The deep state is the entire apparatus that maintains the rules and law and order in our democratic republic. Without them, all elected officials will act like Trump and steal from the tax payers and abuse their power to tilt things their own way. Trump could have let justice play out and just pardoned stone, but no. The GOP has created a full on banana Republic with trump as dictator. Which manipulates justice for him and punishment for his political enemies. Wrong is wrong.
15
Trump needs to be muzzled. Every time he gets away, he gets emboldened. He is now nearly a full blown dictator. Shame on the GOP for supporting this undemocratic monster. The AG needs to be impeached after the Stone debacle.
20
Someone should ask Trump what he considers a "crime."
I suspect the answer would be enlightening to us all.
13
Sure thing ,the Scam Artist we now have in the Oval Office was a "business man" previously and probably ran his operations the way he is currently running the country.
That's why he has been thru 5 or 6 bankruptcies and acquired a reputation for not paying business debts and a variety of shady practices.
Seems enough folks voted for him in the "right states" so that even though he lost in terms of the popular vote count nationally he won in the electoral college count which is what determines who wins in our national political system.
11
We knew Trump was a monster 2 years ago. No one cared. Too late now. The carnage he has set in motion will be immense. Republican apologies will fall on deaf ears over the next few years. America will not forgive any of them and their duplicitous politics.
15
My fun meter is pegged already this week.
3
Even Republicans grudgingly admit those testifying against Trump were telling the truth. And now they are being punished for doing so? Where is the Republican outrage? Its inevitable that the whistleblower will be outed and also fired.
12
Hitler required everyone in his government, the armed forces, the judiciary and even his nazified Lutheran Church to make an oath of fealty, not to Germany, but to him personally. Trump is acting as if every member of the executive branch owes him personal fealty. We know Barr does what Trump tells him to do and even anticipates his wishes. It’s getting scary for those of us old enough to remember Hitler and Stalin.
25
You are publishing too many stories - and writing too many bad headlines - that normalize the deeply abbormal things going on today. “Objective” does not mean “unmoored from reality” nor does it mean that straight up lies go uncorrected with truthful context. Please do better. Please!!
12
UCMJ won't allow the Army to discipline LtCol Vindman due to the President's prejudicial interference. Were charges to be considered, that would involve first an Article 32 hearing to determine if the charges proposed were legitimate. That, in turn, would mean that all those persons involved would testify under oath, probably including Mulvaney, possibly President Trump himself.
Were the charges, whatever they might be, survive that hearing, then defense would include all prejudicial statements by the President, of which there are several, and that could cause judicial recognition of improper command influence leading to dismissal of all charges due to Trump's having tainted the whole process.
Meanwhile, the media would press ahead with every detail and drag the proceedings through the proverbial mud, including every tweet by Trump, every one of them, in an election year to boot. Trump doesn't choose his battles, not at all, as he is ignorant of the law and its judicial procedures, and he is ignorant of federal laws and all the procedures required there, and completely ignorant of the Unified Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
15
Trump is just a low life gutter snipe. I can’t wait for him to get destroyed in November at the ballot box.
13
This is what happens when you get a Russian elected coward for President.
19
What was that saying about Rome....
Oh right. It fell.
7
Oh yes, pardon service members convicted of war crimes but punish a decorated war veteran for honoring a congressional subpoena. "Perfect", just like the phone call with Ukraine President Zelensky.
20
Trump wants to be a fascist so badly. Such an insecure little man. Remind me, why did anyone vote for him?
17
He had a lot of help from the Russians.
7
When the people at the National Archive turned themselves into spinless sycophants by altering a photo because it might offend the wannabe dictator in the White House*, when the US Navy covers up the name of a ship as to not offend their cowardly commander in chief, then you know the rot has already spread too far and too fast. America will never be what it once was.
*(like he even knows what the National Archives is)
26
@sjs
Well stared.
And funny, too
Thx
6
Tito, Mussolini, Castro, Putin, Erdogan, Trump.....
I see little difference.
20
Get Trump out! Democracy is burning! #november2020 #USelection #Vote !!!
7
I’m glad to see the Leaker Brothers being shown the door. They have no business snooping around in the White House.
2
@ galt, as usual you are waaaay off base. Testifying under oath under a congressional subpoena is not leaking.
14
@JGALT
Yes, let the rot in tbe WH go unexposed, and unopposed.
Ban freedom of speech, freedom of the press, all of the 1st Amendment of the Constitution so the obese, spray painted, fake-haired dotard dictator can continue to destroy our democracy.
16
Trump is a traitor.
Trump is a disgusting person.
Trump is a psychopath.
Trump must be defeated.
13
As I read this piece I want to especially thank Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republicans (excepting only Senator Romney) for failing to do their duty and convict this miscreant
15
Love reading these comments. So well worded, so well informed. Mostly reflective of what the MSM says. But so informative.....not.
1
Your insight is so thoughtful and substantive...not.
11
“We’re not a banana republic where lieutenant colonels get together and decide what the policy is.” No, Mr. O'Brien, we are in an endangered and fragile democracy, where a narcissistic, vindictive and immoral man is deciding what the policy is. Beware your fealty to mad King Donald. One slip, and he will have your head on a platter, too. Good luck trying to retrieve your soul when this awful, horrible nightmare of an administration finally implodes.
18
What's next with this tyrant, firing squads for speaking the truth? Prison? Yes we are now a banana republic. and Trump is the dictator.
Funny thing about banana republics where the rule of law has died, when they have a regime change it is not as the result of a fair election/ It happens when the outgoing tyrant is dragged through the streets and murdered, by those who are sick of him and want a change.
The problem with riding on a tiger's back is that you cannot get off and live. When you survive by lies and fooling people watch out when you cannot fool the people any more, except for the Fox News brainwashed.
This impeached president where his stooges in the Senate have given him a cover up instead of a real trial so Trump can go after those who did their duty is making that wake up day for Trump and his stooges with no backbones come well before election day. If he plays his cards well perhaps Putin will endorse him.
8
Oh, yes, we are a banana republic
9
Vindman to be prosecuted, Stone egregiously sentenced. With Trump, black is white, white is black. What a crazy state of affairs.
12
I'm beginning to think my opinion of Trump has been too conservative. Rather than just a sociopath and fascist it seems he's a paranoid schizophrenic as well. Too bad we're a little too civilized to send him the way of Charles I even if we had a few more honest ethical Republican Senators.
12
"“The president is entitled to staffers that want to execute his policies, that he has confidence in,” said Robert C. O’Brien, the national security adviser, who supervised Colonel Vindman and his brother, Yevgeny Vindman, also an Army lieutenant colonel, who was dismissed last week from the National Security Council staff even though he did not testify in the House hearings. “We’re not a banana republic where lieutenant colonels get together and decide what the policy is.”
Notice that the writer of this article does not even mention that the policy that Trump wanted executed was judged by the non-partisan GAO as ILLEGAL and IMPROPER!!! Instead readers are told ONLY that Vindman "wouldn't execute policies" with absolutely no context.
If Vindman had refused Trump's order to shoot someone on Fifth Avenue, this reporter would be quoting Trump's National Security Advisor chiding Vindman for "refusing to execute Trump's policies" without once mentioning that "executing Trump's policies" means COMMITTING A CRIME!!!
I can't believe how this newspaper and its reporters bend over backward to normalize Trump. No mention that what Trump wanted was for Vindman to cover up his lawbreaking because reporters at this newspaper believe that William Barr is right and if the President orders it, then it is legal.
This newspaper has been complicit and this article proves it.
12
The spirit of Duranty lives on at the New York Times. "even the scales" -- so you think punishing a war hero for telling the truth is some kind of restoration of justice? Disgusting.
5
I'd suggest to Donald Trump that he ought to be ashamed of himself... but he's already made it amply clear that he has no shame. But for him and for his cowardly, enabling Republican Party, I have nothing but foul scorn and derision. What has gone so wrong for you people that you now embrace and applaud the thuggish gang tactics of underworld vengeance and vendetta? Do you truly no longer care about the rule of law in this country? We are driving at 140 mph towards a Constitutional smash up and we have a petty, greedy, vicious madman at the wheel. Are there no patriots to apply the brakes?
9
Whoa. Whoa. Wait a minute?! This can’t be right because that would mean Sen. Susan Collins was WRONG when she said she was confident the President would “learn a pretty big lesson” after voting to acquit him last week...and I just can’t live in a world where Sen. Collins would misread a situation so poorly.
10
@Samantha
Funny.
Thanks for the laugh.
I needed it.
1
Apparently I also use sarcasm as a defense mechanism when our democracy burns around me. It does help...
6
This state of affairs is truly stunning as the President seems to be morphing into a ruthless and vindictive Dictator. All with the entire Republican senate standing by, guilty by association since they haven't breathed a whisper of concern.
The Constitution has been either ignored or manipulated to fit the President's wish.
At some moment, those in power might wonder whether DT is still fit for office, since this process is on-going and destructive beyond measure.
4
the only thing orwell got wrong in 1984 was the date.
15
civil disobedience had been called for some time now. when will people rise up?
11
To the republican senators who voted to aquit Trump, thanks for nothing. For the republican voters who voted for anyone other than Trump in the recent republican primaries, thank you for something, at least.
5
Perhaps if reporters at this newspaper explained to readers what it means to be "deep state" -- anyone who tells the truth and won't cover up Trump's wrongdoings -- there would not be endless articles like this one which NORMALIZES Trump. After all, how can you blame him for going after the people that even this liberal newspaper tells readers are simply "Trump's enemies".
Trump is going after anyone who tells the truth. Until this newspaper actually reports that as fact instead of insinuating that there is no truth so Trump is quite plausibly purging people who are "working against him", Trump will continue to try to punish every American who tells the truth.
Please stop spinning these stories with the pro-Trump narrative. Trump and the Republican Party define "enemy" as those who dare to tell the truth instead of covering up when Trump acts corruptly. But White House officials were allowed to call these truth-tellers "enemies" without having a single reporter question why someone who tells the truth is an enemy to Trump and would they not be an enemy if they lied?
5
The Impeachment process showed the American public Republicans in Congress are no check to this corrupt illegitimate president - with the notable exception of Senator Mitt Romney.
They trembled in fear of Potemkin style tweets and retribution from the mob boss.
They did not show the bravery of all the solders who have defended freedom, liberty, democracy, the Constitution and the rule of law since the nation’s founding.
The American presidential and congressional election is the only check left to stop this lawless corrupt con man.
If Trump is behaving this way prior to the election, imagine what he would do if he cheats his way back into office?
5
This will be a severe and serious test of the strength of the republic, from the White House on down. Will the courts and the military march to his drum beat? We already know that the Department of "Justice" will, at least at the upper reaches. But if the military and the courts do not stop Trump, the republic will be in grave danger indeed.
2
When, shortly after winning the presidency. Mr.Trump proclaimed himself "the chosen one", no one really took him seriously. Trump however, with his overwhelming ego and narcissism was convinced that he was in fact "the chosen one". After his people explained to him the powers vested in the of the presidency, Mr, Trump realized that he was now really ,Commander-in Chief with,as far as he was concerned, infinite authority. With that conviction his mission is to redefine the office of American presidency and it's executive powers. So far he has had total success .
He scrambled the Muller investigation, he orchestrated the impeachment debacle and he is now meting out punishment to his adversaries. He cannot be stopped or checked because he is assured of protection from his devotees and they are legion.
Welcome America, to the new reality. The ethics-integrity-morality bar has been reset to an all time low. The "Chosen One" is here.
6
Laws exist to prohibit retaliation against grievance filers and whistle blowers. Are the laws good? Filing a false police report is prosecutable.
This is a different area, but there are some similarities.
The intent of overseeing retaliatory conduct is to bring legitimate issues in need of correction into a process, even if it means some frivolous claims are filed. There are no penalties when claims are unfounded. Unfounded claims can be damaging. That’s the way the American culture operates at the moment.
It is the essence of a litigious culture driven by greed.
Bury competition in lawsuits until resources are depleted.
America is showing itself to be a barrel, and Americans are the fish inside. Continue following this path, and the free enterprise system continues as something to plunder.
Oligarchs, dictators and their well-educated charmers are pretty good at leading the masses to slaughter.
America, wake up. If this is your dream, look again.
1
During George Bush era the excuse to go to wars or anything that questioned the legitimacy was "that information is classified".
Trump next 4 years will put all of the people who opposed him in jail and the reason to put them in jail will be classified.
The President after Trump will be powerless since courts are filled with Right Wing radicals and every attempt to reduce sentence or release will be thwarted byvthese right wing justices.
Comey and Brennan could see long jail sentences from cooked up "classified" charges.
3
Skimming through the comments to this article I cannot help but think that this fracture in the American electorate is not simply between Rep and Dems, but a matter of confused and warped values and principles.
Republican comments, all that I've read at least, seem to dig a moat around Trump and extoll the right of the President to do whatever he wants, according to his whim. All the career people from the White house, government, military or various law enforcement agencies have morphed in Republican minds into agents of the deep state. Law and order is personified by Trump's whims...It sounds more and more like an anarchist group than a political party.
In the meantime the Dems are the law and order people, and the staunch defenders of institutions and the rule of law. A hippie traveling in time from the 70s to the present moment in time would be excused if he/she might confuse this state of affairs with a drug induced nightmare.
Very amusing to watch...from a safe distance.
Anyway, if anybody thinks there's a chance for a candidate to unify this utter mess, they need to lay off whatever they're smoking, because these are deep, pervasive, social divisions that go past trump and his Republican buddies.
6
Will somebody please explain why the White House "Godfather", aka Crime lord and chief wants everyone else to apologize, when he has insulted and defamed so many to include the deceased , cheated on all three of his wives, who is now forever Impeached? Apparently he thinks the Prosecutors in Stones case should apologize to him. I am hoping that the Judge does what the charges call for and treats Stone like if it were anyone else, and sentence accordingly, All the Prosecution and defense can do is make recommendations, the Judge can except or do what they feel is appropriate. Trump is likely to pardon everyone of his buddies anyway, as he is exiting 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, so they might as well serve time while its possible. Geography is going to get harder for our young people, when they are asked to identify states and locations, only to learn they no longer exist.
3
So nice to be back in the USSR. Hope someday Trump shows up for a cabinet meeting but finds no place to sit. Siberia is such a lovely place to retire to and the exercise program can’t be beat.
2
A substantial number of people I know from the military and the Federal civil service support an investigation into what LTC Vindman revealed about the phone conversation between the President and President Zelinsky of Ukraine.
The revealing of classified or sensitive conversations between our leaders and the leaders of other nations is a crime.
Vindman, even though he looked good in his dress uniform while testifying before Congress, probably violated both protocol and the law, and should be investigated under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
There's a reason we protect whistleblowers who have the guts to come forward to report wrongdoing.
2
I’ll expect a visit from the Secret Service, but I no longer care. DJ Trump needs a J.O.B.—just one bullet.
4
@BlueMountainMan Very civil. Very human.
We're so proud to have you in our midst.
@ Kenneth, you not familiar with courage? Someone had to say it. Kudos
1
A "Get Out Of Jail Free" Card.
That's what Senate Republicans gave their capo dei capi...and Don Trump will now do a lot of "spring cleaning" in his garbage business.
The GOP isn't a party anymore. It's the Mob.
6
Perhaps now is the perfect time for iq45 to have a summit with Xi in China.
2
He is not a president, just a pretender!
Animal Farm has come to the White House.
2
“Aggrieved and unbound”? You left out aggressive and unhinged.
2
I am hoping that the Republican Senate is proud of the petty emperor they just created. The senate should keep in mind the historical lessons from other petty dictators.
The emperor once installed, begins with a purge. That’s been done with more likely to come. Then he get’s paranoid of anyone who he perceive is a threat. More purges? See North Korea’s Kim for those references. Ultimately, the creature becomes delusional, and acts out in very unexpected ways. Remember Caligula ordering his troops to attack papyrus rushes?
Take his statement that he could shoot someone and not lose a vote.
How long before he puts that theory to the test?
Have fun with your new little dictator Mitch. Think he’s going to be easy to control? Not on your life!
10
It's patently obvious that many here cannot understand the rules and the code of military life.
Both NSC Vindmans no doubt do, yet they thought they were protected by the bureaucracy. They thought President Trump wasn't actually their boss or Commander in Chief. They thought they were in charge of foreign policy because they knew that's "the way we always did it."
They were criminally wrong on all counts.
Those of us who elected our President to ferret out these tin horns are delighted that this tip-of-the-iceberg event is surfacing. Buckle up, America: we're bringing your country home.
2
@J Brian I'm well versed in the military code of conduct and my oath to my beloved country:
"I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic..."
...Alliegiance to the president is super seceded by the institution of country and Constitution.
What Vindman acted on was a sense of patriotism and duty to 250 years of freedom and our democratic republic. There is a segment of our population that has the misguided idea that Trump is greater than all history that preceded him. Wake up, for God's sake!
You see Vindman as mutinous. I see him as a patriot who, witnessed his commanding officer gone rogue. I can think of few things more courageous than willfully sacrificing career and standing in an attempt to challenge the CIC. Think of the Gallagher case, a SEAL team leader who'd become untethered. His own me could clearly see he had gone off the reservation yet it took the collective resolve of several men to come forward and report his misconduct. I have seen this first hand in combat. Murmurs of fragging were sometimes heard.
Power corrupts. Who among us has the fortitude and integrity to step up and stand up? It is patently obvious that the senate chose to cut and run.
