRump.
If the pResident isn't censured for his behavior, the Republicans are treasonous.
11
Bolton is telling the truth, and it doesn't matter. Yawn. Thanks to people like John Bolton, Trump has at least 12 more months of treating the Constitution like his personal toilet roll, and the Presidency like his private club. He should enjoy it while he can. John Bolton? Nobody cares what he has to say. Too little too late!
7
Bolton needs to have a press conference PRONTO and state that because he was not called as witness, it is time to clearly state to allAmericans some information.
Then he needs to spell it out.
10
The WH is leaking Bolton’s manuscript. 45* knows for sure that he won’t be convicted and would be completely exonerated, so he doesn’t care, as he has been from day one. Having said that, poor GOP senators, the damage is theirs to live with.
The Senate will, more than not, flip in this upcoming election of 2020.
Dark times are ahead of us.
I am very worried.
10
Don’t worry. Most commentators say Trump will lose just like in 2016 and anyway, the Coronavirus may end any worries you have. I hope however, that Democrats are busily working out how Trump is responsible for the virus.
Here's a dream: The Republicans don't want Trump removed from office because they actually want him out of office, something they have planned via the election. Their secret candidate will be Romney, of course, who will restore the party to their calm glory of upper middle class life. (Actually, Romney would be a wise choice -- but intelligence isn't the same thing as cunning.)
If this doesn't happen, if reality really is that the Republicans have no backbone and bow under the weight of this gluttonous, cartoon of a president, they are ruined anyway. They might not know it yet, as is the flaw of hubris.
4
No offense but Romney strikes me as sort of dumb.
God only knows how he made all that money.
Good staff !
And so, just as we expected, ‘the worlds most admired and distinguished body - the US senate’ descends into the most disgraceful and degenerative body! Headlines of all our nation’s newspapers should read ‘SHAM!’ Shameless GOP whose craven desires succumb to the tyrannical rule of Trump
Putin’sMitch orchestrated this from the beginning - he ensured that there wouldn’t be tie vote preventing any question and need for CJR.
It is truly hard to express the surge of conflicting emotions - fear, anger, depression, despair, helplessness....
13
Ah those petulant wishers of boycott. Those who now want to boycott Bolton's book. Those who would seek to uncover the identity of a whistle blower. The deceit of a son of a Vice President who dared to scoop up his share.
How about placing blame where it lies. Instead of tirelessly working to improve the world situation, Climate Change, the war in Syria, Iraq or Afghanistan, refugees, hunger, healthcare, trade. Instead Trump works with thugs in back channels and uses the White House to boldly pervert our foreign policy and hold US aid to bribe a foreign nation for his own personal gain. And the Republicans in the House and Senate let him get away with it!
12
@jeansch
The so called defenders of free speech but only care about it when it defends republican hate speech that incites violence and hatred.
3
No doubt this will encourage Trump to call for further invesitgations, not only of the Bidens, but Hillary Clinton, Pelosi, Schiff, and Nadler. And with the cooperation of AG Barr.
10
@Saints Fan
If you can't understand what's wrong with that, then you must be a repub.
3
The Senate just voted to block witnesses. The House immediately should subpoena Bolton!
14
John Bolton’s account of Cipollone being in the “Room Where It Happened” should have been the first leak from the manuscript. Senators could have asked questions of him perhaps?
14
Very critical to understand just how wounded Bolton’s ego really is....his credibility is garbage.
He had no complaints about Trumps phone call when he went on Radio Free Europe to discuss the famous phone.
There is nothing in Section IV, Article II of the Constitution that limits the number of times Trump can be impeached. Let’s get it right the next time!
14
@John McCartney
And this time show the multiple illegal acts directly where he broke the law. There are many.
8
@John McCartney
Every single democrat would be voted out if they attempted this.
3
It's been reported in the NY Times of January 31, 2020 that according to Ambassador John Bolton's soon-to-be released book, "The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir, that "Mr. Trump gave the instruction[to withhold military aid to Ukraine until President Zelensky agreed to investigate Trump's political opponents], during an Oval Office conversation in early May, that included..the White House counsel, Pat A. Cipollone, who is now leading the president’s impeachment defense..." Is/was Mr. Cipollone legally obligated to recuse himself from being part of President Trump's impeachment trial defense team since he could be called as a possible witness at the trial itself?
10
Republicans know as much about democracy as evangelicals know about Christianity.
45
The Red States have just turned Yellow.
26
Hold a press conference NOW. Tell the truth NOW. I am incensed and outraged at the blatant moral chasm!!
30
You had your chance to testify in front of the House, Mr. Bolton, and you decided not to take it. And now the GOP members of the Senate have refused to call witnesses.
As our democracy is hacked to pieces before our eyes, we will never forget that you wielded one of the axes.
23
Testimony before the House might have destroyed the Democrats’ case against Trump and plunged profits from Bolton’s book.
3
@William McCain How would it have destroyed the case against Trump? Bolton has first-hand knowledge of Trump's guilt. If his testimony would have destroyed their case, you can bet your life the GOP would have agreed to call him as a witness in the Senate.
5
The book will never see the light of day. I only hope Bolton will have to return the 2 million advance.
It’s time to go on the streets and let your voices be heard, the Majority of People! Don’t let the louder Minority take over your voices just because they speak with a microphone!
14
So they couldn't hear witnesses because doing so would lead to a conviction - and a conviction would set the country on fire?
Could they not have given us a fair trial (with witnesses, which 75% of the country want), rather than a cover up - THEN have acquitted because a conviction would set the country on fire?
I just don't get how that pathetic excuse can explain why the desire of 75% of the country are ignored.
22
Ms. Murkowski -- your first duty is to uphold the constitution and to ferret out corruption that is tainting this administration. The same goes for the rest of the republicans. Shame on all of them for reducing this democracy to the highest bidders so they can continue to wage wars and exploit the planet for their benefit.
21
The next book coming out will be call Republican Profiles in Cowardice, Corruption, Tyranny, and Treason. Trump wasn't just helping his election efforts but also doing the bidding of Putin by selling out the Ukraine.
Republican know it; we all know it, but Republicans are too cowardly to risk the Trump base turning against them; too corrupt to risk loosing their power, and too treasonous to protect our nation from a turncoat Trump.
Can you say Benedict Arnold trying to betray West Point to the British = Donald Trump Trying to betray the Ukraine to Russia by withholding arms and support.
14
https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2020/01/31/anti-police-protest/
“…Three masked members of the protest group are seen in a Twitter video encouraging people to skip fares, damage turnstiles, and engage in a mass sabotage of the MTA…
“…Members of the group can be seen squirting paint on the OMNY readers, hanging banners inside the Oculus station, and pouring super glue inside the turnstiles at 72nd Street and Central Park West…
Don’t expect you to post this link or cover this anarchy…
It’s – of course – off-topic for this front-page above-the-fold story…
But, Dean/AG…
Realize that it might be your story that’s off-topic – vs. this rank destructive disorder in your home town…
At least until they vandalize the lobby of your building, like they’re doing in the NYC transit system…
Never happen???
Suppose they mistook it for the bus station…
1
Should Bolton do the right thing? Yes. But so should Kelly. Mattis. Priebus. And many more who were there when Trump was bending and breaking the law and rules. Former staff, former advisers. Pence out of the lot of them should feel his faith withering away, as he stands by as now conspirator and enabler. Many people should be doing the right things. But cowardice and greed is what drives the lot of them. We're not going out in a blaze of glory, but with the ringing of cowardice. What a miserable end.
19
If Schiff will undergo a polygraph as to the veracity of several of his conclusory statements, including his knowledge of the ersatz whistle blower, I will favor polygraphs of all,of the above.
Bad news....they are ALL liars in my opinion.
Now that the vote is done, and the Republican senators killed off the due process of a fair trial, this is the perfect time to someone come up with a hashtag #"NOT my Senator, NOT my President!"#.. anyone ready to take that up?
12
Great Idea!!!
4
Mr. Bolton could at any time have called a press conference or told a reporter about all of this. He did not, possibly because he did not want to lessen sales of his book. This inaction helped give the Senate cover for its vote. I would hope that no non buys the book.
7
Republicans won the battle today, but will lose in the long run.
13
In the words of Benjamin Franklin, "Without impeachment, citizens’ only recourse was assassination, which would leave the political official not only deprived of his life but of the opportunity of vindicating his character." This sham of the GOP left us without a real trial. So what Justice is left?
13
Republicans will be hurt by their vote 15 minutes ago to prevent witnesses. It will also hurt Trump in his campaign for reelection. Bolton's story will come out and will be believed. Republican Senators will not be able to question Hunter Biden in a way that would hurt a Joe Biden candidacy. This is a win for Democrats.
12
"Alexander Says Convicting Trump Would 'Pour Gasoline on Cultural Fires.' ... Senator Lamar Alexander reached an unavoidable conclusion: Mr. Trump had done what he was accused of ... But however inappropriate his conduct, another conviction overrode the first: Americans would not tolerate the Senate stepping in to substitute its own judgment for that of the voters fewer than 10 months before the next election."
I don't know what to make of this. All of the credible polls now tell us that about 75% of Americans wanted to hear witnesses. 3 million fewer voters voted for Trump than for his opponent. Which Americans is he referring to? What does the eminent senator have to say about the sanctity of our democratic elections? If the president is not removed, his illegal Ukraine scheme to cheat in that election will stand. Moreover he will be free to extort other countries around the world into helping him cheat in the election.
18
@Robert
If you don't know what to make of it, just follow the money. Alexander will make millions as lobbyist for his conservative paymasters.
3
@Robert
"Alexander Says Convicting Trump Would 'Pour Gasoline on Cultural Fires.' ...
Really! So he opts instead to burn over 50% of the electorate who don't vote Republican for fear of riling up Trump supporters, even though he thinks Trump was wrong.
Trying to wrap my head around that.
2
@Joe
For others I agree. Isn't Alexander however a little old to be a lobbyist or to care that much about the money? I think he's just a little lost. He must spend all of his time in the Republican ecosphere.
1
Based on Adam Schiff’s argument that we should not allow foreign interventions. Anyone else thinks that now foreign nations will now take point that accepting American aid in dollars and/or ideals is considered as American interference. I think Schiff’s argument takes American foreign policies in a whole new unprecedented level and how foreign nations will view on accepting American aid.