5
@J Brian: You claim the Vindmans are criminally wrong and disparage them as tinhorns based on what? Alexander obeyed a lawful subpoena and testified truthfully before the House committee. Should he have lied? And what did Yevgeny, a National Security Council attorney, do? When did they state they believed they were in charge of foreign policy? Or, is that a projection on your part, based on the supposition that they are part of a deep state undermining Trump? Your idea of bringing the country home is a president whose actions are never to be questioned?
1
I agree completely
Those in uniform have fought and shed blood for the absolute and unabridged freedom to say what we wish, and to redress our government for grievances.
Vindmen is absolutely within his rights and should be considered a hero for his stand against this Pretender and Chief.
1
Trump is on his way to autocracy since he received a blank check from Senate. Now he's got a puppet as DOJ, he believes he can do whatever he want
5
The sad part is that Trump’s base love his corruption, they love his lack of any moral compass and they want him to rule as a dictator.
He is polling at an all time high right now.
4
“We’re not a banana republic where lieutenant colonels get together and decide what the policy is.”
What irony! What despicable behaviour too. But that's who we have in the White house these days, whose actions are supported by far too many "Americans".
1
Trump and all his complicit allies are amoral to the bone. They all are destroying our democracy from the inside out more effectively than external enemies ever could. Therefore, the definition of traitor needs modernization in reflection of their collective corrosive effect on our governing system.
2
Get that mess of a human being sitting in the White House out of our government NOW. Any republican in Congress who tolerates this outrageous vindictiveness by a president must not be allowed to serve in our government either.
Col.Vindman did his duty honorably and deserves the medal given to Limbaugh.
6
Now we know why Trump wanted the name of the whistle blower.
7
The President* is ill. The job is obviously too much for him and the strain is making his illness worse. He is unlikely to recover without considerable care and rest. Not recognising these facts is collaborating in a plain form of elder abuse. That his family is permitting this to continue tells us that they do not care for him. It is very foolish to ignore a situation which is as obvious as it possibly can be. Refusing to provide medical assistance is despicable.
3
"How dare you assert that I did what I did - I didn't!" The Monte Python president speaks - horribly unfair.
4
Purple Heart vs. bone spurs.
6
Fortunately, Trump isn't smart enough to run an actual fascist state. The best he can accomplish is to be a bloviating and corrupting, day-to-day, tinpot dictator. His efforts to insult anyone, abuse anyone, and harm anyone who does not toady up to him will eventually bring about an unpleasant end. It's perhaps worth noting that dictators, even tinpot ones, almost never go voluntarily or gracefully. And very few die of old age in their sleep at their retirement villa.
5
We tried Mueller than we tried impeachment how about trying the old fashioned way? Voting!
4
Little people with no faculties for introspection are prone, in my experience, to seek vile and viscous retribution when the truth, which they are allergic to, gets anywhere near their ears and eyes!
Seems to me, like 45 protests way too much for an "innocent" man now defending other "innocent" individuals. Only in America could the land of such opportunity exist with such impunity.
We are coming closer to the time when not just Col. Vindman but we the people will be asked whether we have the moral courage to take a stand beyond voting, a stand that could pose a risk in some way.
With Republicans green-lighting foreign interference in our elections (and McConnell just rejected 3 bills to improve election security), I think it likely only mass civil disobedience will prevent us from acquiescing to the death of our democracy. Puerto Rico did it. Hong Kong does it. We did it during the Vietnam War. When will enough be enough?
8
"complaints about violating traditional norms."
Now there is a study in understatement. Trump today is moving towards a place in history that will put him in the same category as Noriega, Gaddafi, Amin, Khomeini and Pol Pot.
And he is still working on it. He could keep it up and be on the same page as Chairman Mao and Joe Stalin, (but I don't think he's that smart, he likes being admired to much). Most of the people I know plan to vote this year, the question is, will it make a difference?
4
Reminds me of nothing so much as the cyclical Politburo purges of the 1950s and 1960s Soviet Union. As I recall, during this era, whenever, a new regime took over the Communist Party the new 'Beloved Leader' and his minions would immediately 'Cleans' the Soviet Politburo of any and all traces of his predecessor, beginning with the State's top KGB, law enforcement and military leadership.
And some historians would even say that the Soviets eventually lost the Cold War partly because their experienced military and civilian leadership, when making decisions, had to always be looking over their shoulder and trying to discern just what about any current decision they may be forced to make, that may end-up offending their next or future 'Beloved Leader'.
It's clear as mud however, that our own 'Beloved Leader', seems to somehow have missed this chapter in his reading of the Constitution, re: after an election and transference of power, the strength of maintaining a unified and uninterrupted Democratic tripartite type of government.
4
Raise your hand if you’re worried that this is the end of American democracy.
Watching Trump makes me think of Turkey’s Erdogan, who I believe started off in a democracy and look where they are now.
Democracy exists only if everyone follows the rules.
Do the Republicans realize that? Do they realize that by not applying the rules to Trump, they risk putting an end to the very democracy that most nations in the world dream about?
Every day, the headlines make me think, this is no longer democracy. I’m surprised I haven’t seen any opinion writers point this out. Am I crazy or do others see what I’m seeing?
12
It's high time we had a public statement by Susan Collins. She is the figurehead of those in the Senate who felt that the president had done wrong but should not be removed. She is world famous for thinking the president had, "learned his lesson."
If she does not come to a microphone soon and explain what is going on and why she thinks this is normal in America, the good people of Maine, if not on their own then prodded by the rest of us, should demand her recall, resignation and prosecution of aiding and abetting crimes against the Constitution of the United States in violation of not one oath but two she swore.
She needs to explain herself and her colleagues immediately.
6
Trump’s War Against the ‘Deep
State’ Enters a New Stage
Does Trump think he can win this war?
Against the Deep State you can’t win
It’s been tried before
By Winston Smith in 1984
Look, I’m not telling Trump
What to think what to not think
What not think what doublethink
I double talk I see Trump walking
Walking towards a room
Room 101
Trump, have fun!
“We’re not a banana republic where lieutenant colonels get together and decide what the policy is,” says the national security advisor. No, apparently we’re a banana republic where the dictator decides court cases.
5
Impeach this President again! The problem is that now, he doesn't have to communicate his wishes to his subordinates any more. That's what putting Romney's head on a pike does. It shows everybody else: follow my lead or be thrown to the dogs. There will never be a paper trail or a conversation. Like a mob boss, all his underlings will KNOW what to do, what the boss wants. The AG didn't have to talk with him about reducing their request for Stone's prison time...they knew Trump would appreciate the gesture, so they just did it. The media has to stop asking for evidence, proof...there is none! But we all know that they did it for Trump.
3
While I blame nearly one-half of my fellow Americans whose votes installed the fellow who has run the presidency in to the ground, I finger Robert Mueller for tipping Trump's term into a run-amok monarchy by his Cheshire Cat stance toward Trump's obstruction of justice. Mueller played into the hands of TRump and his perfdious cabal of enablers, all the time foolishly believing the sideboards on his refusal to "charge" TRump with obstruction would be honored by all concerned.
5
In these comments we have heard from a few veterans of which I am one. Let's take a step back from the hatred of the President and the politics for just a second. First let us remember that the president is the Commander in Chief of the armed forces. He out ranks everyone. He can remove any one he pleases as President Truman did. Lt. Col. Vindman should be removed from his position at the White House for his testimony against his Commander in Chief. Whether or not you agree that falls under the heading of insubordination and at the very least he should be censured. The President, whether or not you like him or hate him, needs to be able to surround himself with people he can trust .
2
It isn’t insubordination to obey the law.
3
@Fred Lieutenant colonel Vindman was subpoenaed to testify before congress. He fulfilled his duty to testify. That is not insubordination. If the Commander in Chief orders a subordinate to break the law, the order is invalid. To ignore the order is the only appropriate course. The Commander in Chief is neither God nor King. He must respect the law, as his subordinates also must do.
Trump supporters always assume blind hatred is fueling the investigations into his actions. No. His own behavior and actions fuel the investigations. They demand to be investigated because they look downright corrupt.
1
I found Alan Dershowitz's defense of Trump in the Senate very convincing. One of his main points is that "abuse of power" as defined by the articles of impeachment would wreck the institution of the Presidency. Abuse of power would be weaponized for purely partisan reasons, as it has been in this case. Another crucial point he made: you cannot take legal behavior and define it as illegal because the motive for engaging in it was partially self-serving. Commentators on the left construed that to mean: "Trump can engage is nakedly illegal behavior whenever he wants!" As if Donald Trump could become a serial killer and suffer no consequences. The total lack of critical reasoning skills on the left is depressing.
2
@Christina Nice try at deflecting.
4
@Christina uh, I would say the total lack of critical reasoning skills or moral integrity on the right is depressing. Dershowitz was not convincing, he was befuddled. The accusation of Abuse of power was not weaponized for partisan purposes. Congress had allocated money to help Ukraine to defend itself against Russia. Trump went against the will of Congress and illegally withheld that money with one purpose only: to help smear his political rival. Think about it, he put Ukraine’s security at risk, he put lives at risk, to get himself re-elected. He used his power to serve his own personal interests. Allow that to happen without consequences and you will have presidents committing all sorts of transactional exchanges in foreign policy that will destroy America’s credibility as a reliable ally and eventually put American lives at risk too.
1
A leopard can’t change its spots. Did anyone think wouldn’t come for his pound of flesh. We better stop think we are watching reruns of Leave it to Beaver. Trump is playing hardball while we play hopscotch. I would be shocked if Trump didn’t come after those guys
2
Extreme behavior sometimes requires extreme measures.
Perhaps the Pentagon and the intel community should think long and hard about this statement.
1
I am actually angrier at my fellow citizens.
We need organize and descend upon Washington DC, marching and protesting and unequivocally reject this petulant, delusional nascent tyrant.
We did so three and-a-half years ago when he was “legitimately” elected.
What will it take for us to summon the willingness?
I feel like we’re all witnessing a violent abuse taking place in full public view and doing nothing. Just clucking tongues, wringing hands, and spewing online. But rather than a child or adult suffering the blows it’s our Constitution.
13
If everyone who hates Trump and the GOP refuses to pay taxes this April out of protest, it would change the nation forever. The problem, like you say, is getting Americans to care enough to even NOT do something they already don’t want to do, when they have spent their whole lives submitting to authority,
2
@SM - Well spoken.
As Japanese proverb "Arrogant Heike clan wouldn't last long"
says, arrogant Trump goes before a fall - this fall!
1
We are doomed. No one will stop this lunatic. Just wait until NYT reporters, liberal political activists, elected Democratic officials start getting arrested. Just wait for the political prisoners. Unless Trump loses the election in November, and maybe not even then, we have that to look forward to.
10
Trump is a Fascist, and what he is doing is not surprising.
What is surprising, at least to me, is how eager other Republicans and Republican voters are to support his abhorrent behavior.
Vindman is a true patriot. He knew telling his story would put him in precarious position, but he did it anyway out of a sense of duty to his country. Republicans failed him, and showed that their sense of duty is to Trump and not the USA.
These are very sad times for our country.
14
LTC Vindman was already offered the job as Ukraine defense minister.
Donald Trump has been a blatant, in your face criminal all of his life. Ensconced as the Emperor of this country by tMcConnel and the GOP, Trump and his sycophants are out to plunder as much booty as they can during their time in the White House. There is a large segment of the American public who are gullible enough to swallow the debasement of American values y the Trump crime family. Trump has them around his finger, by playing to their phobias, biases, love of conspiracy theories and crass naivety.
9
Where are all the Republican Senators who swore an oath to uphold the rule of law and the Constitution as Impeached Trump rips away at those disloyal to him but loyal to the country?
Impeached Trump now has time to determine what verdicts are good and what sentences are fair?
He's acting like a Third world, third rate Dictator that we all scoffed at and said, with arrogance, "That absurdity could never happen here in America."
Well wake up America, AG Barr, or as Impeached Trump likes to call him and his GOP Senate, "My Roy Cohn's'" doing his every bidding.
Impeached Trump is now the cartoonish thug brought to life and his ego doesn't know any bounds of decency, truth or law, he scoffs at America...
Vote Trump and all the Republicans out, so decency, respect for law and order can once again be a shining beacon, not just for the world, but where its needed most now, at home, here in America.
7
Susan Collins, the only lesson (t)Rump learned from the impeachment episode is that he can do anything he wants and get away with it.
8
Purges, exiles, and banishments...
All at the whim of a paranoid, narcissistic demagogue.
Where have we heard about that sort of thing in history? Germany in the 1930s, Russia in the 1950s...
Doesn't bode well...
5
Trump's propaganda machine loves this headline - they couldn't have written it better.
The headline - "Trump's War Against the 'Deep State' enters a New Stage" -- is presented uncritically as if the Times
or Peter Baker, adopts this belief. Who writes these headlines? This is a very dangerous time in our country. The preeminent Times should know better, should not be making this kind of error in judgement. It has happened repeatedly.
The stakes are too high. Everything matters.
7
The Head of Government of the United States is: a paranoid narcissist, an childishly insecure individual in need of constant attention regardless of the consequences to anyone else, a pathological liar who doesn't care who or what he hurts , a confabulator who has cannot distinguish
truth from fiction, a willfully ignorant aliterate, an amoral
tough talker who looks up to others of the same thuggish sort, a dictator wanna-be, an executive who prefers to hire his own incompetent children above educated, experienced professionals, an out-and-out racist, a sore loser, and an even sorer winner.
Is it any wonder he is purging the government of honest, self-effacing workers with a sincere belief in the promise of the US Constitution?
Banana republic, indeed.
6
If Trump or the Army "punish" Lt. Col. Vindman for patriotically telling the truth under oath and under subpoena to do so - it will trigger an uproar in this country that we have not seen since the 60's. Americans have had enough and punishing Lt.Col. Vindman will be the tipping point for a man who is a patriot and whose allegiance is to the United States by swearing under oath to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth - unlike the Occupant in the Oval Office who has spent a lifetime doing the exact opposite - and has now been emboldened to attempt to move this country into a dictatorship and demand loyalty at all costs. American citizens live within the Rule of Law provided by our democratic Constitution and will not permit this imposter to bring our great country down...ever!
5
Now We may be finally getting to nitty-gritty of what’s wrong with our nation’s governmental functioning’s.
Some U.S. Public Elected & Appointed Official’s have intentionally, negligently or recklessly sought to undermine or defraud The USC (1994) on an ongoing basis by violating its explicitly written text.
You want new issues & policies to be legislatively accomplished. Then no leader in or party of Congress has the sole authority to block other members from fully participating in that process! Only Individual votes count but you have to count each one to know that!
Forget The Founders, previous Congresses, The Federalists Society, The Heritage Foundation, Congressional Procedural Rule Making, Federal Laws & so forth. Those are not recognized as our current governing officials and or Superior to mandates of The USC . Get with The USC (1994).
If The DNC was smart the next Candidate Televised Debate would be exclusively about The USC. At least We would know what’s their facts are as opposed to their beliefs!
1
“We’re not a banana republic where lieutenant colonels get together and decide what the policy is.”
That's... true. We're actually a banana republic where an ignorant authoritarian wanna-be gets together with no one and decides what the foreign policy is.
4
@TAL - No, we're not a country where lieutenant colonels decide policy. We haven't been that country since Ollie North decided policy for a senile President Reagan.
Looking forward to Trump going full animal on the Left. The Durham report is coming. Tick, tock.
2
For someone who presents himself as self-assured, uninhibited and comfortable in his own skin, Trump is at heart tragically frightened and devoid of any semblance of courage. His reaction to acquittal in the Senate is to lash out at anyone who he feels bears responsibility for his impeachment. He is depraved, deeply disturbed, and should be institutionalized. When the Trump nightmare is over, we will wonder what took America so long to acknowledge how woefully incompetent and patently mean he really is.
7
and this comes as a surprise? i wouldn't expect anything less from a draft dodging coward who has absolutely no respect for our service members and it will get only worse from here considering his attack on the judiciary in favor of stone.
5
Trump Retribution Tour--Coming to a City Near You!
Preferably a City in the South, where job prospects are damaged so you're easier bait for fear mongering and where no Professional Sports Team plays so as to have your undivided attention and gratitude that this Tour be your lone entertainment
3
Sorry, but this fellow is a raving lunatic with unbridled criminal intent! He should be dealt with severely by the law, and with extreme prejudice! To save the rest of America and, in fact, the free world.
4
I dare Trump to attempt to punish this Army officer hero. It will backfire right in his face.
5
This is a spiteful, vindictive, mean, nasty individual, and the Democrats should say this over and over again.
6
“ This is an unsettled time in Mr. Trump’s Washington. In the days since he was acquitted in a Senate trial, an aggrieved and unbound president has sought to even the scales as he sees it.”
“Even the scales”, as if being a criminal and being on the side of the integrity of the law were just two equally valid sides. Why does the Times’ White House reporters feel the need to lend rationale for Trump’s abuses and “bothsides” everything?
3
What an infant! I have so much trouble figuring out how anyone can support him. Between this sort of behavior and his Access Hollywood moment (I dare not use his actual words because this comment won't be posted with them.) how does a father or mother who care for their children justify the immorality of it. How do they tell their children they voted for, and will again vote for such an evil, despicable man? The media pundits and politicians keep saying the American people are smarter than this. Apparently not.