2
Sorry, no. It wasn’t that Ukraine took US aid, or even that it had been withheld. It’s that Trump did this in secret, without the permission of Congress for his own political gain & then tried to cover it up.
5
Bolton can and should submit an affidavit to the Senate as evidence in DJT's trial.
The Republican Senate majority can either reject Bolton's affidavit or demand to cross examine witness Bolton.
Refusing Bolton's evidence should convict the Republican Senate in the eyes of the thinking public.
9
51 - 49 Time to take to the streets.
The Republican refusal to allow Senate trial witnesses, rests on the premise that the House Democrats erred when they did not sue to enforce the subpoenas they issued for the first hand witnesses and documents. And so, because the House Democrats were incompetent in that part of their impeachment role, the Republican Senate will not fulfill their duty to hold a trial that will reveal the truth.
The salary of every member of congress is paid by the people, not by their political party.
Incompetence doubled, is not what America paid for and deserves; It does not address the questions that must be answered in a free nation, and it hides the truth from the American people. The Republicans must pay for this treason.
14
theory: what if this whole "will he, won't he" drama is orchestrated? its clear from the beginning that bolton wanted no part of the "drug deal" HOWEVER it still happened while he was still employed. i bet trump allowed/or maybe gifted him a book deal in return for his allegiance. part of his allegiance included not getting involved in the house impeachment hearings. i think he's only saying that he's now willing to testify if subpoenaed because 1) he seeks to appease EVERYONE in America so that he doesn't look like the bad guy in the end. he knows this is bad, but do the people need to know he didn't try to stop it and just ran away like a coward? that would affect his book sales 2) he knows that the republican party would never do such a thing as subpoena him because then they'd lose their case 3) and because he knew they never would call on him to testify, he in return makes them look bad and, again, makes him look less like the bad guy because he "tried" to get his voice out there. i mean look at parnas! it didn't take him long to flip and any time he's near a mic he's willing to talk. he also tried attending the hearing this week only to be shown the door. bolton is no different than the members of the swamp. they picked him because of that. he probably didn't realize it was muckier than usual
Americans, don't be fooled and please vote in November. The damage may already be done, but I fear for everyone's safety and sanity if we have another 4 years of Trump.
6
This is just more reason for why they couldn't allow witnesses or documents. McConnell surely explained to his minions that it could only lead to more evidence, which would lead to even more evidence, of the thorough corruption of the Trump administration. They had to cut their losses now before the truth snowballed to reveal it all, much of which we probably aren't even aware of yet.
9
What’s going to happen when something worse comes out? Because it will.
1
No witnesses. No justice. No justice, no democracy. 75% of us wanted witnesses. Republicans voted NO to the rule of law.
In consideration of Dr. Bolton's bombshells and the flat refusal of elected Republicans to protect party over nation, they have done lasting harm to the people of the United States and to the Constitution they were sworn to protect. En masse, they have rejected the balance of power, the will of the people, and their oaths of office. They are, one and all -- and for all time -- discredited as a body and as individuals.
Now there is only one possible way for the 2020 election to end without dispute. That is for the Democratic nominee to win in a landslide. No American who believes in democracy should ever again be persuaded to believe that Trump, given a pass on election interference for the second time, who has boldly and publicly said repeatedly that he welcomes foreign interference in our elections, can be trusted to run a fair campaign.
So what are we left with? A president run amok, a complicit Republican party too cowardly to stand up for the country, and a significant percentage of Americans brainwashed into believing that what has just occurred is legal, ethical, and sane.
Someone tell me how America survives this. I don't see a path forward that includes democracy.
9
@Art Likely Whoops! Juxtaposed two words. I meant to say 'flat refusal to protect nation over party.' Mea culpa.
Apparently we live in a country now where presidents and senators are no longer accountable while in office.
The Senate Republicans have "earned" my total disrespect and disdain, and I can only hope that when the history books are written, their coverup of a blatantly criminal president will be the first note of their biography until the end of time.
13
The problem: Winners write the history!
How the truth will emerge from this dishonest GOP-led travesty isn’t entirely clear to me.
And many of us will no longer be here to see honest history written.
So: the main step we can take is to vote the GOP out of office, so that perhaps somebody can write an honest account.
That, of course, assumes the GOP doesn’t destroy evidence, or that the DEMs can preserve evidence!
4
Consider how deep the GOP senators have fallen, please give Bolton a break. At least he is not licking Trump's boot, at least he still has some integrity, and I for my part, like to show him respect for that.
9
@Bruce
He hasn't done enough. He need to voluntarily speak before the House Impeachment Investigation, and reveal what he knows. Id had done so, the Senate would not have been able to hold the Kangaroo Court it just conducted.
Bolton is no hero.
8
This is so obvious to me. Much of 'the American Experiment' with democracy has always been intended as an experiment in self-government of people of European descent. Wherever and whenever black people or brown people have gained a foothold in political power in this country, the blowback has always been severe. Simply put, many in this country would rather have a white dictator than a multiracial democracy.
Trump would have been unthinkable as president until Obama made him necessary. You add Obama with increasing hispanic population, Trump goes from unthinkable to automatic.
My biggest fear isn't Trump; my biggest fear is who comes after Trump.
3
So it’s ok with Republicans that Trump wanted to “take out “ the anti corruption US Ambassador who was getting in the way of Giuliani’s corrupt business deals in the Ukraine?
Republicans Today made absolutely clear that they would rather live in a Dictatorship than a Democracy as long as they and their wealthy donors are the ones with unquestionable authority
10
People can change this at the ballot box - but they have to GO to the ballot box.
12
That only works if we have a fair election. And now that Trump has gotten away with this, how much restraint do you think he will have? Do you really think he will play by the rules now?
6
Watching this Administration dismiss the careful balancing inherent in our Constitution is the most distressing part. If this Impeachment “Trial” ends up a mere sham, consider what kind of power we will have unleashed.....it will be hard to sleep.
12
@Beyond Done It's done. Denying the inclusion of witnesses renders the whole thing a farce. It's a sham trial. The Republican party has acted as a lynch mob, and the victim was democracy.
Sham trial? The leader is right if he thinks he's right? Check and check:
Welcome to dictatorship.
1
Imagine if instead of obfuscating and cowering, House and Senate Republicans had turned their attention to cracking Putin's network and schemes over this past year. If they'd heeded Mueller's warning, read his report, joined with Democrats to follow up on his leads. If instead of lying and hiding and covering up evidence in order to protect Trump, they were alarmed and used some of their mighty investigative powers to reveal and break up Putin's menace. Imagine if we were united in our efforts to root out this corruption and foreign interference in our elections. We could still be mad at each other about everything else but united in our belief that Putin's efforts are a threat to us all.
We could have bought ourselves a little more time, hardened our defenses against his attack, made the whole world a little safer possibly. But no, his Trojan Horse is parked in the Senate and Mitch is delighted. He's more interested in sticking it to the D's than in upholding the Constitution and seems incapable of acknowledging that there is anything wrong at all. History will have fun with him.
Despite evidence spilling out of every crevice, Republicans can hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil of their fearless leader. Putin is winning and Mitch's Republicans are complicit. The fragility of our republic as we've known it is more and more apparent.
Clearly if today's Republicans had been the Founding Fathers, the US would never have been. Period. Trump was the test. They failed.
20
Well, that's it folks.
Trump is King.
Never forget Republicans trashed our Democracy and gave presidents the right to ignore Congress and the Constitution anytime they darn well please.
Assuming we even get to have an election - any we may not as the GOP has declared Trump is above the law - vote Democratic.
Trump may now decide it is in the Nation's best interest to never allow the public to vote again.
Putin must be beside himself with joy.
Remember the date.
Friday, January 31st, 2020.
The Day Democracy Died.
29
New precedent: it is now okay for a sitting president to use taxpayer money that congress has allocated to help our ally combat intrusion from our enemy in order to make his political rival look bad and therefore help himself get elected.
So now that we have that, should they have to register our $450 Million in taxpayer “contributions” to the president’s campaign fund with the Federal Election Commission? After all, without our money, the president would not get the benefit.
15
Republican Senator Alexander said that voting for the senate to do its job would be like pouring gasoline on the culture wars in our country - as if turning America into an autocracy is like a cool salve for our problems.
Isn't it way past time, finally, for we the people, the rank and file, the honorable and educated among both parties and beyond, to take to the streets to demonstrate to Mr. Alexander and his ilk what a gasoline-soaked political fire looks like?
People of all partisan stripes exclaimed to me that if there were demonstrations held, they would be there. They knew what was at stake. They were dying to make their voices heard, and show their solidarity with and support of the Constitutional separation of powers. I know I wanted to. Where were the protests? Where were the events? When it mattered most, where were the people who felt so strongly?
Maybe it's too little too late, but I still think there is time to let us show up to support our form of government. I would be there. Will somebody finally please organize something?
12
Maybe not try to organize, for fear of their own lives??!!
The GOP-friendly, armed, white supremacists — most recently marching in Richmond — are getting larger and more aggressive. Do people not remember the SS and the SA of the 1930s in Germany?
At least some Americans might sensibly be planning to leave the country, not planning demonstrations against which Trump et al can unleash untold harm.
Bolton might be remembering what he read in the Times' May 9 story referenced in this piece. Seems it was hardly a secret that Trump sought an investigation. So Bolton in May confirms what was soon, before or after, public knowledge. He also confirms that Trump delayed release of foreign aid. We know all this. So he's accusing everyone in the administration of what exactly? Knowing what was publicly known, on the one hand, and widely known in the WH before it became public, on the other. Of course we don't really know what was written and what support is given for Bolton's recollections, which don't seem to be recalled by others he says were there. All this illustrates, once again, is how weak the Democrat's case was. The House should have voted to reprimand or censure the president and got on with the election.
The case is not weak, Alexander conceded the house managers had more than proved their case .The majority of Republicans in the Senate dont want to vote to remove Trump from office. They want to be able to go back to Trump friendly districts and keep those votes and keep their jobs because saying "we still have Pence and Trump abused his power and obstructed justice to the tune of 391 million taxpayer dollars, Ukrainian deaths that did not need to happen, propaganda victory for Russia, degradation of US in the eyes of the world and we could not vote for what is right for our country and our democracy, and give up all impeachment power, and make sure Trump knows he truly has no boundaries or restrictions" is the only acceptable message. They are waiting for the WH right now to dictate the rest of their schedule, not making their own decisions. Why are they so afraid to stand up? What else is out there we don't know? what a sad day for our democracy......