5
“The war between Mr. Trump and what he calls the “deep state” has entered a new, more volatile phase as the president seeks to assert greater control over a government that he is convinced is not sufficiently loyal to him.”
Yeah. We know. It’s not necessary at this point to provide context for what this president does. He is supposed to work for us. You, reporters, are supposed to work for us, the public, and hold him accountable. But as long as that stock price keeps rising....
1
For a first term president, currently seeking reelection to reveal an allergy to the truth, this severe and disabling, seems an obvious political misstep.
“Anyone who in any capacity is employed by an agency of the executive branch of the federal government, who reveals the truth about my actions or intentions, will regret having done so. It doesn’t matter whether they were testifying under oath. It doesn’t matter if they were subpoenaed to appear before a congressional investigative committee.
“The primary loyalty of all governmental employees is not to the truth, or the American people, or the constitution. It is to ME. I am the president. I have the power to do whatever I want. And if I want to fire someone for disloyalty, to defame them, to destroy their career... Well, I’ll show them just how powerful I am!”
The above quote is fictional, but solidly based in fact.
If President Trump hasn’t come completely unhinged, he’s putting on an Academy Award-level performance, acting like one who has. The 25th Amendment was added to the constitution for a reason.
Donald Trump IS that reason. The president is far too detached from reality to continue carrying out his duties.
What sort of voters are STILL willing to reelect this dangerously unbalanced man???
2
@Tom W
Despicable ones with no sense of decency and an endless reservoir for hypocrisy by their side. Fake patriots with no devotion to the constitution or rule of law.
5
We all have a front row seat to Trump’s transformation from mortal president to villainous, depraved, megalomaniacal monarch.
Enjoy the show, but don’t forget to give a special shout-out to those who helped him provide this horror spectacle.
And since it’s brought to you in living color — hope it doesn’t come your way.
3
Donald has started his revenge.
Watch for a “National” emergency, bringing about a “postponed” November election.
He’ll get out of NATO.
War with Iran.
Arresting press and TV personnel.
It’s not going to be pretty.
2
He is crushing our democratic institutions, principles, and guardrails. If he can ask Russia for help in the 2016 election and bully Ukraine into helping him in 2020 and get away with it, that's a mountain the Democratic nominee has to climb. So vote with your wallets in addition to your ballots! Don't patronize businesses that are connected to the GOP or Trump in any way. Ask CEO's who they support, and then decide which grocery store or clothing brand you want to support--the ones that keep the GOP in power or the ones that won't.
13
Our country is at a crossroads to determine what our future will look like. If Donald Trump wins reelection it will be in no small part helped by foreign, i.e., Russian, interference. While his policies may be compatible with some and other than smashing those considered "others" it's not clear he has any.
He's vindictive and focuses more on who's against him than in making our country great. What he means is making Donald Trump great or at least richer. His finances have always been dicey but his belligerence and lack of humility carried him and when that ceased to work here comes the Russian money.
What is Putin's hold on him? It's not a silly tape, that would only enhance his image. It's debt. Putin has the ability to bring down the House of Trump.
Are we as a country ready to do what is necessary to stop being Trump's banker? Stopping dictators is hard because they have one goal, to protect themselves and will stop at nothing. The scary part is his supporters think this is a great thing.
If he wins reelection our future will be changed forever. For some that's what they want. For others, who believe in an America equal for all it's many steps backward.
8
Describing Trump's Washington as being unsettled is like calling a class 5 tornado a wind event. Trump poisons and destroys everything he touches. He is a seriously disturbed individual and has no business occupying the U.S. presidency. That McConnell and Barr continue to abet Trump's wildly vindictive and dysfunctional behavior underscores their betrayal of our constitution and the rule of law. In contrast Lt. Vindman is a true patriot willing to put himself on the line to honor his oath and to speak truth to power. Demanding that the DOJ (AG) and military leaders impose punishment against one's critics, political opponents, or whistleblowers is exactly the kind of persecution that takes place in Banana Republics. The Republican dominated Senate's refusal to conduct a fair trial with witnesses and documents screams Banana Republic. Trump is on a rampage: out for blood and already self-impeaching. Interfering in judicial procedures, threatening a judge, abusing authority to intimidate government workers and career officials is impeachable behavior by a sitting president. Something must be done to stop this tyranny and madness. Barr must be held to account. McConnell too. It's time for more heroes like Vindman to step forward. It's time for more former officials to step forward to further reveal the depth of corruption and dangerous dysfunction taking place. Where is Anonymous? Where is the coward Bolton? Trump needs to be removed from office not accommodated.
15
@Twg
Of course they could all be gathered in one place and all set on fire.
I haven't heard the word "purge" since my childhood when it referred to the those of Soviet Union dictator and sociopath, Joseph Stalin. Is this where we've come after almost a century of fighting ruthless dictators who were above the law and threatened our democracy? Trump and his minions would imprison us in their "Dark State" of fear, reprisal, and constant purges of imagined and potential enemies. The "Deep State" is just another another manufactured, fictitious conspiracy against those who support the Constitution and its "rule of law." The Republicans fear of being purged by Trump has now placed him "above the law" and he's now openly threatening to overthrow our democracy.
8
So he got kicked back to the Pentagon where he was going in July anyhow. He had his rotation at the White House, get few more ribbons on his uniform for that. You run with the big dogs this can happen. Sanders can make Chairmen of the Joints Chiefs next year.
1
He is being persecuted for speaking the truth. It is a big deal.
1
Can you imagine the howling from Republicans if a Democratic president had done any of the things Trump has? Remember 40 votes on repealing Obamacare? The right needs to remember that what goes around comes around and someday, when they run out of ways to rig elections to stay in power, they will face a reckoning.
12
"This is an unsettled time in Mr. Trump’s Washington."
No, Trump is a world wide problem.
15
awful to see a democracy, the Arsenal of Democracy at that, being so easily dismantled, similar, but no so extreme, as Brexit Britain. Why are we letting the bad guys win???
15
Get ready for the "enemies list!"
Any bets the press is first on the list?
Wake up! We are already in a fascist state.
27
But it wasn't "that's going to be up to the military" to deal with a homicidal sociopathic SEAL team leader.
16
"Mr. Trump has long suspected that people around him — both government officials and even some of his own political appointees — were secretly working against his interests."
Now Pete, don't you think that after more than three years of non-stop efforts on the part of the DNC, LawFare, and the Obama Intelligence Community, President Trump would KNOW, not just suspect that some people were working against his interests?
2
@DemNoMore
You misunderstand. People are not working against Trump. They are working for the citizens of the United States and working by the Constitution.
For whom is Trump working (and I use that word loosely)?
19
@Dunn Arceneaux
No misunderstanding on my part, I understand perfectly well Dunn. On the other hand, if you honestly believe that John Brennan and his cohorts were working for the citizens of the United States and working by the Constitution, then you need to read the Constitution.
1
it's time for current and past prosecutors, federal and state, begin to draft and circulate proposed "indictments" naming trump and his organizations and describing federal and state criminal statutes that he apparently has violated. when these proposed indictments are circulated, voters (and republican officials) may begin to understand that they really are endorsing a criminal enterprise--that the opposition to trump goes beyond mere politics.
8
What I don’t understand is why people like O’Brien, and I’ve noticed some of the commenters here as well, keep talking about “policy differences.” What policy differences? If a staffer was undermining policy decisions, yeah, I would say they should be reassigned, but that isn’t at all what happened. In fact, Trump was the one undermining policy!
Let’s face it. We live in bizarro world now. The other day I heard a snippet of a Trump speech in which he said the Democrats were the party of corruption and the Republican party was the workers’ party. Uh yeah, and the sun rises in the west and the earth is flat.
13
For everyone: if you have been ambivalent about the trump presidency, now is the time to panic. If he wins in November, all bets are off— he will become a full blown autocratic and our democracy will be dead.
11
End the Electoral College, gerrymandering, Citizens United. There. Much better country.
14
Susan Collins, where are you now?!
24
What is all the outrage about? For three-and-a-half years, most of these people (and, many, many more in Washington) tried every trick in the book in an effort to kick out of the office a legitimately elected President. Now, that all that has failed, what is he supposed to do? Thank them? It has been established, through numerous investigations, that he did nothing ILLEGAL, so, if these were honest policy disagreements, how about resigning your post in the government, rather than waiting to be fired? He has the right to surround himself with people whom he can trust and who support his policies.
40
Alex Erdeljan -- Don't worry, we're going to kick out the legitimately elected corrupt president in November, and replace him with a legitimately elected honest, qualified one.
283
Another vote without the cognitive skill to have the right to it.
170
@Alex Erdeljan Wasn't elected by the majority of voters. Check those counts. I think the electoral college was bribed.
106
The Dictator/King has crowned himself. There goes our democracy. terrifying and I feel helpless. I will do whatever it takes to vote him out of office. what do we do until then. just continue to watch this unfold?
10
Putin wins, regardless. We fight among ourselves. Wouldn’t surprise me if Russia takes over Ukraine in the next year. Who will stop him?
8
@Chet Walters - Who stopped Putin from taking the parts of Ukraine he already has? Hmm, Obama was President then.
1
Sad.
1
Nowhere in this article does the reporter even mention that Vindman simply told the truth.
Nowhere in this article are White House officials or Republicans asked whether presidents should punish people who speak the truth if the president wants to tell a lie?
Nowhere in this article does the reporter even question the notion that Vindman worked "against" the president. Apparently the reporter has so embraced the idea that what matters in a democracy is whether something is "against" a president that he knows it is unimportant to inform readers whether or not a person is telling the truth.
The truth no longer matters. So much so that when a reporter is told that someone is working "against" the president, the reporter doesn't ask the obvious follow up: Is telling the truth a "punishable" offense if the president wants to tell a lie?
This article is written by someone who believes so much that saying anything the president doesn't like is wrong that the writer believes that informing readers whether or not what that "disloyal" person said is the truth is not important and should not be part of the article. Trump didn't like what he said; ergo it was wrong. And so the reporter included lots of comments about how it's fine for a president to fire someone who works "against" him without mentioning that telling the truth is working "against" the president.
4
What Trump is doing is attacking Americans whom he perceives to be his enemies. This is why I fear for America's future. He will win in 2020, by a combination of voter suppression, fake news, Russian propaganda, hacking of voting machines, and every dirty trick in the book.
Once Trump wins he will start doing whatever he can to solidify his power so he does not have to step down, ever. He wants to be president for life, and so after he wins we should expect retaliation for all who speak against him, as we're already seeing. We'll see political assassinations, as he's already committed. He will get his spineless party to rewrite the law so that presidential elections are cancelled during wartime, and then he'll start a war with Iran, as he already made motions toward.
So this is it folks, the last few months of the remnant of American democracy. Nine months from now we'll have the last presidential election in American history. After that, you'd better rebel fast and effectively, or all your freedoms will vanish.
7
@Dan Stackhouse
Please say it isn’t so, although I’m beginning to fear you’re right.
1
I'm more concerned about a Democratic candidate who can't appeal to Independents and idealists on the left who "vote their conscience" or sit out the election if their dream candidate isn't the Dem pick. The conscience of every thinking person should tell them Trump needs to go. Every other priority comes after. There will be no movement forward if Trump is allowed to install more SCOTUS justices who are bent on transforming the nation into the right-wing theocracy they admire. Not to mention more federal court benches filled with the same. The right have kept their eyes on the prize for decades and almost succeeded. Meanwhile thr the left is constantly shooting itself in the foot by making the perfect the enemy of the good.
2
In case it has not been clear to anyone for the last three years, Trump views right or legal only as what supports him or his friends and he views what is wrong or illegal as what harms or doesn't support him or his friends. That is his only measure of morality or law.
The question is whether those in the justice department and those in the military will have moral courage the Republicans in Congress don't have. Will they be cowed by Trump's volatile, vindictive, infantile, selfish personality and punish people like the Vindmans who are clearly patriots doing their jobs with courage and wisdom or will they display the moral courage that matches their physical courage?
He has grabbed the pusillanimous members of the GOP. Does the military leadership have them to be grabbed by him also? Or will military leadership and those in the justice department who still believe in the rule of law stand up to him and resist what is tantamount to his power hungry, narcissistic rape of them and their institutions?
6
I don’t want to hear another Republican say “I support our troops” ever again!
14
Republicans don’t support our troops! In fact, they don’t support their voters either! They support no one, but only themselves and their selfish craven needs. Period!
Perhaps you think I exaggerate? Take each and every one in Congress in Washington DC. See how they vote; see how they cringe (servilely genuflecting in front of trump, McConnell or McCarthy!). Analyse each and every one of their actions! These are desperately greedy folk! They do not deserve your vote, your coin, or your support! They deserve to be dumped; even recalled ASAP, if ever possible!
5
Every day it gets worse
7
“We’re not a banana republic where lieutenant colonels get together and decide what the policy is,” says the national security adviser. Correct. A genuine banana republic would be led by an impulsive caudillo who does not respect civic norms and the law. Hey...wait just a second!
5
Umm, who are the reporters that asked the questions about disciplining Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, thus prompting Trump’s reply? Name them and their media connections.
It’s not like Trump needs any help with being cruel and vindictive, but why egg him on? It’s like taking a stick and poking a rabid dog. Reporters should be more responsible and let Trump come up with his own retaliation ideas.
5
The "war between Trump and the Deep State" is Trump's frame, and it is pure disinformation, meant to hide the steady march to anti-constitutional authoritarianism of the Republican party under Trump. The Times continues to frame its reporting on the Trump administration from the Trump administration's point of view.
I confess I find it personally infuriating. I have always thought of institutions such as the Times as non-governmental impartial referees, there to call out the powerful and corrupt when they set out to harm the country and its citizens. Reading the Times these days, I feel helpless, and unprotected. It seems that the Times is choosing to continue to appear impartial to both parties, rather than acknowledge the truth, which is that one party is out to establish autocratic rule.
7
'"We sent him on his way to a much different location, and the military can handle him any way they want,” Mr. Trump said. “General Milley has him now,” he added, referring to Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “I congratulate General Milley. He can have him. And his brother, also. We’ll find out. We will find out. But he reported very inaccurate things.”'
This is a really important paragraph. Though Colonel Vindman will not be tortured, or put to death, (though he has received death threats, thanks to DJT,) I find Trump's threats ominous-sounding nonetheless. He is dangerous not only for his destabilizing and inhumane policy decisions, but also the unsubtle undertone of violence lurking in so many of his childish proclamations. He wants Vindman and others to FEEL they are in danger, whether they are, or not. Of course, he also enjoys ruining careers. Intimidation, it's called. Sounds like he needs to be impeached again.
11
To restate the obvious, with his acquittal, Trump knows there is nothing that binds him, be it the Constitution, Congress, the Courts and/or societal norms.
4
Trump is attacking those who alleged that there was a quid pro quo in the Zelensky matter. Democrats attack those who don't see a quid pro quo in the campaign financing dispute at issue in the Citizens United case. Disagreement over quid pro quo is divisive and gives rise to hostiity and vengeful actions whether it be on the part of the Republicans or the part of the Democrats. There's a lot at stake and there's a fundamental dispute and both parties have gone on the offensive. Six of one and a half dozen of the other.
What's with all the people surrounding Trump when he makes statements?
A show of support...hmmm
Does he think that has us believing all these folks believe him. LOL they probably go into hiding when they lear he is about to have some theatrics.
In any other workplace in America, retaliation is forbidden.
In any other court in America, the jury and defense team don't decide on witnesses.
In any other....
It never ends.
Will enough people get out and vote in swing states to save us from this insanity?
11
And this is why we need to vote BLUE..NO MATTER WHO. What we’ve seen over the last three years is just Mr. Trump’s warmup act. I cringe to think of what he will be like in a second term.
11
One thing I would have liked to see in this article is a quote from someone at the Pentagon, preferably General Milley, about whether they will accede to the President's desire to punish Vindman. If Milley said 'no', he would be on record as opposing the President, and likely face similar retaliation. If he said 'yes', then we would know he doesn't respect the honorable service of soldiers under his command and is just another tool of Trump.
9
I am sure President Trump knows the Defense Department will not do any punishment to the colonel. The military has very strict rules on exacting punishments. At the same time, the colonel probably needs to consider new career options. Moving from lieutenant colonel to full colonel is one of the toughest up or out choke points in an officer’s career. Almost everything has to line up for an officer to get promotion and get to stay a full 30 years. Most of the failures are similar to Harvard admissions rejects: not that much different from people that did get admitted. Thousands do not make the cut over a decade. No appeal exists. I cannot believe the officer will get the kind of outstanding fitness report necessary to move up. Damning with faint praise is the process that will hurt him, not a formal or even informal punishment.
1
The reign of terror continues, long live the king
3
"Vengeance is mine" saith the Lord (Trump).
3
So the Navy Seal who murdered a prisoner, no punishment; but Vindman, who told the truth, should be punished??? Disgraceful
21
If Democrats prevail in November the first order of business should be prosecuting and jailing trump and his band of criminals now running roughshod over the rule of law and the constitution.
15
As predicted. As foretold by Adam Schiff using nothing more than facts and air-tight logic.
The news media is in the crosshairs of this President as well, so will the NY Times and other major papers finally realize they are next in line after the purge of Trump's critics?
We need you, the reporters and editors, to put it all on the line. Investigate like your hair is on fire. Editorialize like it will be your children placed in detention facilities. This is what you trained for your whole lives. The hour is at hand.