4
@Peter That's ridiculous. Democrats proved their case beyond a shadow of a doubt -- so much so that Republicans have been forced to admit it -- only they say it doesn't matter because if the president thinks he's right, he's right.
I remember the last place I lived in that had that mindset.
It was Iran.
1
" Alexander conceded the house managers had more than proved their case ."
umm, no. That didn't happen.
News flash. Trump did exactly as accused. Democrats had to impeach to protect themselves and one their candidates. Republicans couldn't convict because Trump is the only Republican that has a chance of winning in November.
9
@dave: Disagree. Romney and Haley would win in a landslide against Sanders or Warren. Saying this as a Warren fan.
There is only one logical response to this "trial": This afternoon I made my contribution to the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, and I hope everyone who supports a better United States of America will join me.
18
It wasn't an impeachable offense before Bolton, and it is not one now.
What part of "doesn't rise to the level of impeachable offense" do NYT readers not comprehend. The Senate makes this decision, and democrats weren't able to convince enough senators that Trump's behavior should be considered an impeachable offense.
The system you're all claiming to protect gets thrown under the bus every time you disagree with the outcome.
5
@AACNY "What part of "doesn't rise to the level of impeachable offense" do NYT readers not comprehend?"
- The part that involves withholding our tax dollars from an ally at war with Russia.
- The part that involves soliciting a foreign government to start a phony investigation to convince voters that a debunked theory pawned by the Russians involves Joe Biden.
- The part that involves a defamatory smear campaign against long serving patriotic American Foreign Service officers.
Finally, it's an impeachable offense by definition. He's already been impeached.
Pay attention. We all need to pay attention.
19
@AACNY Not sure you are right. Trump’s lawyers argued that he did nothing wrong. So, there may have been Senators who felt Trump did nothing wrong. More evidence would have been important for this group to consider. The fact that the Senators voted against witnesses is simply a cover up.
A cover up. They put their jobs before the people.
12
@AACNY
You and the Russo GOP senators are no longer Americans. You're Trumpians, now bow to your king. I will never! Let the chips fall where they may, you and I, are no longer countrymen.
17
The Senate in failing to carry out its responsibility to protect the Constitution and the Rule of Law is in the process of legitimizing the establishment of a Putin type government in the United States. Whether this government is short-lived or enduring must now fall to the American people. For, only now can the people push back the darkness that is now just outside the door. At this juncture, the Free Press is more important than ever in educating the people of the danger confronting the nation.
18
I'm closer to 70 than to 60, retired from Federal service; active duty, reserves, civil service-performed on 3 continents. I was enlisted and an average grade civil servant-a member of the 'deep state'. I took the oath of Constitutional fidelity on many occasions. Today, the Senate will take a vote on opening the proceedings of Donald J. Trump's trial to witnesses and documents. I expect to see this evidence presented to the Senate and the American people, it is the right thing to do. The accused conduct is outside of constitutional norms, reasonable trial expectations, and touches upon our national security bearing upon the upcoming election and the Ukraine/Russia conflict-with Russia the aggressor. I am watching and a "no' vote will form the list of individuals that will garner my dollar contributions to DEFEAT THEM in their upcoming campaigns for reelection. I will tailor the dollar amounts according to the length of service they have performed; $5.00, $10.00, $20.00 and $100.00-regardless of party. I will do so in remembrance of those patriots that were harmed or perished in defense of our Republic over these decades and centuries. Not getting to the bottom of these articles of Impeachment, amounts to faithlessness to our country,-the principles it stands for. A "NO' vote means they are not faithful to the office they hold.
41
They may vote NO to witnesses and move this to its foregone conclusion, but if Trump goes on to win reelection, I believe he will in no way be restrained in his illegal and unethical behavior. I can even see him being impeached a second time.
23
No, he’s going to be worse now. Because he got away with it.
1
Now that Trump has committed political murder of the Constitution on Fifth Avenue, and received a full throated defense from the Republican Party for having done so, it is reasonable to suppose that Mr Giuliani will, at his behest, be scouring the globe for countries that will investigate or stain the Bidens in any way they can. The 2020 election could as a readily be blatantly contamonated to the point where Democrats cannot accept the legitimacy of the election, and the country could face political breakdown.
20
What else would it take to confirm that the GOP, in its entirety, is complicit in this matter? Trump committed the act and the GOP stand on the sidelines. I truly hope when the Democrats win the Presidency (either 2020/2024/2028..) that their candidate brazenly acts contrary to the Constitution. After all, it would be in the best interest of being re-elected for the good of the country.
4
Trump seems to think he can get away with anything, out in the open. Except his tax returns and conversations with Putin are hidden. Makes you wonder.
20
Those tax returns must really be something.
The outcome of this trial was decided long before it started. But blocking the only witnesses with inside knowledge of the pressure campaign makes it absolutely clear to anyone with any objectivity what a sham trial this was. I suppose the Republican senators decided that a). they would be punished by Trump and the electorate if they voted to include witnesses; b). the trial would be even more of a sham if they voted to acquit Trump after hearing what Bolton and Parnas had to say. But, I learned something from 2016: Trump's base just really doesn't care about the facts. I'd like to think this sham trial will hurt him, but I know in my heart that it won't.