13
President Trump is rushing headlong to form a cult of personality. Members of Congress and his administration who are failing in their duty of uphold and defend the Constitution are complicit in this cult. Victims of this cult, thankfully, will not suffer the fate that other victims of personality cults suffered.
3
"An unsettling time."
Understatement of this and the preceding centuries. Trump is our nation's worst threat since, and possibly including, Joe McCarthy. Now, as with evil Joe, most Republicans sit quietly and cowardly.
5
I don’t believe the founding fathers ever thought we would have a president as horrible as this one or they have put emergency measures in place to have him removed..such as a very bi- partisan , non political well respected individuals.The methods we have now are very partisan(the Senator). The 25th amendment?? Just look at the way this pathalogical lair is purging honest people ...and over three hundred people stand by an watch this happen...He has been in office over three years and we wait until November !!!
6
Demanding personal loyalty from government employees, punishing critics and truth-tellers with purges and reprisals -- this stuff is right out of every authoritarian's playbook. Trump and his enablers are fascists in all but name.
7
The end of Democracy my friends and the start of autocracy. There is no Judiciary anymore in the US ... only Executive...
And when Trump wins again in November, it will also be the end of Legislative...
The US will them be a Fascist State!
5
With the Republican Senate, the Roberts Supreme Court, the Justice Department and the White House working in concert to protect Trump's dictatorial rights, the Constitution has been made into nothing but a scrap of aging parchment
10
The Vinman Brothers should be punished. They broke multiple laws.
2
@Ordell Robbie
What laws, specifically, were broken?
11
@d 18 USC 798 is one. He also disobeyed a direct order from his commander in chief.
1
@Ordell Robbie Which direct order? The one not to comply with a subpoena? That order was against the law. Lieutenant colonel Vindman had a duty to ignore that order.
The future of the US is an archipelago of intelligence floating in a sea of ignorance.
3
I am so sick and tired of Trump being a wannabe dictator! I dare him to actually do it and declare a state of emergency and rule via executive orders! Let’s see how far he gets with that scheme.
Millions of people will march to the White House and demand his immediate resignation! The America I served and fought for will not tolerate any King or Dictator!
5
The headline should also include the word "untethered"
3
A go fund me campaign needs to be organized to sue Potus and his henchman for slander against all the honest citizens who have been harmed by the Administration for their honest testimonies. Potus should see how many honest citizens will stand against his treachery. The fund could tie Potus and his henchman up in court till he passes.
2
This is what you Republicans unleashed. Proud of yourselves?
7
Trump calls them the "deep state," out to get him.
We call it people doing their jobs.
12
If Col. Vindman is punished in a political manner, Democrats need to push back hard on cutting defense spending. Once the military becomes a political tool for internal oppression, we are finished as a democratic nation.
9
@Kenneth: Explain to me how cutting defense spending and herby hurting our service personnel would get even with Trump? Isn't that the old "you will be sorry when I kill myself" routine?
Interesting that yet again Trump resorts to using the military in one manner or another to promote his personal causes.
1) When the Navy court system convicted Gallagher, he
stepped in to pardon him and succeeded in ousting
the sitting Secretary of the Navy to do so.
2) He withheld military aid to Ukraine to pressure the
country to investigate the Bidens.
3) Now he is encouraging the military to discipline Lt. Col
Vindman for exercising his right of free speech in
response to a subpoena.
Are these the actions of a responsible or honorable Commander-in-Chief or are these an abuse of his power
as a Commander-in-Chief? How long will the Defense Department put up with such interference and such a perversion of its rôle?
8
@Guillemot
He’s probably not smart enough to know where most coups start.
1
Will these days in the future be remembered as the beginning of the end of what once was a great society?
7
I just put some figures into my desk calculator and discovered that, since he became president, Donald has lied about 14.45 times per day.
The next occasion I have to speak with a Trump supporter (which--hint, hint--is more often than the president lies), I'll try to work this 14.45 number into the conversation. Will they care? Not one whit. Not even the church-going ones. And, BTW, you can't swing a cat in Alabama without hitting a church-goer.
5
“ Aggrieved and Unbound “. Really? Spiteful and Unsound. DO NOT attempt to normalize his Actions. He AND his Collaborators must be held to account, at the Ballot Box.
PERIOD.
8
If Col. Vindman and others acted unlawfully let the Justice Department charge them. This won't happen because any investigation or trial would further expose the President's improper and unlawful action regarding Ukraine.
3
Trump of course has invented this so called 'Deep State' so that he has a mythical foe for his base that he can vanquish. Let Trump believe in his 'Deep State' .and watch as the people in this 'Deep State' vote him out of office. Republican Senators are spineless to hold Trump accountable but a majority of people living in Trump's 'Deep State ' will hold him accountable and vote him out of office. The more Trump continues to carry out his vindictive agenda the more certain he will be voted out of office along with many of the complicit Senators. Enough is Enough.
2
Doesn't Trump remind you of a little scared boy, who will try anything to avoid the punishment he thinks is coming his way? Please don't get scared by his tantrums.
We need some grownups.
2
@unification He reminds me more of the little boy who shifts the blame onto another and then enjoys watching the punishment.
1
@kenneth But why does he NEED to do that?
Trump's vindictiveness and pettiness know no bounds. I'd take Vindman over Trump any day of the week. Contrary to Robert O'Brien's remark, “We’re not a banana republic where lieutenant colonels get together and decide what the policy is,” no Lt. Colonel was deciding policy. Vindman simply told the truth. Come to think of it, that is a rare policy decision in the Trump White House...
3
Pandora’s box has been opened, and whatever evils can be imagined by the current president are now free to work their misguided magic on all of us. Senate Republicans may be smug about their idolization of Trump now, but they, like the rest of us, will eventually be victimized by a man who sees himself as a dictator in the style of Putin and Kim Jong Un. If we, as a nation, allow him to trample on the rule of law, then we as a nation will watch the dissolution of our democracy into a state of autocracy. Can you imagine Trump as dictator and Rudy as prime minister? Sickening, isn’t it?
2
Sorry, I could not get past the sub-headline saying Trump wants to "even the scales."
Stop normalizing his crimes. How could you possibly suggest the scales were tilted AGAINST Trump, or that he had any business tilting them any more in his favor?
The only reason he's still President is that McConnell and Senate Republicans put their fingers on the scale, ignoring already strong evidence, blocking admitting any more, and voting to acquit an obviously guilty Trump. It was an act of vast, collective gaslighting.
Trump deserves only to be gone. He is not entitled to vengeance against anyone, let alone witnesses who testified under oath when every one of his defenders was too cowardly to.
6
We must abandon the pretense that Trump was acquitted. There can be no trial without witnesses and evidence. He was no more "acquitted" than he was "elected". Our government is broken, perhaps beyond repair.
6
Trump and the federal government are going to get their pants sued off for this. Retaliation is illegal. If Trump doesn't flee to Russia after the elections, he will spend the rest of his days and all of his money in court. Even if he does flee to Russia, his businesses will still fail, no bank will give him a loan, and he will end up a poor, broken shell of a human being. I can't wait to see Trump fall.
4
President Trump is 100% within his right to clean house of those who he deems disloyal. This is a FACT. If you don't like it, too bad for you.
2
@Matt: You seem confused, Trump is not the Country. He is merely the President and swore an oath to uphold and defend the US Constitution. Coronel Vindmanalso swore swore an oath to be loyal to the United States and our Constitution, not to be personally loyal to Trump. Trump got rid of the Coronal because the Coronel, based on his oath honestly answered questions instead of lying for Trump.
Dear Susan Collins and Senate Republicans,
It seems Trump is neither contrite nor has he learned anything from the impeachment. With the exception of Mitt, Senate Republicans have allowed Trump to remain in office and therefore you all are complicit in his heinous behaviors.
The Senate's failure to stop Trump's tyrannical actions means November re-election looks unlikely for Collins (ME), Ernst (IA), Gardner (CO), Tillis (NC) and McSally. Many other Congressional Republicans will also be voted out this November in a BLlue Tsunami that will dwarf the 2018 Blue Wave.
signed,
a growing majority of We The People
P.S. - Re-read our Constitution in hopes you'll learn that Congress should, can and must be a successful check against an autocratic President.
1
Good for the President! He has the right to hire and fire who works for him, as he should! If you don't like it then vote for someone else.
I plan on voting for Senator Sanders but I also believe that Trump SHOULD HAVE fired every Obama appointed person in the room the moment he took office.
2
Trump calls "Ukraine is one of the most corrupt countries in the world." Congratulations Donald Trump, the United States is in the running.
4
“The American people must have confidence that justice in this country is dispensed impartially,” Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, wrote in a letter asking the department’s inspector general to investigate.
The confidence was shattered when 50 senators voted to acquit the most corrupt POTUS in American history.
7
Trump wants to allow admitted and/ or convicted liars ( Michael Flynn, Roger Stone etc.)to go unpunished , while advocating punishment for a man who told the truth( Vindman and probably others to come). And that seems to be fine with the Republicans in Congress. Think about that.
6
Bolton's book is coming out soon.
I can't wait.
3
Does anyone else notice this guy doesn't ever work? He waste our money (yes folks he does work for us even though most of us didn’t hire him) whining and belly aching about nonsense that is so last week! We all have jobs. If we spent as much time whining about nonsense, we likely wouldn't have our jobs for very long. He’s just plain lazy. Being a leader is a job - a job means work - someone please tell don to get to work and stop the whining...no one cares. Otherwise (which is coming anyways) YOU”RE FIRED!
6
Adam Schiff was right. Shocking.
4
The real “deep state” is pretty much in our face, talking about an imagined “deep state”, 24-7!
Like every previous President, he is entitled to hire whoever he wishes .
3
Let’s face it – there will always be evil in the world. I don’t understand that kind of mindset but ‘The Donald’ is the poster boy for those who love to subvert, are malicious and self-serving. Why anyone would re-elect him (even if, impossibly, some INADVERTENT good comes out of his administration) – they cannot be thinking of the future and the welfare of the Republic and their fellow citizens but are just as craven and shameless as he is.
1
"Aggrieved and Unbound." You say that as though it were a bad thing.
It's Trump's brand. And Trump personifies his populist base and the Republican party.
Now they needn't whisper in corners and troll behind screens. Now they have the pageantry of torchlight parades and can vote to trash the Constitution with all the world watching. Now they are living proud and out loud.
This is how it happens. It may seem overnight, but it's been a long time coming. Maybe you thought otherwise in 2016. Maybe you had your reasons. That won't hold in 2020.
3
“That’s going to be up to the military,” should be construed as Trump has already requested someone to target the poor guy. When the murderous Ugandan dictator Idi Amin was in power it was enough for him to look a certain way at someone for one of his henchmen to kill him.
We’re on this path with Trump. He is far too dangerous for this country and the rest of the world and must be stopped.
1
Those staffers work at the pleasure of the president. Whether it’s corporate America, a small dry cleaner, a bagel shop, we all work at the pleasure of the boss. They thought they’d be rewarded for partaking in a coup and lost. And the prosecutors resigned because they know they overreached. We all know it. Can you imagine being sentenced to 7-9 YEARS when the limit is less than two? Tell me that’s not bone chilling. But if it pleases readers to think that they did so in protest, have it your way.
Even the most ardent never Trumpers should be outraged at those sentencing guidelines. Is this Mexico, China, North Korea?? Please don’t write to protest my comments, you’ll get no feedback from me that will help you justify your hatred of this administration.
@JB the government I am afraid is not a "bagel shop" and does not operate at the behest of the president. Make sure you actually review the facts of the Stone case before posting what appear to be truly uninformed comments regarding the prosecutors sentencing recommendations and Mr Stones crimes...
1
@JB I agree it would be bone chilling if as your claim, the legal sentence was less than two years, but your claim is not true. But then, as a Trump supporter whatever you want to believe is the "truth"even when it is not. I'll bet you still believe that Obama was not a US citizen because he was born in Africa despite the fact that the Constitution states that a child born to a US citizen is automatically a US citizen no matter where born.
One can nominate Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman for the JFK Library Profiles in Courage Award here:
https://www.jfklibrary.org/events-and-awards/profile-in-courage-award
6
Trump is now an autocrat. He believes he is the United States of America. He believes that those who oppose him oppose the country. He calls his political opponents horrible people who hate their country. When will he start arresting his political opposition?
2
Will the United States of America survive this toxic presidency?
3
Trump in the end won’t amount to a hill of beans. The only thing that shocks me is his amazing ability to gaslight folks into knots.
3
Trump apparently only believes war criminals like Gallagher are REAL men and heroes.
2
Trump has the constitutional right to fire everyone. I don't know what the big problem here is. If you owned a small business and found out half of your employee's were trashing you and your business on social media would you not fire them. Sure you would because you can't trust them. This is what the swamp looks like when the water starts to drain out an all that is left is the creatures that have remained hidden for a long time. Yes, it really is as simple as that! Go Trump!
1
@RS Sorry, the President of the United States is not a small businessman in Missouri but theoretically the leader of the USA. trump had the right to have the Department of Defense reassign both Vindmans to some other job but he did not have the right to have them removed from the White House like a couple of criminals.
@RS the government is not a " small business" .
Col Vindman serves us the people of the United States. Trump had the right to remove Col Vindman from his post in the White House, that was not unexpected. What is deeply concerning is him seeking retribution from the DOJ. This man is a decorated military veteran and a patriot who spoke out at great risk to his own career. I am sorry you can't see the difference. But I suspect as with many of these posts you can, but simply don't care.
Reading the about DJT's petulant tantrums today, I cannot help but wonder what Susan Collins is thinking --just what did the man she helped to protect learn from his impeachment for abuse of power. More importantly, what did she learn.....
3
The NSC has been leaking for 3 years. I know the democrats and the MSM want all the leakers to keep their White House positions but the president does need to clean house. No ones job is guaranteed and if I started leaking my boss's decisions to the press or his competitors I also would get the perp walk out the back door.
1
This veteran and retired officer is disgusted at the thought of the Army subjecting LtCol Vindman to any form of discipline. Army leadership is under the microscope and every service member is watching to see if they will cave to the wishes of this petty tyrant.
Your careers last but a few years. Cowardice and dishonor last forever.
338
@Dave Vet here, retired officer also. In a million years, I wouldn't testify against my superior. It's a bad career move.
Dave, read the article. Trump is not suggesting he get punished. He is saying that it is up to the military, just as it should be. So saying trump is a petty tyrant is a bit ridiculous.
@bill Wow, you are ignoring a plethora of evidence, literally every single person he has hired with the exception if Sarah H-S was dismissed in a disgraceful tyrannical fashion. He has never had to answer to a BOD or shareholders. He has ever had to act according to compliance or HR policies. It shows. This lifelong Republican party member has changed to independent and I'm working hard to see McSally defeated for caving.
20
@bill
Vindman should be commended for seeing that something larger was at stake than his career. Trump is clearly suggesting that the military look into Vindman and, as he is their commander-in-chief, that suggestion will not be taken lightly. Petty tyrant is not ridiculous at all, even a casual observer of Trump would see the truth in that label.
21
If Lt Col Vindman is punished, this would be a huge abuse of power by the President. USA has not been and should never become a country where people face persecution for testifying to the truth. Political freedom is at the foundation of what the USA is. Coupled with political freedom is the freedom of the press, because they hold politicians to account. Americans should be free to both give, and receive, (truthful) information freely. All of this is under threat. Trump is absolutely shameless. He has no concept of what "freedom" means.
321
@DYB
Trump's concept of freedom is "The freedom to corrupt", "The freedom to exact vengeance" "The freedom of 'If you are president' you are free to do anything you want".
15
@DYB
Republicans have told Trump he is above the law. They will support anything and everything he does, regardless of how blatant and wrong it is. Trump can abuse his power all he wants, with no repercussion.
7
You guys are very untruthful, even with yourselves. Read the article. Did Trump say that he demands punishment? No. The military can do what it wants, and that's not up to Trump. He is just cleaning house, as he has right to, as every president before has.
Have the dems always had such a unilateral view? Do they truly dislike the direction this country is heading? No one is going to do it bigger or better than the Big Cheeto, doesn't matter what party they come from.
I work as a federal contractor, husband as a federal worker. I often send emails to or call my red state Senators and Representative, disagreeing with Trump and their wholesale support of him and his policies. In conversation with two other federal employee/contractor couples, we all are now concerned about retaliation if we send emails or call our congressmen and are critical of Trump. One of our Senators can be particularly vindictive. We are wondering how low this GOP will go to search out "deep state" federal employees and contractors. Are our jobs and lives safe if we express our concerns re: Trump? As farfetched as this may sound, many of us are sincerely worried about backlash. If Trump and the GOP can do this to other mid-level federal employees (Struck/Page/Oh, etc.) what is to prevent the administration and GOP congressmen from going after the rest of us? Any lawyers out there that can clarify please?
399
@Ann Porter Not a lawyer, but its illegal to retaliate against witnesses, and political speech is protected by the first amendment, but that doesn't seem to matter to these people.
88
@Ryan And yet this illegal retaliation you speak of is happening right before everyones eyes. It is also being supported by Barr who should be preventing it.
57
@Ann Porter Just don't express your concerns about Trump. Just keep opinions to yourself and no one will ever know the difference. Why poke a bear if you don't have to.
"“We’re not a banana republic where lieutenant colonels get together and decide what the policy is.”"
Robert O'Brien has it backwards. We are a banana republic where the president is a tyrant who punishes those who aren't sufficiently "loyal," as if that were a requirement for government service.
Yes, the president is entitled to staffers who work to implement his policies, but in this country, we used to have rule of law and a staffer handed a subpoena has a duty to tell the truth.
Now the president is indirectly ordering the military to punish further the man who obeyed a subpoena. Will they comply? Will Judge Amy Berman Jackson sentence Roger Stone in accordance with the case she presided over, or will she fold to William Barr's unprecedented reversal of the recommended sentence based on Trump's tweet?
I almost don't want to know the answers to these questions.
462
@ChristineMcM
I just read John Gans book on the National Security council and noted that the NSC could be seen as the unelected "deep state".
The President has a right to have whomever he wants on or off the NSC.
Immediately after Trump's election, Democrats decided to impeach him for anything that would stick.
When the Mueller report had no "smoking gun", thankfully The Phone Call was leaked.
The coup attempt by impeachment was a disastrous circus, relished by the Democrats, but an insult to democracy, and makes the US look like a banana republic.
The elected president has a right to his foreign policy and who is on the NSC.
If the Washington Foreign Policy Establishment, the NSC and the Military Industrial Complex can veto a President's foreign Policy choices, the US is not a democracy.
And we will never end the Forever Wars.
Of course, Trump operates on git instincts, instead of knowledge so he is a very weak spokesperson for a better foreign policy.
And this attempted coup/ impeachment over The Phone Call was about thwarting Trump's interest in getting along with Russia as it was about removing Trump.
The overwrought testimony of Fiona Hill...
something about fighting them over there, so we don't have to fight them here... referring to Russia
... exemplified the absolute stupidity of the impeachment hearings.
Would this witch hunt repeat itself if any elected president wanted to find ways to work with Russia and other perceived enemies... ?
1
The sad truth is that this country, the House, the Senate , Congress and even the Constitution were not adequately prepared for a modern day President who behaves and demands as a Dictator with the personality of a petulant child, who chooses to communicate via “ tweet”.
His team of lawyers and followers abhor anyone of intellectual reason.
He’s enjoys a perpetual state of paranoia, blurring the truth.
None of it is acceptable.
But we are forced to endure it, until we simply vote him out.
255
@Susan Anderson Well said!
4
@Susan Anderson Agreed, people of principle, decency and fairness, should register to vote and keep in mind that we are a country of laws and have a constitution which protects the right of free speech. We all should vote along those lines, and send a message to authoritarian and fascist wannabe candidates of the Republican Party. Vote country over party and principles over the cult of personality.
6
@Susan Anderson Who knew Susan Collins would be wrong and that Trump wouldn't learn his lesson?
10
The firing of the Vindman brothers opens another door of evil. In totalitarian regimes like North Korea, China, and Russia people know that if they cross the leader they and their family will be destroyed. That new fear has now entered America. Cross Trump and your family may suffer. Even those who are willing to sacrifice themselves will be given pause by the fear that their family might be targeted.
227
@Paul Sadly, it looks like Lt. Col. Vindman was incorrect - right doesn’t matter.
@Paul -in North Korea, Lt. Vindman would be hauled in front of a firing squad and shot. Luckily, we are not yet at that place, but, I fear, inching closer to it each day. When the president can lavish praise and overturn the dishonorable discharge of a rogue Navy Seal, yet punish a respected career military officer, it is scary times indeed.
2
I wonder how long it will take trump to target Senator Collins, who voted to call witnesses. I, for one, would not be sorry to see that happen because it might be the only way she will understand that trump can’t be schooled.
18
Lt.Col.Alexander Vindman is a decorated American Patriot.His loyalty and service to his country and that of his twin brother is admirable and should be celebrated.That Trump, who could not be bothered to serve in Vietnam would cast doubt on his conduct is beyond cruel and thuggish- it shows that Trump does not value the military and its heroes-it shows that he is a small, cowardly man unable to demonstrate any loyalty,, to family to subordinates and to the military which sacrifices to protect us.
13
The goal of a dictator is to destroy those who opposes them and cause fear among everyone who might consider opposition in the future. The removal and attacks on Vindman are classic. Senate Republicans ran for cover rather than stand up even though the impeachment case was obvious. Solid government servants like Moeller, Comey, the head of the FED, Yovanovich have been abused, and former allies like Sessions, Bolden, and Tillerson are ravaged. Its wake up time. There is a would be dictator in the White House.
18
Trump is the embodiment to the Deep State. Detention camps, vindictive dismissal, calls to prosecute his enemies are just the beginning. He needs to be removed from office.
15
“We’re not a banana republic where lieutenant colonels get together and decide what the policy is.” said Robert C. O'brien.
Gee, Robert, what kind of banana republic are you?
11
The GOP should be renamed as the monarchists. They are willing to subject the nation to the whim of their great overlord. This party should be eliminated
10
so, how did that "war against the deep-state" work out for john kennedy and Ronald Reagan?
1
Trump Unbound- the ultimate proof that we live in a one-party fascist state where the Roberts Court, the Senate and the White House have control of the entire federal government including a failed electoral system..
8
Earth to trump... When you need DEEP STATE to get you out of the trouble YOU create, say a potential world war, it won't be there to guide you.
No worries however Rudy, Lindsay, Mitch, William, Jared, Ivanka, Sean Hannity and Rush will be just a unsecured call away!
MAGA!
6
Purple heart vs bone spurs....Trump treats his office like an angry Mafia "don." Revenge executed by loyal henchmen in his administration and Congress make this one of many signposts on the way to a fascist regime. Be afraid.
8
Let the ax fall on him.
3
As a former U.S. military officer, I can state definitively that an order with the Dept. of Defense to punish Lt. Col Vindman would be unlawful, even if from Trump. Anyone who attempted to follow such an order would be punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. I am hopeful that all active duty personnel and veterans will take note of Trump's conduct and vote to remove him in November.
38
It’s just like Trump did after his election; it wasn’t enough to win, he had to punish anyone who didn’t support him. Likewise, it’s not enough for him to win an acquittal, he has to punish everyone who under subpoena spoke truth.
This is not what America stands for. Here, we have freedom of speech, including freedom to speak truth to power. Trump simply has no idea what this means, or what it means to be a good American. Instead, he surrounds himself with thugs who will do his bidding without question. Trump and the gang are a threat to basic civil rights. Will no Republican condemn him? Or will they, like Lindsey Graham, follow him around the country and kiss his ring as he runs for re-election?
12
The USA is now a dictatorship. Vote for the Democratic nominee for President in the 2020 election. They all respect the rule of law. The other stuff does not matter compared to the rule of law.
Without the law the 99% will be crushed and the 1% will lick Trump’s boots. The courts will have show trials.
You may think you can survive under Trump, you may think he is right about everything and you may think you will prosper.
Both parties caused him to be elected. Now it’s time to protect our country from this dictatorship. Come together now.
18
@Legal Eagle Oh.
Come together now and .... what ----
Excellent. Mr Trump openly states his intent to abuse the power of his office to punish LTC Vindman for testifying truthfully under oath.
Besides revenge, Trump’s obvious purpose is to intimidate others from stepping forward to give evidence against him if they have knowledge of crimes that he has committed.
Mr Trump doesn’t need to worry about the department of Justice investigating him now that he has William Barr for attorney general, and there are five right wing justices on the Supreme Court who have his back. Mr Trump has filled all political positions in the administration with toadies, so there’s no threat of exposure from them.
If Mr Trump’s effort to intimidate potential witnesses from exposing his acts of malfeasance, Mr Trump will be able to get away with just about anything. Conservative values in action.
The current record for a conservative administration’s indictments, convictions and arrests is Ronald Reagan’s administration; over 225. I think Mr Trump makes Mr Reagan look like a Boy Scout.
9
When is Romney's niece going to lose her job as head of the RNC since she is related to that other Romney who voted to get rid of Trump?
9
@Jacquie
No worries, from here on out it will be "Uncle who? Never met the guy."
Republicans (not named Mitt Romney) did this. Every single one aided and abetted this tyrant. Never forget. Never, ever forget.
18
Trump, the only one who should face punishment is YOU. You are an absolute disgrace to the office of the Presidency. You fall within a very small and select group of former presidents who can be classified as the "worst of the worst".
You are too consumed with issues involving yourself to the point that you are incapable of seeing beyond that nose of yours. Empathy is a foreign concept to you.
When all is said and done, you will be remembered for your near constant efforts to sow chaos and division both at home and abroad...And your preference and respect for the worst dictatorships on our planet speak volumes about your thoughts and goals.
Simply put, you are not qualified, nor do you have the personality traits, or the sensitivities, to be a president who will strive to preserve, protect, and defend our cherished DEMOCRACY.
For the reasons referenced above, I do not believe that you will win a second term...And the vast majority of people on this planet will then breathe a huge sigh of relief!
9
It's sad to watch democracy die before your eyes. Especially when its your country.
9
Notice that in the lead photo to this article, there is a lineup of only white men behind Trump? Where are people of color? Where are the women?
6
@Linda White women overwhelmingly voted for Trump. So, it's unclear why all the angst about that now.
@Linda Why? Would that save Col. Vindman ?
Thanks Republican Senate. He is now unhinged.
5
This is what petty dictators do.......eliminate all dissent within a government. What petty dictators can't do is eliminate all dissent from a nation.
6
“We’re not a banana republic where lieutenant colonels get together and decide what the policy is.” Quote from Robert C. O'Brien, Donald Trump's national security advisor.
Mr. O'Brien, shame on you! Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman was one of the people authorized to listen in on President Trump's July 25 phone to President Zelensky. He was subpoenaed to testify before the House Intelligence Committee. Col. Vindman obeyed that subpoena & testified UNDER OATH, which is more than you or your President have done.
It is you & your President who are bringing this country close to Banana Republic status.
8
I have to agree with Alex Erdijan from Detroit! What did you think was going to happen after over 3 years of unmitigated abuse, and vitriol poured out on a legitimately elected president!
You don't like the man? I didn't like Obama either, but I didn't see any attempts to oust him in this manner as was used on Trump.
Quite frankly, it's pretty clear that the NYT has been in on this attempt to overthrow Trump's presidency.
Perhaps you should read this article. It explains exactly why I want Trump as president. I strongly encourage you to.
https://townhall.com/columnists/evansayet/2017/07/13/he-fights-n2354580
The problem is that, through these years, the Left has been the only side fighting this war. While the Left has been taking a knife to anyone who stands in their way, the Right has continued to act with dignity, collegiality and propriety.
With Donald Trump, this all has come to an end. Donald Trump is America’s first wartime president in the Culture War.
During wartime, things like “dignity” and “collegiality” simply aren’t the most essential qualities one looks for in their warriors. Ulysses Grant was a drunk whose behavior in peacetime might well have seen him drummed out of the Army for conduct unbecoming. Had Abraham Lincoln applied the peacetime rules of propriety and booted Grant, the Democrats might well still be holding their slaves today. Lincoln rightly recognized that, “I cannot spare this man. He fights.”
@Steve You encourage us to read this article....the one published by a newspaper ''in on this attempt to overthrow Trump's presidency'' .........
The reason nobody tried to impeach Obama is that he didn't do this kind of stuff.
2
Trump is now 90 percent complete to his destiny of dictator.
6
Drain the swamp Mr. President. Enough of the cloak and dagger nonsense.
1
@Nature Like he already has???
“Mr. Trump has long suspected that people around him — both government officials and even some of his own political appointees — were secretly working against his interests.”
People working for and standing for integrity, ethics, principles, honesty is by definition working against trump, he knows that.
Its not a secret, its what people who are good human beings do in their daily lives.
8
Senator Collins was right. Trump has learned a lesson. Trump now knows with certainty that he can do whatever he wants without consequences.
We’ve taken one more step toward dictatorship.
8
It's way past time for there to be requirements for someone to run for President. Let's start with criminal records; if you have one, you can't run. Next up - tax return disclosure; if you don't disclose you can't run. And if there are financial irregularities in them; you're also o.u.t. Shall we next talk about mental and physical exams?
DEMOCRATS: we're looking to you to get this done!
11
Folks this is a lot worse than some cute comments about how scared we all are.
Trump has already secured the 2020 election with his MASSIVE disinformation campaign. His voters are literally hypnotized by the GOP messaging machine that turns them into an angry and completely misled bloc which is only growing.
This is absolutely the beginning of the end for America.
Our only hope is to get him out of the WH and install laws that would never allow someone like him to again rise and manipulate the system to his liking and reelection.
10
“We’re not a banana republic where lieutenant colonels get together and decide what the policy is.”
No, apparently we're the kind of banana republic where the law doesn't apply to el presidente and the Justice Department is a political extension of the chief executive.
13
If things were really as bad as most people here claim, they would be in the streets, not online. (Unless Times comments are all from octogenarians.)
That is the lesson of the '60s/'70s. If you want to make change from any kind of progressive perspective, do not count on institutionalized media and an electoral savior. Power is actually quite diffuse in America. Ensuring there will be no business as usual is how you put pressure on non-governmental loci of power, who then will put pressure on the government.
And remember, there's no free lunch: Kent State, Jackson State, Viola Liuzzo, Mickey Schwerner, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, Medgar Evers, and so many more.........
3
One can only hope the deep state can protect the US until the election and then even more so when he refuses to leave office.
6
@RLD Unless that unsubstantiated FISA warrant is coming for you. The deep state is all good as long as they are going after Trump's people right?
1
An interesting quote in this article is “We’re not a banana republic where lieutenant colonels get together and decide what the policy is.”
In a banana republic the government strong men remove those who are disloyal to the leader of the regime. Based on what the person in the White House is doing, he is acting like the leader of a banana republic.
8
The picture of Trump sitting at his desk with six obsequious aides standing behind him says it all about Trump and those who have chosen to remain in his Administration. I'm surprised Trump is still sitting on a leather chair and not a throne.
8
@Jay Orchard Thrones have such an unfriendly surface for a bad back.
I'll trade places with Vindman any day of the week. Continued great government pay, benefits and pension (in whatever position he has been transferred to; he wasn't fired), the opportunity to write a best-selling book and lifelong hero status from the adoring media and from Dems. Only the whistleblower himself stands in a better position.
3
@R.P. You mean ''Be grateful for the money and keep your mouth shut''?
Finally someone who will to fight the establishment and really clean out the swamp.
I hope he is successful because Washington has got so corrupt it is now like a third world country where the rich and powerful live by a different set of rules than the rest of us.
3
We are no longer a Nation of Laws, if the President can fire career officials at will and interfere with the indpendence of the Justice department.
6
Member of the Trump administration was caught telling the truth under oath. Sure, the Pentagon will have something to say about this
5
It’s unbelievable to me that there are comments in support of the president’s actions. Anyone looking objectively at what he is doing can clearly recognize that this should not be acceptable behavior by a leader in a democracy. Take off your partisan glasses and see what is happening to our country. Would you feel the same if a president Hillary was acting this way, because someday that is what you will have to accept.
5
I see it one of two ways:
Either Republicans just don’t want to consider what hypocrites they are considering how they treated Obama. Which makes them ignorant.
Or they understand their hypocrisy- but don’t care. Which makes them diabolical.
I’m not sure which is worse. But either is dangerous.
Re: being astonished about support here for Trump.
Some of those over-the-top comments portraying him as the finest human being in existence I take with a grain of salt considering some of them are probably those Russians we were warned about hoping to interject divisions amongst Americans.
1
@Steve B: "Anyone looking objectively at what he is doing can clearly recognize that this should not be acceptable behavior" I agree but the humongous problem is that they're not seeing this at all! Fox News (and others - Daily Caller, Breitbart, Sinclair News, hate radio) literally omits and distorts the reality of what's going on.
2
Makes me not want to... gasp. Tweet anymore.
2
I take tremendous issue with this headline.
The President is not heroically battling some shadowy faction. The ‘Deep State’ is a propaganda tool used to justify the removal of anyone who disagrees with him. The headline’s use of the term, even with single quotation marks, is inappropriate.
8
Susan Collins was 100% right. Trump really has learned the error of his ways. He learned there are no consequences for his actions, that he wasn't being corrupt enough and that he should kick it up a notch.
10
The moment Trump was acquitted, the "I can do anything and no one can stop me" kind of presidency was created.
Hey thanks Republican Senators for thinking that Trump's abuse of power and obstruction of justice was not egregious enough to be impeached for.
At the rate he is cleaning house out of anger, revenge, and disgust, who knows - maybe he will try his hand at firing elected officials, like senators or such.
A dangerous, reckless and uncontrollable monster has been allowed pretty much free reign.
It's up to the ordinary citizen to vote him and his pals out in November. The voter is the last line of defense before total chaos descends upon us.
10
Trump and the Republican Party are a threat to the National Security of the US by playing games with loyal career employees.
The Justice Department is now nothing more than a partisan mess along with the Supreme Court of the US.
Nice jobs Republicans of turning the United States into Russia.
9
Q: Can Speaker Pelosi cut off funding for is domestic travel?
He cost us over 200 million- and counting-in three years on DOMESTIC, not official, travel alone.
Got be a way to stop this daylight heist.
8
@morGan ''Got be a way'' There is. It's called voting. You will, won't you?
Deep State? His own appointees testified in the House trial on his criminal behavior regarding Ukraine. Looks like everyone is lying except Trump.