11
Folks, save your bile for November,. We knew from the beginning that Trump would not be found guilty, but wasted our time anyway. How many bills submitted to the Senate would have received much more attention in the press if this wasted time was spent on these bills, showing the Senate's obstruction. As a Dem, I'm disappointed.
4
Mitch McConnell has done more to obstruct justice over the long haul in politics than our president. They're both dinosaurs psychologically if they're even capable of understanding that. And I'm sure they don't care. Can we move forward as a human race? Maybe. Very Slowly.
8
Another good reason not to call madly anti-Russia and pro Iran regime change war monger Bolton as a witness. The defense team have a key question to answer as to why Trump was justified in pressure campaign to stop the corruption in Ukraine of which the Bidens clearly were having serious and malicious conflict of interest.
Bolton's lust to be in the lime light at all cost and profit from the opportunity Trump gave him to serve the country makes him an untrustworthy and ungrateful national security advisor who was a central figure in the Bush administration initiation of the regime change wars and the cost to the country of 5 trillion dollars to the US tax payers and a millions of lives lost because of this characters nasty advice.
I hope the senate hears the evil doings of Bolten and sends him to the war crimes court in Dan Hague (Hague), International court of justice. I am appalled that the alleged crimes of the US administrations against thousands of our fellow human beings have not been investigated. That said these investigations including the malicious conflict of interest of Bidens should and can be dealt separately and promptly after this partisan impeachment charade is dead in the senate.
2
Perhaps the useless GOP senate should start looking at the 400 plus bills sitting on your senators desk before looking for scapegoats.
4
Back when this nation was declared independent and a Constitution was signed we had militias. States governed their "military" according to the Constitution. Over the span of our nation we have turned our militias into the military we now know and it is one of the largest in the world.
Our military is overseen by our government as an arm of our government to protect America from enemies foreign and domestic that would challenge and invade to cause harm to us.
What happens when the government is corrupt? Where does the military stand in all this? I signed up when my number came up because I preferred to pick my own branch of military duty. My father was a lifer in the Army. Enlisted man. Just like his son. We learned to take orders from our commander and he took his orders from his commander and so on up the ladder. At the top sits the president.
What happens when that president is unqualified and perhaps mentally ill? I certainly would not want our military to start a coup. I prefer not to be ruled militarily. But as a citizen I would rather not be ruled by a dictator and his cabal. If the Chiefs of Staff of our military branches got together and recognized that we have a government that as been compromised and corrupted, would it be something you or I could support if they decided to intervene for a period of time to bring back sanity to what has become an insane government?
As much as I hate that idea I can't help but think this may be our only option. Oh well.
2
The important take away is Trump did what he was accused of doing. 73 percent of the public wanted witnesses. The GOP doesn't care, nor do Trump's core base. Our Senate is run by a corrupt cabal that does not respect the rule of law or our Constitution. Will America reject tnis comw November? I think that is far from certain.
13
When Trump's impeachment is thrown out the House could convene additional hearings and subpoena Mr. Bolton, Mr. Giuliani, Mr. Mulvaney. Immediately.
14
None of this matters. The Democracy is over. This is the age of the Authoritarian and Oligarchy. When Trump, with the rubber stamp of the Senate postpones, then outlaws elections we will be fully engulfed in Trumps America. Democracy is dead, functional government is dead.
8
Sorry, NYT, this doesn't change anything. The president's behavior doesn't rise to the level of impeachment. That's the conclusion reached.
Democrats are clinging to their bombshells as if they will suddenly transform Trump's actions into impeachable offenses. They do not, will not and never will.
7
That is a partisan opinion, hijacked by a paid high-class criminal defense team. It will do well for Americans to remember that. Epstein, OJ and the other wealthy criminals are amused.
7
And how did they come to this conclusion without looking at the evidence? This is not the way any other trial would be conducted.
4
Circular logic in the extreme. Soliciting foreign assistance in an election is a CRIME. It’s on the books as a Crime. All the evidence so far and the evidence and testimony the Senate is burying in this sham “trial” proves that Trump did this beyond a reasonable doubt. Just because Trump says that an apple is an orange doesn’t make it objectively true. Just because the Senate covers up the truth - or refuses to even fully explore it - doesn’t suddenly make what Trump did, by his own “perfect” admission a Crime, and an Impeachable offense. But all “believers” in the Trump cult still believe an apple is an orange regardless of the factual truth. An idea is a fine thing because an idea can change. A belief is dangerous because with blind faith they are impossible to change, even when all factual evidence indicates how wrong they are.
4
It is over. We are lost.
4
@EA
Thought that we had to impeach to save our nation. We impeached, and now we're lost again?
3
@AACNY
Leave it to you for such helpful information.
1
At this point I'm having a really hard time reading/listening to these proceedings. I want to be in the room with these senators. I want to look them in the eye and ask some obvious questions. It wouldn't be hard to make them squirm, would it? Republican senators have no spine, no honor, no conscience! Protecting King Hubris because he's the only one who can keep them in the green.