2
If its time for somebody to go & be proscuted its trump & these republican lawmakers that enable a corrupt presdient. This is not the first & will not be the last time this presdient has called for the arrest or worse for people who have stood up for american values. All the while trying to influnce the amount of jail time his corrupt partners get. Is this really the america you want to leave to our children VOTE because under trump its only going to get worse
2
I doubt if we'll ever hear anything about it, but I'd be curious to learn if the Vindman brothers receive fair evaluations from their respective raters and senior raters on their officer efficiency reports coming out of their service in the White House. I believe that this will be a test of the Pentagon's integrity: will these evaluations reflect reality or will they be tainted by political influence? Or will the Pentagon join the DOJ as an institution serving the political desires of the White house rather than the Constitution?
15
I. am. scared. This "president" has gotten so out of control I'm just scared to watch what direction this is taking our country. This is a decorated serviceman doing exactly what he should have. There are supposed to be checks and balances. Look at the Roger Stone issue now. This is not how democracy is supposed to work. We the people are supposed to be able to question without retribution. Why are we allowing this to happen? Please vote people - it's our only hope.
47
The GOP and Trump inc have always used deep state while simultaneously vilifying it. And the associated weaponizing has worked.
During the election, count the number of times the "socialism" meme will be invoked...it will be mind numbing. (at the same time, the GOP will continue with their corporate socialism.)
The GOP is unfortunately better at politics.
8
@glennmr Sadly your last line is true. Democrats are interested in integrity; Republicans just seek raw power, regardless of the means.
3
What is the saying about “when shooting the King”? In these days of increasing cynicism, the sad reality is that the only thing President Trump is guilty of is acting in plain sight. In the past, politicians, from the local to the highest levels, exacted their revenge in less public and more deniable ways. Yet, the result for the target was the same. The cover of Convention politics has been torn away and we are all witnesses to how the proverbial salami is made - we always suspected it was not going to be pretty, but thanks to President Trump, we can no longer live in denial.
Ultimately, the people get the government they deserve. Until we abandon our tribal corners, listen to others with a truly open mind and work together for the public good - even if it means we as individuals don’t always get everything we want - nothing will change.
All of the candidates for President fall short of this standard. It’s just more of “my way or the highway.” Change remains in our power, but it will take much effort. Then again, our founders for all their faults took the chance and bequeathed us our Republic. Their question resonates, can we keep it?
9
We now have all the prerequisites well in place to suffer
a new variant of the "Red Menace" with all the witch hunts
and generalized paranoia that we saw in the late 40-mid 50s.
Lots of innocent people are going to be very badly affected by trump enablers with administrative power, especially in red zones of the country, though perhaps not in as thoroughly a devastating (and utterly evil) manner as to what we're now doing on the border to all those held in permanent detention centers with no public oversight.
The consistent visual metaphor for what is about to break out in full force can be seen in our ogre in chief's looming over
his political opponents by showing up to campaign in states prior to their primary debates or events. This is not at all unrelated to the way he stood and
positioned himself behind clinton during their televised
debate as if to convey to everyone who the big boss really was.
This was the threatening alpha male posture designed to
intimidate and show who's really in charge. That image
perfectly evokes the demonic spirit now let loose in full fury
at all enemies, suspected or real.
16
Plan: turn Executive Branch careers into a risk for the righteous. Some will take the risk and be ousted, the rest will get fed up and leave.
3
@Bob Jones Unfortunately, I see resignations as a means for replacement with Trump sycophants. If only the courageous and intelligent could stand their ground.......but they'd likely be fired.
I'd consider it a badge of honor to be fired by Trump. It merely solidifies his stupidity and lack of moral character.
1
Trump has made it clear that he thinks he is both the law, and above the law. His attorneys have argued that he is, in effect, the state. His purge of anyone who tells the truth under oath and his interference in legal cases is what I'd expect from someone like Recep Tayyip Erdogan or Vladimir Putin. The refusal of the Republican Senate to convict him is what I'd expect from Maduro's Venezuela. It is no declaration of innocence, but rather proof that the Republicans don't care how lawless he is.
19
The deepening division of our citizens continues unabated. I hope the trump Tower Moscow is worth it.
5
Behold the emerging dictatorship of the rich and powerful. Who can stop it now?
8
@Islandflyer WE can. But we won't.
This is what the US looks like post rule of law.
American Democracy RIP 1776-2020
12
If you were in danger and needed rescuing, who would you want to come to your aid: 1) a decorated combat soldier who was awarded a Purple Heart and worked his way up to be a Lt. Col. or 2) a five-time draft dodger whose daddy paid a doctor to say he had bone spurs and who said his avoidance of STD's was equivalent to fighting and giving your life in Vietnam.
Which of these people would you trust with your life?
28
@Linda ''if " implies a choice. We have none.
1
Trump was not exonerated. He coerced and intimidated the senate into fixing the outcome, he selected an attorney general who is basically his yes man.The fix was in. He has systematically eliminated any effective guardrails against his worst impulses. Welcome to the early stages of fascism where any counter opinion to Trump will not be tolerated . The man is a compulsive liar and a self dealing narcissist. Americans are in a pot of water with the gradually increasing temperature. I urge them to wake up.
11
Living in Germany, I had a neighbor who grew up in the three corner land of Poland, Russia, and Germany before WWII. We would talk politics and he would say that what happened in Germany could also happen in the USA. I always denied that saying that we have a system of checks and balances in the US that keeps the president from becoming so powerful. I am beginning to doubt this.
43
Ever since trump became president, there’s been no semblance of checks and balances anymore. There’s no ethics committee, an immoral leader now is going unchecked in anything he wants. So far, he’s been untouchable by any part of Congress, the administration that remains is no longer working for the people. They work for trump, and ONLY trump! If the republicans don’t stand up for us, there will be no democrats left! Our government is turning into a dictatorship! Even the honest senators are afraid to stand up and protect us from this monster that wants to be called the “perfect president!” I won’t even call him president.
2
@n.dietz Niemoller: ''And then they came for us.''
Read the book -----
1
I wonder what it takes to invoke and use the 25th Amendment. If not now, when? If not for him, for whom?
18
Regrettably, I feel as you do. He has everyone in his back pocket. From what has happened up to this point with him, if the 25th was tried, Congress would throw that into the shredder with our Constitution. He is even interfering with the sentencing of a citizen, Roger Stone. Why isn’t that being investigated by the republicans? No, they want to go after another citizen, Hunter Biden. Why not investigate trumps kids? Don and Ivanka are making millions while still working in the White House. We all have to vote blue to get trump out! The democrats need to take the White House and senate back!
7
I hope we make it to November.
I think it would be helpful if the media could focus on past presidents who helped our economy and the reasons why we experience economic prosperity. In sound bite form. I don’t think enough people realize why Trump is not essential.
13
Learn much, Senator Collins?
It's a cardinal truth that people don't behave better after being given a pass for bad behavior. See "tenured faculty who, it turns out, had a known history of bad behavior before tenure": Their behavior does not improve when it is rewarded.
17
I am of the belief that this article would have been better titled: "Trump's war against the institutions of American government." What we are witnessing is an all out effort to discredit, diminish, and destroy the credibility of those institutions and thus the effectiveness of the functions and credibility of government. We must ask, "To what end? And to whose purposes?" and, at whose behest? Damage is being done with the apparent approval of Republicans in and out of government and again the question arises: "To what end. And to whose purposes?"
15
@Emanuele Corso
Yes damage is being done with the apparent approval also of Vladimir Putin as well. You are right to ask, "To what end. And to whose purposes?"
5
I see no problem here. He should have cleaned the White House out when he moved in and put his own people in. Vindamen went down the hall to someone outside of his chain of command undermining his Commander in Chief. Someone in the CIA reportedly a partisan ally of the CiC political opponent. For this the case can be made that he is unfit for his commission. In any case the president has the absolute prerogative to choose his advisors and have advisors who are not backstabbers.
2
What reality are you living in? The way this has worked up til this point, anyone that tells the truth is trumps enemy! He destroys anyone that disagrees with him! I wish we would’ve seen this successfully happen when President Obama was in office! Maybe we wouldn’t be in this power struggle between congress and the people!
5
Commissioned Army Officers' Oath is to the constitution. Not one word about loyalty was to the CiC. Look it up.
5
So he is concerned about his own good and not the nation's.
6
I can see a really good movie that has the Attorney General and the President charged with a R.I.C.O. prosecution. A contract is put out on Robert Redford who, as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, says underlings in the Justice Department have standing to bring the case. Meanwhile, Susan Sarandon, as a retired Attorney General advising the D.O.J. people bringing the prosecution, becomes the ever-present object of online and real life slander, threats, and other persecution.
Soundtrack, naturally, by Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. Lead in on credits: Jimi Hendrix playing the National Anthem.
5
DT is more and more a copy of those Roman emperors who could ask and demand whatever they wanted. Next step is Trump making a horse senator, like Caligula did (he made his horse consul). Can't be to difficult with all those donkeys already in the senate. What happened with that proud country that once was a beacon of hope and freedom?
9
Considering just exactly the way he hounded President Obama, with his fake news birtherism crud, by Trump's Own Logic that means that Trump should have been executed and not even allowed a chance o run as President because he "Went Against The President Of The USA."
Just like McConnell's double standards in Office.
Why is it OK for the Republicans to lie, cheat, steal and demand good publicity over it and then when the Democrats try to apply the Actual Law, the Republicans cannot seem to be able to 'DO' Law.
This president has used assassination already, everybody he tweets angrily at needs to be worried, and presently that is about 80% of the World Population.
I think that if he really knew how thin his support was, and that there are things that Some Folks Just Wont Do, no matter what you offer them, and this Great Golden Snowflake is going to have a messy meltdown when he finds people no longer taking his orders.
Trump had better work on stopping making new enemies because it is the numbers that will get to him, and the weight of numbers is immense.
Like the number of his lies, or the number of his grand promises unfulfilled, or numbers of people hurt by his decisions. They add up.
Just like votes do, and right now there are very few getting any good out of him, so his vote total will be low this time around too.
He has 'underperformed' by ANY standard possible.
Revenge tends to be returned doubly, as I recall, and a lot of folks have the new opportunity to do so.
9
The dictatorship is now in full control of the country.
The deconstruction of America began in earnest with Ronald Reagan, and has been a slow motion coup ever since.
And now we are at a point where the “dear leader” is purging those who support the Constitution and stand in the way of the dictator and his henchmen.
Trump and his regime are challenging the rule of law and the Constitution. They are basically saying that they will determine the law.
Trump and his henchmen will not back down.
They are playing for keeps.
At some point, we will have to confront the bullies.
14
Remember Alexander Vindman's opening statement to the HPSCI hearing: “Do not worry. I will be fine for telling the truth.” America is failing him.
28
Agreed! Vindman, his brother, Sondland, and everyone else that told the truth about the criminal in the White House will be the target of his wrath! It doesn’t seem that anyone can stand up to him, as they’re all afraid of what he’ll do! Why can’t we have more “Mitt Romney’s” in our Senate!
4
Can we stop using the term "Deep State" when it's actually those who believe in the Constitution and its "rule of law." Those like Lt. Col. Vindman are patriots who are defenders of the Constitution. The Republicans by acquitting Trump of abuse of power have now unleashed the evil genie out of the bottle and we're seeing the vindictive, vengeful face of a man now "above the law" seeking revenge on Lt. Col. Vindman, upending justice in the sentencing of Roger Stone, and that is just the beginning of Trump's own "dark state" and his abusive use of power in a vendetta against all who oppose him.
14
Trumps is seeking revenge not only on the Constitution, but our country! Sure, he’ll destroy anyone that stands in his way of declaring power over the people in the United States! He seriously is under the impression that he’s “working for the people, all the people!” There’s one person that has the power to stop him, but he’s the biggest part of the problem. McConnell. Kentucky has to vote him out! He’s the one that needs to be escorted out of the Senate, then follow that with trump being ousted! McConnell has the country by its you know whats!
3
It is bizarre and inexplicable for the Times to frame what's happening here as Trump's effort to "even the scales." That frame legitimizes Trump's own false and paranoid framing of the Russia investigation as an evil plot.
And worse, much worse, it ignores what Trump is actually doing, which is, with the full approval of the Republican party, to sever every constitutional check and balance on his behavior, and establish himself as an autocrat. This is happening in plain sight, and the New York Times is effectively missing in action.
13
The trump/FOX putsch is in high gear. trump and his supporters threaten violence if he loses in November. Even as our democracy teeters on the edge, the GOP Senators remain silent.
13
The Soviets said that we would become more like them. Didn't they call this sort of thing a putsch? We don't have Siberia, but North Dakota or back-country Alaska would do.
6
Not only did Lt. Col. Vindman lose his job, so did his brother who didn't even testify.
As obviously Republicans feel this is all appropriate, I can only hope that Mitt Romney's niece loses her job as head of the RNC because of her uncle's impeachment vote.
8
Regarding the proposal to eliminate the subsidy for Stars & Stripes newspaper, I imagine Bill Mauldin, longtime cartoonist for the same is spinning in his grave.
His WWII European theater dogfaces Willie and Joe would say of Trump, "He can't be infantry, he's lookin' for a fight."
3
'"We’re not a banana republic where lieutenant colonels get together and decide what the policy is.”'
Yes, we are now a banana republic, controlled nominally by a vindictive nobody and his henchmen and overseen by the puppet-master Putin.
I am a peaceful person, but I foresee violence a'comin'.
9
So what's it going to take commentariat? All this talk about banana republics, creeping fascism, authoritarianism, a burgeoning dictatorship?
Had enough yet?
Mueller led nowhere. Impeachment failed. All this 'let the people decide in 2020' is a fool's errand, and you know it (due to manipulation of the election, gerrymandering, and the electoral college).
What's going to be the trigger to actually get us--you, me, everyone who is scared about where this is going and who cares--in the street?
Like, walking off your job, and shutting this country down?
What will it take? What's the trigger? How do we do this?
I'm not talking about a cute annually scheduled march with pretty hats. I'm talking about demonstrating that this country has had enough of this NOW. I'm talking about making it impossible for government and big business to function anymore because the people have had enough. I'm talking about walking off work long enough that productivity plummets. Factories fail to deliver goods. Walmart can't open. Call centers fail to operate. All of it just grinding to a semi-halt.
THAT would be something like a revolution.
Make Politicians Scared in 2020.
14
We don't have a President, we have a dictator and we have the GOP to thank for it. Next up, President for Life, and if you don't think Congress would stand for that, think again.
12
@AusTex
Now days under republicans all it takes is one vote and they have the majority in the Senate and now on the Supreme Court. Majority now means one vote.
1
McConnell will be remembered as the fool of the Senate, blinded by greed and mad for power, too clever by a country mile, who put the hole in the bottom of the ship of democracy himself. Beyond rich, on a day like today, O'Brien invoking banana republics in his defense of this impeached president. The president's involvement in the Stone case sentencing and his vendetta against these exemplary career professionals who, my heavens, told the truth are both grave and unprecedented abuses of power which are in and of themselves impeachable offenses. Trump has the right to summarily fire his own political appointees but career professionals are protected by employment rules. The Trumpies will go on and on about the president's rights to surround himself with liars. I submit that we have right that trumps that one. We have a right to a president who abides by his oath and puts the wellbeing of the democracy and the nation first, and a Senate that does the same.
418
@Robert,
"...the wellbeing of the democracy..."
We are a REPUBLIC with limited democratic features.
5
@Robert - I am not so sure about that - if anything McConnell is a hero to the right and will go down in their version of history as a hero battling to protect Christian values (you know, stuff like money, power, corruption, undercutting social safety, shafting the poor, etc.) . . .
24
@Robert Well, we can thank Mitch McConnell, Graham and all the Republican Senatores, except for brave Senator Romney, who now agree with Trump, who clearly since and acts like, he is above the law. Of course the AG supports Trump's actions and believes. Barr was never ever for the ordinary American Citizens. He is married to Trump, and he Trump's loyal defender in Chief.
21
The Pentagon should stand up to Trump, and not be craven like the Republican Senate. Trump may be the Commander in Chief, even if he's bad at it, but the military must stand up for what's right or this country is doomed.
5
I disagree with the headline containing the words “evening the scale” The scales WERE even until Trump upset them by putting a boulder on his side . It will never be balanced again in any case where our current president and Barr are involved, completely ignoring our Constitution. Our Founding Fathers are weeping and so am I.
4
Wait a minute. Why on earth are reporters even asking whether Colonel Vindman should face disciplinary action?? They’re just playing into the insanity and tyranny that is DJT.
20
I am really looking to the Republican platform for 2020. It should read like an early draft of Machiavelli’s “The Prince” that was rejected by the publisher for being too cynical.
6
“We’re not a banana republic where lieutenant colonels get together and decide what the policy is.”
No, you are a banana republic where the elected king gets to make all the rules. What happened to co-equal branches of government.
14
That picture says it all: "Before I speak I have something important to say". ( Groucho Marx).
4
Yes let him rant and rave and get deeper into the gooey mess he has created. Keep needling him and let him go all "Trump". Each time he loses more support. He is a show man, make up, hair, and his own standup routines. The lines are getting old, the makeup exposed and his lack of production obvious. Less then 1.5 million jobs created compared to Obama. 1.5 trillion debt, 130 million golf fees, corruption, corruption everywhere you turn over the rocks and the snake sneak out.
Let him try to outshout Bernie, no way . Two Queens guys but one is smart.
5
Of course Vinland had to go . He is an honest honorable man . No place in this administration for someone like that .
21
Schiff should start hearings about retaliation and the sentencing interference ASAP!
9
Trump is trashing our Executive branch and his interference in military and civilian trials is the stuff of petty dictators.
Time to pull the plug on electing GOP Senators. They are not
doing their job as a check on the most abusive president we have ever had.
They have zero honor. They have to be retired.
13
Punishment for performing your patriotic duty to the best of your ability, and at significant personal risk?
Ol' Donald is back at it, auditioning for dictator again.
We continue to accept this corruption at our peril.
13
I wish someone could explain to me how Trump has gotten so powerful. Is the persona of a bumbling idiot just that? A persona?
He can't spell correctly, his grammar is horrible, he doesn't know Kansas City is in Missouri.
How has he been able to grab this nation by its throat and shed all his dissenters?
I now ask, "Will he never let go of the presidency"? Even if he is voted out.
9
A cautionary note to headline writers:
Putting "deep state" in quotes is no longer safe. So many people believe that reality doesn't matter and that Fox and Trump are the only angels on stage, that it needs to be carefully qualified.
Our planet and history are going to take charge, and it will not be pretty. The truth matters. Facts matter.
We use science every time we use electronic devices, TVs, plumbing, roads, etc. etc. Saying reality is a matter of choice is complete phonus bolunus!
9
America is now past banana republic status in the political realm. It will take some time, but everyday life will soon catch up. Expect people to *voluntarily* avoid public service jobs to keep out of trouble. These vacant positions will then be taken by cronies with no qualifications, but desperate for position and influence. Pretty soon people will have to shell out hard cash just to get their driver's licenses.
10
I'm sure Chief Justice Roberts is watching with carefully considered indifference.
Summarizing his life's work, we may honestly say:
"When his country needed him most, he did, well...nothing. Yeah, pretty much nothing at all."
23
Bravo President Trump. Members of the military who betray the Commander In Chief should be punished. Also, kudos on tackling staff disloyalty head-on. Second-guessing the President's decisions by staff needs to be handled swiftly and unambiguously. Such staffers betray the country and the agencies they represent.
2
@nikolai burlakoff
Telling the truth is now "betraying" the president?
Honoring the US Constitution is "betraying" the president?
Is that the Russian way?
9
@nikolai burlakoff This is not Nazi Germany, where officers had to swear an oath of loyalty to Adolf Hitler. Officers of our armed forces swear an oath to support the Constitution. Duty, Honor, Country; not president, party, plutocracy.
1
Heaven help us. The banana Republicans won’t. Things are so bad that we’ve almost forgotten about John Bolton.
I’d like to hear from Susan Collins. Let’s have her on a few of the Sunday talk shows.
6
Deja vu of Joseph Stalin circa 1934 only without actual bloodshed.
11
@Alan: and without Stalin's fabulous hair.
Thanks a lot Mitch McConnell. You are responsible for allowing this insecure, malignant narcissist to run roughshod over our country. This country is not his or yours, it’s ours.
21
A cheat in business, a cheat as President. NO surprise here!
11
trump's enablers in the senate will answer for this in november.
4
Funny thing about Trump wanting a pound of flesh for every individual who either went on record or spoke out publicly against him - the more he punishes, the greater disgust and contempt for him will occur.
It will be interesting to see if the Pentagon follows suit like the Justice Department by issuing punishment to Lt. Col. Alexander S. Vindman for his willingness to tell the truth at the impeachment inquiry.
This country needs more brave Americans like Vindman. He is a true patriot who loves the USA.
Scary that Trump assumes those around him are loyal when in actuality, they are fearful of him. This scenario surely resembles something terrifying that took root almost 90 years ago in Europe.
9
Bullying: a tie-wearing spoiled brat threatens to punish a war hero.
8
The principle - not necessarily the practice - has always been to keep politics out of the military and justice in this country. Otherwise, we're nothing but a Banana Republic or 1930s Germany where we throw people in prison for disagreeing with us. Lincoln, for example, did exactly this, but his assassination expunged his record. Trump is thumbing his nose at this principle. I'm pretty sure firing Vindman violates several laws. He did not assign himself to the White House - a superior ordered him there - and he appears to have been conscientiously executing his duties. Firing his brother and suggesting the Army punish both is beyond belief. This is what the Nazis did in the 1930s, rounding up and executing family members of opponents. Donald Trump, a draft dodger and career criminal, does not understand these principles, which, I suppose, doesn't matter, since he demonstrates daily that he's not a man of prinicple anyway.
13
We're seeing the beginning of a fascist state in the U.S.A. thanks to the supine Republicans who put power above country. The ability for discussion and dissent is part of what makes a democracy. Trump is doing away with it. Woe to us if he wins in 2020.
10
@Jon
Thanks to this newspaper and articles like this.
Nowhere does this article mention that Vindman told the truth and Trump believes that those who tell the truth work against him.
Instead it simply leaves out that very important fact. Why? To push the narrative that Vindman is doing some nefarious?
What is nefarious about telling the truth? And why hasn't that question been asked of every Republican in and out of the White House?
The flag now consists of a gigantic yellow banana with the words „republic“ underneath it.
5
Revenge, so needed in this impeachment debacle, Is a dish best served cold.
2
Christine Blasey Ford, the Clintons, George Soros, Comey, Mueller, Mitt, the House Impeachment Managers, Fiona Hill, the Democratic nominees, add your own and round them up!
1
@TC we all know politicans, particularly career politicians, often engage in unsavory and unlawful conduct. It's terrible and frustrating, but has happened since long before our nation became independent. However, there are degrees and differences. Your evident inability to see those differences is why we arewall careening down a slippery slope to devastation today.
3
@T M
Your evident inability to see the differences between absurdity and reality is a bit scary.
Let's stop whinging and work and vote to remove this crime-infested administration.
4
And so begins the Trump-Barr Putsch.
6
Such a petty, pitiful man.
5
The Senate Republicans were so stupid!! They could have gotten rid of Trump by convicting him of the charges for which he was impeached. Many Republican senators believed Trump to be guilty but they were too cowardly and self-serving to convict him.
Pence would be president (not a happy thought either) and not likely to take revenge on the senators who made him president.
3
The day can't come soon enough when this amoral dictator wannabe is handcuffed, perp-walked out of the White House in a (fittingly) orange jump suit, unceremoniously stuffed into the back of police car, and taken a ride to the slammer to await trial and the remainder of his sorry life in prison.
7
This is so childish and vindictive but this is trup we are talking about.
3
I had a dream about this. In the dream federal Justice Amy Berman ordered Trump to appear personally in court to show cause why he should not be cited for contempt of court by interfering in the sentencing proceeding. After a tongue lashing and warning about more severe punishment for further violations, Trump would be given a choice of making a billion dollar violation to a well known charity like American Cancer Society, or ten days in a jail cell with Manafort. Of course he would choose the jail cell so he could swap war stories about Hillary and all his other enemies (too numerous to mention). Besides, he really doesn't have a billion dollars.
Then I woke up and realized it was only a dream. Oh well. We all have our dreams and some of them do come true.
11
This is more obstruction of Justice in plain sight.
Trump is punishing those that were witnesses against him. This is a warning to future witnesses to stay quiet. That is witness intimidation.
It was also witness intimation when Trump hinted that the whistleblower be executed for treason.
It was also public obstruction when Trump publicly attacked Republican Mueller an average of twice a day for over two years.
It was also pubic obstruction when Trump kept publicly berating Jeff Sessions for not protecting him against investigation.
Why do corporate media and corporate Democrats keep refusing to call out Trump's public High Crimes?
33
The "president" just keeps finding new ways to demonstrate how small a man he is.
It's a wonder his predilection for adult film actors finds any traction, given what they are generally used to.
6
If the Dems put up somebody other than Bernie they win the WH, it is that simple. Then the question will be if Trump tries to put up barriers claiming that there are issues with the voting. That will be the true crossroads for our nation.
7
November may be our last chance to save this country from a complete dictatorship. He already puppets the Senate, wields the Justice Department like his personal vindictive law firm, and is comfortable purging trial witnesses. Who knows what 4 more years will bring.
26
Donald Trump and the current Republican Party have become the Constitutional framers' worst nightmare. Everything about this regime is exactly what the framers had hoped to prevent.
The United States is in serious trouble.
43
'We’re not a banana republic . . . ' Oh, that is indeed news to this Canadian watching from afar and volunteering to be an international election observer for 2020 - you know, to protect voters from suppression, gerrymandering, and other obstructionist acts . . .
31
Yes because the well known problem with banana republics is that whistleblowers are safe from retaliation. If only they could be severely punished, and only a single strong figure is in absolute control, then will democracy be safe.
If I were subverting the Adminstration, I think now would be a good time to resign.
2
“The president is entitled to staffers that want to execute his policies, that he has confidence in,” said Robert C. O’Brien, the national security adviser, who supervised Colonel Vindman and his brother, Yevgeny Vindman, also an Army lieutenant colonel, who was dismissed last week from the National Security Council staff even though he did not testify in the House hearings. “We’re not a banana republic where lieutenant colonels get together and decide what the policy is.”
Correct, Mr. O’Brien. We are a banana republic where a serial liar, by dint of his being President with a Senate that covers up his misdeeds, can punish an actual honorable man for telling the truth.
The thing about banana republics is that eventually the despot, his accomplices, and those who make excuses for him are strung up by their own entrails. So to speak. I hope my nation can right itself before the inevitable rebellion.
39
We no longer have a functioning Republic. And ironically it’s the Republican Party leadership that is ok with this.
19
Folks, this is NOT the actions of a powerful man. It is a child getting even with anyone who doesn’t let him have his way on the playground ... remember the Twilight Zone episode with Billy Mummy? A man who truly understands power knows when to listen, adapt, and when there’s someone else in the room that just might to know more about something than they do. God help this country if this child gets four more years in the White House.
16
@CB Unfortunately, the DNC will use him as leverage to install Bloomberg or some other Democrat-inappropriate candidate who is merely Trump's mirror image pretending to be a Dem. It didn't work last time but that's not stopping them from trying. We are in really big trouble either way.
1
@Fern, at this point I'll take anyone over trump. We can argue about policies any day and agree to disagree. It's this spoiled child that's ruining our country that worries me.
4
Can someone tell Trump he's not on a reality TV show.
4
It's time for massive protests in DC with all signs saying IMPEACH 45. And for all who are so worried about Democratic socialism, get real.....all countries are a Mix of Capitalism and Socialism. Got mail?
8
President Donald Trump and his minions rage against the so called Deep State is making the USA safe for Despotism by eliminating the checks and balances.
Now our 45th president is trying his hand at a Stalinist inspired type of purge of who thinks are disloyal to him.
The Rule of Law in the USA is in grave danger.
15
We are coming to get you, Mr. President. You will get the process you are due and then pal you are going down. Tied up in court under house arrest. The end will not be gracious to you.
8
@Tacomaroma It's going to take some violence to get that going. The country doesn't seem quite ready for that yet, but it's getting there, one day at a time. We need courageous Senators who will do their job and remove a dangerous, already impeached president. "Men" like McConnell are so easily cowed by the male bonding alpha dog foolishness.
What part of "narcissistic personality disorder" do we not understand?
13
All the hallmarks of a petty tyrant, all the hallmarks of a dictator.
8
Trump is creating his own "deep State"
7
It’s an upside down world. Trump would have his criminal friend Stone go scot-free and the principled, decorated patriot lieutenant colonel Vindman be punished. With Trump, up is down, right is wrong.
34
And with the GOP in his pockets he is getting away with it
5
Out with the competent, honest and independent, and in with the inept, mendacious, and sycophantic. This, in TrumpWorld, is known as "draining the swamp."
16
When hasn’t this President* been aggrieved?
*Impeached
3
These firings are like Trump’s slow-motion sequel to the Saturday Night Massacre.
7
Lieutenant colonel Alexander Vindman is a decorated American war hero. His uniform is weighted with medals received during his military career, including the Purple Heart.
Ordinarily, this might be enough to earn the respect of your countrymen but history will not remember Lt. Col. Vindman for his patriotic acts on the battlefield. Instead, it will be for his role in the Ukrainian affair where he was subpoenaed and provided sworn testimony to Congress.
In a country of laws, this should not earn a citizen any special commendations but in this political environment telling the truth his become an act of courage.
As expected, last week President Donald Trump retaliated against him for his testimony and removed Vindman from the National Security Council. He then went further and recommended that disciplinary action be taken against Lt. Col. Vindman.
As Americans, we believe that no one should ever face retribution for their honest testimony so if this does not sicken you then we do not share the same American ideals.
Lt. Col. Vindman earned his Ranger tab and part of the Ranger creed is to “never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy.” That is where Lt. Col. Vindman is now so I expect his comrades to come to his defense. If they cannot come to his defense in uniform then the only honorable thing to do is resign.
514
@William Wayland
Well we've learned that according to Trump the motto of special forces should be keep your mouth shut about war crimes.
49
@William Wayland Decorated war hero, really. Those medals on his chest have nothing to do with heroism you should look it up. Each of those ribbons is explained if only you chose to do a bit of research.
2
@William Wayland
'Lieutenant colonel Alexander Vindman is a decorated American war hero. His uniform is weighted with medals received during his military career, including the Purple Heart.'
Likely one of the first things Trump didn't like about Col. Vindman, is his chestful of medals. In Trump's infantile narcissism, he probably felt those medals should have been his, and hated Vindman for 'flaunting' them.
36
The "deep state" is now defined by anyone who dares to disagree with Trump. That is a very scary place for us to be as a country. It definitely doesn't feel like a sustainable philosophy for a democracy. Something has to go -- Trump or democracy.
24
@MRose
The answer to that is a no brainer don’t you think ?
2
@Sharon Phillips It is in my mind!
Tough day for Freedom. Republicans are all for free speech unless that speech harms their reelection chances or goes against their personal world view.
Oh, and stop comparing this to Obama cracking down on leakers. These people didn't leak anything, they were subpoenaed by congress and told the truth under oath. That's a huge difference. The right is running out of ways to defend the President, and it shows.
28
There is no "Deep State". Trump is living in a fantasy land and some people are buying into his propaganda. I have never campaigned for a candidate running for President. That is about to change - Mr. Bloomberg, it is my pleasure to sign up. This year, more than ever, action is everything.
12
He's still railing about Hillary. The article should've mentioned that the Justice Department rather quietly dropped its remaining investigations into her a few weeks ago because it decided there was no "there" there. Donald is probably aware of that, but he's gotten too much mileage out of her to stop now.
17
Why does this all seem like a really bad episode of the Apprentice? Unfortunately the lines between reality and fantasy (television) are being blurred at the expense of democracy. A sad and scary time for us all.
5
No, Mr O'Brien, we are now a banana republic with an all powerful strongman at the helm. I am waiting for the helicopter rides to begin.....Trump placed the nation in a lose-lose situation with impeachment. It is obvious that we need to transition to a Parliamentary system but since the Republicans benefit so much from our warped un democratic system change is doubtful. I see nothing good happening
6
Really? How about: Trump directs compliant AG to inject politics into federal sentencing process in an unprecedented attempt to reward a criminal who lied repeatedly to protect the president.
12
It's fascinating that Trump should select Al Capone as an example of how Mr. Manafort is being treated in jail.
Capone was a mob boss accused of heinous crimes (murder, violent crimes, running prostitution rings, illegal liquor sales} for which he was never convicted. (He was eventually convicted of tax evasion.)
His mob associates were terrified of testifying against him because they were terrified of the certain retribution that would follow.
That is not different at all from the mob boss Donald Trump who as President "can do whatever he wants" and has blanket immunity from investigation.
Trump was acquitted during his Senate trial by intimidating witnesses into not testifying and by terrifying US Senators by assured retribution if they voted against him.
19
We are sailing in unchartered waters here.
Couple this story with Elizabeth Goitein's warning on Trump's use of the national emergencies act, and we have a president who is capable of upending the entire government if he so chooses, undermining lawyers working on behalf of the United States people, for example. Or firing large numbers of government employees for supposedly undermining him and his illegal agenda.
I keep thinking back to Lt. Col. Vindman who, naively it turns out, assured his father that he would be safe because he was telling the truth. Because here right matters.
Turns out he isn't safe. And neither are any of us at this point.
23
@avrds And right has never mattered less.
1
The impeached President "Damaged Donald J. Trump" cannot escape the history that is documented and will be written, spoken, and viewed by generations to come. He cannot speak (or tweet) the truth, but he can neither escape it. I am looking forward to 46. Vote!
6
I am afraid we are approaching a banana republic. Sadly, the GOP stands by in radio silence and becomes more culpable for the destruction of our democracy.
6
Who else thinks this is looking more and more like that despotic system we were raised to despise and defend against?
12
Seen through Trump's narcissism, Vindman is clearly a bad guy who needs to be punished. Seen from any psychologically healthy person's perspective, Vindman is a patriot who did his job honorably.
Trump is an ongoing danger to the rule of law. Senate Republicans, this is entirely on you. I'm sure the House will allow you a do-over if you ask nicely.
9
But I don't understand, Senator Susan Collins assured the public that President Trump had learned his lesson after being acquitted in the Senate. Could Senator Collins be wrong about Trump not abusing his power? Duh!
13
@DCWilson
I watched Senator Collins being interviewed the other night. As one senior citizen to another, I would tell the good senator she needs to retire. Her grasp on reality is slipping and she is of no service to her constituents
2
Ever since Trump was acquitted, his actions against those who were brave and patriotic enough to speak out against him are facing his wrath via his political clearing house antics.