8
I am still confused as to how a sham trial is supposed to BENEFIT these cowardly Republicans? While I understand their why and wherefores - future financial opportunities, how could they think this will aid in their re-election?
8
Because as long as they get their base out in deep Red States -those true believers in the Cult of Trump they will win re-election to their Senate seats. Even if they just come off as a less awful alternative than the “evil socialist democrats”. Which seems ridiculous to any rational, intelligent person educated in civics, but that’s not what we are dealing with here. We are dealing with persons seeped in “blind faith” of the evangelical right who now have “blind faith” in Trump. No factual evidence will convince them otherwise than that everything that HE says is truth and anything else is not - regardless of anything. They are even willing to vote against their own best interest - as Trump has done nothing but policy to support the uber wealthy and done less than nothing to help these red state voters. Most of his policies have actively hurt them -by try convincing them of that with any facts - their “blind faith” makes it impossible. The only thing that likely saves the country now is a recession that gets enough to vote against him and we are likely on the verge of one.
3
Like fellow Senator Alexander of Tennessee, Murkowski of Alaska has chosen to be part of the 'drug deal' cover-up and will not vote in favor of having witnesses and documents. Does that make her, and Republican senators, an accessory to a crime perpetrated by Trump?
10
In front of the world the GOP controlling the US Senate held an impeachment trial and refused to call any witnesses or any material evidence. It was not for a lack of either. The key witnesses and thousands of documents were blocked during the House investigation by the White House. By not calling Mick Mulvaney and John Bolton to testify, the Senate has proven the trial has nothing to do with evidence or the truth. It's a foregone conclusion. Damning evidence would make it difficult to acquit. This has only been an exercise in political posturing and not the one the framers placed so carefully to preserve our Republic.
5
Trump made several intents to block Bolton's book to appear, with the repeated accusation of being lies. Now that is confirmed undeniably to the country that the president was lying then and that he is the liar, what is the American to do?
Just for the damage to the trust of the Americans that believed on him, is not convenient to continue Trump being the president.
The consequences of the reduction of trust of the population on the leader of the country can cause even adjustment of patriotism. And what the rest of the world will do. The whole State of the Union, may be a Trump's deception too, can be reasoned.
Recall when Obama was called an Emperor when he was signing so many presidential directives? The Rs had their base fully triggered.
Another universe entirely.
2
Bolton should chuck all thoughts of publishing a book and simply stand in front of a press corps and tell what he knows. It is way past time to try making a few bucks from secrets so vital to national interests.
Unless of course John Bolton is just one more corrupt Trump operative trying to get rich quick. Everything he says he believes could of course be a lie and he is just out for himself. That's also possible. I was hoping that was not true.
2
Bolton wants to make $$ from his book; he is not going to take for free
What if the whole aspect of withholding military aid to Ukraine has nothing to do with Ukraine "corruption", the Biden's and the server but rather is the requirement dictated privately and secretly to Trump by Putin? He surely would not want Ukraine to gain strength in its war with Russia. And that would be a treasonable offense!
3
Breaking news!
The one party that has worked aggressively to shutter polling places, purge voting rolls, and has claimed massive voting fraud...is perfectly fine with allowing our president to withhold funds until such time as a foreign government can interfere in our election.
5
Trump’s defense as of 4.30 pm —
We all know that Trump abused his power. Except that he is president and this is an election year.
6
It looks like we -- and our USA -- are cooked. For now. Trump can't police or help himself. This is why he is President Pathological. He will commit more wrong. This is inevitable. This is who he is and will forever be until he no longer be. I oppose any and all violence against him.
3
The state of our country is disappointing.
2
Bolton and Parnas seem on the verge of exposing a criminal conspiracy against the United States with coconspirators throughout the administration and with participants in Congress. No crime novel could top this. No wonder Republicans are so desperately moving to shut this down.
7
The GOP is engaged in a slow motion car wreck, a raging dumpster fire. If that party survives, the nation fails.
The party of Lincoln is dead.
6
How much more evidence is needed, GOP?
We don't ALL wear blinders.
6
I have no love for Bolton. Ideologically and politically, I think he is pretty much always wrong.
But I don't think he is a liar, let alone a pathological one like the 'President'.
If Bolton is one-tenth the patriot he claims to be, he should ask to be subpoenaed by the House the minute after the Senate uses its sham trial to clear the corrupt boil festering in the Oval Office.
Get his testimony under oath immediately and release it to the public the instant the transcript is ready.
He should go on every talk show and news programme that will have him.
The Trump-Barr Department of (In)Justice will pursue a 'legal' strategy to silence him, but if he acts fast, the facts will be out before they can smother them.
The nation has never needed a free press and an unbiased justice system more.
4
Now that Lamar Alexander has said that yeah, Trump did it but that it doesn't rise to the level for removal; is there going to be any accountability for the cascades of lies Trump and his cronies have been telling for many weeks about it? Or is lying just the new norm now?
Alexander's highly subjective and unilateral -at this stage -assessment that it does not rise to the level of impeachment constitutes more absurdity, For a start Donald John has been impeached, so it is too late; it has already risen to the level of impeachment. The Senate has control over acquittal or removal, not whether he is impeached (with an ongoing asterisk in the history books.)
What Lamar is suggesting in all it's Da Da-esque absurdity goes something akin to the following:
Yeah the bank robber has been proved guilty of robbing the bank. There is no doubt that he is guilty and that all his staunch supporters on the jury have been protecting him for weeks when they privately knew he was guilty.
OK he robbed the bank but the proven robbery does not rise to the level of deserving punishment. Moreover he is free to continue robbing banks as long as he donates the money to his campaign; you see he genuinely believes that it would be good for the USA for him to be re-elected.
I have mixed the metaphors a little but to say a crime is proven, but that it doesn't rise to the level of being punished is clearly dangerously cartoonish
506
@Bob Guthrie Agreed...it's a good thing Alexander is retiring; he will need plenty of time to find out where his backbone disappeared to.
65
@Bob Guthrie
There will be no further discussion. What Trumps says, goes. What Trump wants, Trump gets. Is the Reichstag . burning? What do you think!
64
@Bob Guthrie The Senate just now voted against having further witnesses and documents in the trial (49-51). A vote that was to be expected, but is nonetheless disheartening.
Patriotic Democrats like Representatives Nancy Perry and Adam Schiff, as well as every Democratic Senator who voted for a normal trial with witnesses and documents, are the only ones doing their jobs of keeping a check on an out-of-control executive branch. They're the only ones fighting to minimize and limit Trump's damage to our Constitution and the rule of law.
Republicans like Mitch McConnell and the rest of the GOP have officially become Trump's political lackeys -- they serve only to protect and enable a corrupt president and his compromised administration ... at all costs to the country and our national security.
We cannot afford to risk another 4 years of trump, or his Republican lackeys in the House and Senate. It won't be safe for any of us.
Vote them all out.
72
Article 1 alleges the “President Trump—acting through his agents—asked Ukraine to publicly announce an investigation of Joe Biden and a discredited theory that Ukraine instead of Russian interfered in the 2016 election.” It does not allege Trump told John Bolton to call President Zelensky and ensure Zelensky would meet with Rudy Giuliani. If true, Trump’s asking Bolton to ensure Zelensky met with Giuliani does not prove the House manager’s case.
The House Intelligence Committee report (page 121) shows U.S. diplomats asked Zelensky to an anticorruption statement. The Ukrainians show Ambassador Volker a statement that read: “ We intend to initiate and complete a transparent and unbiased investigation of all available facts and episodes, which in turn will prevent the recurrence of this problem in the future.”
Ambassador Kurt Volker testified he called Giuliani, who suggested adding a reference the Bursima and the 2016 U.S. elections to the statement, so it would read: “We intend to initiate and complete a transparent and unbiased investigation of all available facts and episodes, including those involving Burisma and the 2016 U.S. elections, which in turn will prevent the recurrence of this problem in the future.” When the Ukrainians balked art making the revised statement, Volker said “we drop it.”
Expectations that the Senate would remove the president from office over an innocuous statement that was never made has always been delusional.
8
@William Case That is not what we're talking about here. The topic is Bolton's revelations, particularly as they reveal the lead defense counsel has been accused as a co-conspirator.
17
@pj.cochran
If the Bolton manuscript says what the Times alleges it says, it does no bolster the House managers case. They allege Tump asked Zelensky to publicly announce an investigation of the Bidens. Apparently, Trump did not tell Bolton he asked Zelensky to make such an announcement.
3
No, it says Trump acted through his agents, as you note in your original post. That agent would include Giuliani.
2
Although it is moot now, I wish Bolton’s assertion that Pat Cipollone was a witness to the discussions involving pressure had been unveiled before the question period. It would have been interesting to have a Democratic Senator question Cipollone about the meeting. Surely there must be standards of conduct governing counsel that prohibit lying in open court.
24
Is there a chance that all this slimy, cowardly behavior on the part of the GOP will have an effect of popular opinion? Could the Senate majority be flipped? Oh. Can something good come from something terrible? Let us hope and pray.
14
As if my skin could not crawl anymore, here we have Murkowski declining to have witnesses because the conclusion is foregone.
Lisa, nobody is going to remember your overwrought hand wringing about how "disappointed" you are in the chamber. I wish you didn't bother to appear troubled by what you've done. Stop insulting us.
39
Sarah: I share your pain and anger. As far as I am concerned, the Republicans (or Trumpublicans, really) have just signed their own walking papers. They have effectively fired themselves. Because come this November,every single one of this sorry lot is going to be voted OUT of their very comfy seats, and we can start with a clean slate, without all the this corruption. Goodbye, don’t let the door hit you on your way out!
3
Right? I'm so sick of her and Collins pretending to care, just to sting everyone along, all the while never intending to do anything but march along party lines.
Not to mention the so called Democrat that defected. Say what you will about the Republican's they stick together.
3
@Sarah
Lisa Murkowski is my senator. She is as cowardly as they come and I told her so in an email.
What cheeses me off about her is that she played everyone, pretending to 'deliberate.' In the end she caved. If you're going to be a spineless pasty, then just do it. Don't pretend you're trying to do the right thing and that it was a principled, thought-out decision.
She's particularly despicable because she knows better.
Needless to say, I'll write in Bozo the Clown before I ever vote for her again.
1