A line has been crossed where one's political difference of opinion has now become a blood sport in the eyes of this president.
5
Mr. Vindman was a junior GS-13 on temporary loan to the NSC from the Pentagon who had NO problem with Mr. Trump's phone call with Mr. Zelensky. Mr. Vindman's only gripe was that he did not like the idea of withholding US assistance from Ukraine. When you disagree with a policy decision by the White House, you RESIGN your position instead of whining about it in front of Congress. Or you RESIGN your position after you whine in front of Congress. Either way, Mr. Vindman failed to act honorably. If you have a fundamental disagreement with the way your company behaves and decide to go public, are you still going to stay and collect your salary?
Mr. Trump has every right to be angry. Having said that, the fact that our President cares about the fortunes of a junior bureaucrat testifies to an obsessive, vindictive character. But we already knew that.
2
@David H
So why then was Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman (Alexander's younger brother) "dismissed last week from the National Security Council staff even though he did not testify in the House hearings?"
He's guilty by association?
2
Lt.Col Vindman was subpoenaed and told the truth. But his belief that it was safe to tell the truth was sadly incorrect. When would you have had him resign?
3
@David H If that was all that happened, perhaps your opinion would have some merit. However, what concerned Vindman was that trump indicated he needed the favour of a foreign country to investigating an American citizen who is also a political rival. That's illegal. In addition, if trump wanted such an investigation, why didn't he go to the appropriate domestic authorities to request it? Apparently, he is doing so now - Barr having announced he has opened a channel to receive information from Guliani.
1
I sit here with my head in my hands and tears in my eyes. I despair for my country. We have seen this before in other countries, the collapsing and suspension of democracy and checks and balances and the take over by a dangerous, vindictive, authoritarian despot and his enablers We can see it but how can we stop it now? Vindman is a hero.
7
“We’re not a banana republic where lieutenant colonels get together and decide what the policy is.”
No, we are instead a banana republic where the fearless leader uses the full power of the federal government to destroy anyone he doesn't like.
8
@John Steve Bannon's still at work destroying the pillars of democracy. I'm sure Bannon and Miller have their footprints all over what is going on.
Why are the Democrats, who subpoenaed Lt. Col. Vindman, so silent. I can only hope that their silence conceals intense efforts to protect not only Lt. Col. Vindman from further retribution, but also to protect the other witnesses and the whistle blower. If not, then they will all be nothing more than political collateral damage in a vicious war for power. Persecuted by the President and the Republicans in the Senate and abandoned by the Democrats in the House.
2
Untethered to much that is sane or real trump will now put his psychological handicaps on full display. Much as he has done already. Cannot vote him out fast enough in 2020. Trump's chaos, paranoia and incompetence makes for a perfect storm doing real damage to the republic.
3
Can't wait for a democrat to be in the office and dish it out ten fold. I know its tribal and we should be above that, but when they go low, dems gotta fight dirty just to say.. Don't provoke or test people's patience
4
Trump and his handler, Vladimir Putin, have been able to achieve in a few short years what hasn’t been seen since the Civil War, more than 150 years ago: the transformation of the United States of America into the Divided States of America.
6
This article fails to distinguish properly between the President’s right to choose his own staff and the total eradication of constitutional law and the essential concept that no one is above the law. There is no acceptable rationale for interfering with the sentencing of convicted Trump accomplices or for punishing individuals who provided honest testimony under Congressional or other legitimate subpoena.
These latter are the terrifying actions of a fascist dictator and the remnants of decent government and the press....and the public... must unite to oppose them.
5
“We’re not a banana republic where lieutenant colonels get together and decide what the policy is.”
No -- we're a banana republic where a bunch of criminals get together and decide what policy is.
8
The headline says “purge”; a better word would be “rampage”. Even after a corrupt Republican Senate freed him to do anything he wants, this is his highest priority? Instead of keeping some of his campaign promises? Like infrastructure spending? Or getting Mexico to pay for the wall?
Total loser. Voters will remember the broken promises, not the purged nobodies. No wonder his TV ratings are in the toilet.
2
@MikeG You forgot balancing the budget and creating a better healthcare system than the ACA. Still waiting.....
2
If re-elected, Trump will be the first to be impeached twice. Perhaps this Fall the balance of power in the Senate will shift away from the Party of Trump. Hopefully our country will be rescued this time through a conviction.
4
By now it is painfully obvious that Donald Trump has no idea what a republic is (i.e. a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch) or how democracy works. But what about McConnel? What about Barr?
What about the Senate? How are they letting this happen to our country?
5
Given our new paradigm, it would be helpful to list the names of everyone in the photograph for reference and posterity. Informed citizens and future scholars will appreciate the clarification.
3
I wonder if my, "soon to be former" Senator Collins, still believes that Trump has learned his lesson following the impeachment.
We continue to support Republicans at our own peril !
304
@Ray Maine
I sincerely hope the good people of Maine see fit to kick Collins out of the Senate.
65
@Ray Maine If she does, she's an exceptionally naive person.
12
@Ray Maine
How specifically does Sen. Collins think she and the rest of Trump's posse taught him anything other than a big attaboy? Just like a herd of cows, they uniformly trashed the House impeachment process. They voted to have a trial with no witnesses, no documentary evidence, no proof whatsoever, even to back up their own version of events. They almost thuggishlyly corralled any stragglers within their ranks. One slipped away but then the rest of the fearful, including Collins, voted with their egos.
I think Trump actually learned and adhered "perfectly" to the crystalline GOP lesson.
28
While we mourn what we consider the loss of decency in the White House, let's pause to remember that 50% of the American people are clapping their hands in glee. My position - it will all work out; there's no need to lose one's shirt over it.
9
@Eugene No, 50% are not clapping their hands in glee. When asked if many people are ignorant or apathetic, the answer came back, "I don't know and I don't care." With no immediate effect on people (like soaring deficits) bad things just creep up on us and like the German people, there people will say, "I didn't know."
4
@Eugene
It did not work out in Germany, Japan, Russia, China, Cambodia, Venezeuela, etc.etc. What makes you think we are immune to descending into dictatorship? We are already part way there.
6
@Eugene Really? What if the military commands starts prosecuting Trump's perceived enemies at his behest? Would that be worrisome? Also it's more like 33%.
6
Our democracy slowly crawls to its ultimate demise. Unforgivable and outlandish behavior is now met with a shrug and nail-biting. We will never recover from the damage to our once great nation. Thanks at least to Peter Baker and the NYT for their excellent reporting.
68
What in God's name does Trump offer his supporters that they would abandon all sense of decency and give this man a blank check to destroy everything good about the United States?
How cheaply they have been bought.
329
@Volley Goodman White entitlement based on European ancestry and their version of religion
22
@Volley Goodman Yes Volley, all it took was a tax cut and a juiced up stock market. And making abortion illegal & dangerous again, for his religious fanatic supporters!
35
@Volley Goodman
He offers them the savior they always wanted. Someone who will destroy the government and it's regulations while complaining about flooding and demanding money from the government to fix their homes when they get destroyed.
They don't know any better. They see a man who looks like them and talks like them and that's what they want to see in the White House. And every other American that disagrees with them they hope goes to jail.
Don't be afraid, Trump will eventually turn on them, he always does.
I can't remember if it was an onion article but it was along the lines of "Voter for eye-gouging party ends up regretting decision" - "Well I didn't think they were going to gouge out MY eyes!"
26
Welcome to Stage Four in the Death of our Constitutional Republic. As a cancer "survivor, " I know exactly what that means.
55
Donald Trump is exhibiting signs of paranoia, and probably for good reason. Trump is threatened by the truth and by all those who value truth and their loyalty to the U.S. Constitution over loyalty to him. This a behavior of a dictator.
127
And he was acquitted by his mice. What will come next?
23
According to a retired Judge Adjutant-General I know, the armed forces have long been trained to disobey an illegal order. That moment may have arrived.
67
@M Riordan
Not holding my breath
7
trump knows he is wrong; he just keeps pushing because he thinks he can get away with it. When he loses the election in November he will face enormous personal consequences for all his wrongdoing with his business particularly involving his falsifications on loan apps and tax evasion and many other criminal activities. He’s looking at a prison term and he knows it. So he just lives his life a day at a time and hopes he can win in November all the while pushing his crazy ideas and self dealing. Now that Bill Barr is really all in he and trump think they might get away with even more.
They won’t win.
45
@KdKulper
Trump may refuse to leave the White House even if he loses.
Then what?
I keep reading that the 2020 election is a choice between socialism and capitalism. No. But it may be a choice between socialism and dictatorship.
164
@Jerry Lucas I think the choice is one of continuing down a path the vast majority of Americans know is "wrong" or becoming once again a country that at a minimum aspires for what is "right."
14
@Jerry Lucas Our country, like many others, is a blend of capitalism and socialism. Let's keep it that way
8
Well said.
Cut, cut, cut. Government careerists who disagree can resign.
5
@Tim First, while it's popular to bash 'bureaucrats,' it's also short sighted. If you've ever spent any time in a country without a functioning bureaucracy you'd understand. Second, the man referred to here is a career Army officer who answered a legal subpoena and testified under oath to the questions he was asked. I thought the President and you might be supportive of the military.
7
@Tim yup, that’s what they said in Germany in 1936.
2
Want to quietly remove a U.S. Attorney who's prosecuting your friends? Nominate her for an important job, replace her with a more compliant crony, and then withdraw the nomination.
Jessie Liu is out of a job without being fired, and the new, unconfirmed, "interim" U.S. attorney can revise the sentencing recommendation for Michael Flynn.
64
“We’re not a banana republic where lieutenant colonels get together and decide what the policy is.” Only partially correct, Mr. O'Brien. It is a naive, out of control, unhinged despot that decides what the policy is. And you, as the National Security Adviser, as well as an attorney, fully support this. I wonder what Donald Trump promised to give you in return for supporting a banana republic.
47
Finally, the president America so richly deserves. Trump is doing to the US what the US has done to others for a century. Destabilize and destroy. Enjoy.
9
@Count Cholcula : I remember Chile, Jamaica, Guyana, Grenada, Cuba, Nicaragua, Panama - the list is long
2
At some level of course yes. We have wantonly and irresponsibly exploited our power for far too long.
So have other and so will others given the opportunity. Human nature is consistent.
Presumably, from your vantage point at the kremlin you already understand this.
@Count Cholcula - Yup. Can hardly wait for Russia and China to be the only two superpowers. They'll do much better.
Begin a new impeachment trial about this abuse... give the senate another chance!
10
I wonder if Trump will be recommending the firing squad for anyone he deems a traitor?
52
@Marge Keller I would not be surprised to discover he already has. I think the question may actually be "Will he be able to find someone to carry out his recommendation?
5
@Remain Vigilant
Valid point and good question.
Can't believe such a conversation, much less a thought like this is even in the minds of people.
How can so many allow the country to continue its skid towards the edge of the cliff?
3
@Marge Keller
Trump has already accused the whistleblower of treason and hinted that he should be executed, like the old days.
Trump regularly calls for violence against his critics without mentioning the law or due process. These are High Crimes, but almost no one will say it.
3
Susan Collins, I'm looking at you.
148
@David
Are you speaking of the "ever overestimated Susan Collins"?
11
@David :
She's composing a stern letter to him right now.
/s.
17
@David The same Susan Collins who had the 'vapors' after Schiff alleged that Trump put the warning out that those who voted against the Senate GOP block would have their head on a pike? Now Trump would never be vindictive and do something like that, would he?!
5
At this rate of distrust, who will be sufficiently competent left to run our government of 329 million people, and to protect our country from its adversaries, which will come after him as well as the rest of us?
Trump's closest ally Bill Barr needs to explain to him that the country has to be run by reasonably, competent, professional administrators.
And included in that is the ability to rationally review all sides of a matter, that is rationally, reasonably and ultimately determined.
Rationality yields intelligence. Irrationality is does not.
11
“ lieutenant colonels get together and decide what the policy is” — Congress got together and decided that the policy is to aid Ukraine, that presidents can’t impound aid for policy reasons, and that Vindman must testify under subpoena. Where was Vindman “deciding policy”, much less “getting together” with his brother to do that?
60
“ Trump Unchained” is doing what any successful businessman would do when he has to deal with disloyal employees....He FIRES them hard and fast with a big, swift boot!
4
@Moe Learn something about business. Business isn't all classless evil and war.
9
@Moe
FYI. The country is not a "business".
36
@Moe
criminal code
(e)Whoever knowingly, with the intent to retaliate, takes any action harmful to any person, including interference with the lawful employment or livelihood of any person, for providing to a law enforcement officer any truthful information relating to the commission or possible commission of any Federal offense, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both."
39
To me, suggesting the Defense Department take action against Col. Vindman, who testified in response to a subpoena and told the truth, is the clearest sign that he is acting like an autocrat. He's unbound now, after his acquittal. God knows what he'll do if he's re-elected.
Can he be impeached again?
126
@Eric
Yes!
19
Trump Untethered. I don’t want to see that.
In the immortal words of Susan Collens he has I think learned a lesson, he certainly has!
49
@Bruce
Right! Unfortunately for us, the lesson Donald Trump learned is that he can do whatever he wants with impunity.
Are there any decent republicans remaining in congress? They need to purge their dear leader before he shreds our republic. This behavior is way beyond unacceptable and should be considered criminal. This corrupt president must go.
30
@Steve B No there are no decent republicans remaining in the country.
7
@Steve B One.
3
His actions and pronouncements since the Senate did not remove him are terrifying. Terrifying because he is unchecked and unhinged and there is no legal obstacle (except for the judiciary, but we don’t yet know whether the US Supreme Court is under his control-yet) to stop him.
It seems he may actually believe that Colonel Vindman did something wrong, that his conversation with Ukraine was indeed perfect and that his action to reduce Stone’s sentence was just fine.
If he “believes” that Vindman did something wrong-perjured himself or violated some privilege, his behavior is scary “crazy”.
We have no way to check him. We most wait for the next election and hope. Thank the Senate for where we are.
33
Not only is the Supreme Court, like all branches of government Trump's cronies. Trump will ignore the supreme court if it apposes him. Not only is trump comander in chief, he also has his secret service and own private military, littereraly armed by the supreme court and congress.
5
As Bill Maher said last week: "Mango Unchained"
29
The "deep state" is Donald Trump. People in this country need to wake up - Trump's maniacal demand for loyalty above all else. He has been unleashed and emboldened by the Republicans in the Senate who were "too afraid of him" to vote for impeachment. So now here we are with the consequences...moving in the direction of Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin and a democracy that will no longer exist - if he is not stopped.
55
Time for Spencer, Mattis, Kelly, McMaster, Tillerson and Bolton to grow a spine and speak up about Trump. Fox News would be the ideal media to vent. They know very well he is completely incompetent. Speak Up!
65
The ignorant cheerleaders at Fox News would never speak or allow someone else to speak negatively about dear leader.
You know what's deep? Certainly not the intellect of this puny, whiny, vindictive little"man". Nope, it's his corruption and moral bankruptcy. Yeah, you can add moral bankruptcy to his long list of financial failures,too.
29
A Banana Republic ? No. A Cotton Republic, The Confederacy for this Century.
Seriously.
11
Clearly, both William Barr and Donald Trump Should resign immediately, or be removed from office over this abuse of power.
(In any private business or any government agency, this kind of behavior - from just a human resources perspective - would normally initiate an investigation of the perpetrators of such actions, with termination the likely consequence.)
This episode should serve as a reminder that President Trump regularly makes statements and takes actions that would get him suspended from school were he is a student or teacher, and get him fired from any regular job.
We have become numb to his bullying and harassment, but both have tremendously corrosive affects on our democracy and on our societal norms.
660
@Mark Keller just a friendly reminder that behaviors as shown by trump, barr, the senate gop, in many other constitutional democracies, and especially in tin pot dictatorships, often result in violent overthrow of those in power. when legal means are denied, the people will act by any means necessary. if we cannot remove him by impeachment, or the 25th, or public shaming, or the election (which WILL be manipulated and hacked by his ally putin), we will be up against the wall. at that point Gandhi and Christ himself could not stop the anger from being expressed directly. i pity these fools for what they do.
12
@Mark Keller would that trump could be removed but he is rapidly ensuring that that possibility cannot happen
4
@Mark Keller
I don't defend what Trump is doing, but I'm an employer in a state where I can't fire "at will." I'm also not a lawyer, but I know that "at will" provides more leeway in firing. I take it that at-will employment is akin to a never-ending probationary period during which an employer can fire "without cause" as long as there is no illegal cause, such as racial discrimination. I'm guessing that serving "at the pleasure of" the president provides as much, if not more leeway in the executive branch of government.
1
Our President's willingness to lean on a Federal judge in regards to the sentencing of his accomplice is chilling.
He also seems to misunderstand the role of a judge in his comment regarding her "looking into Hilary".
My compatriots may have considered that the White House needed a change of direction, but whether this was the outcome they sought we shall never know. In my experience, people are not eager to confess a grave error.
42
"Mr. Trump has long suspected that people around him — both government officials and even some of his own political appointees — were secretly working against his interests."
As even this article points out, Trump's suspicions have been mostly corroborated. Obama was tenacious in finding the source of leaks and punishing those involved. Where was the outrage then?
4
This behavior is way outside the boundary of what any president in our short history has ever done. It is criminal. Period. Wake up before we are devolved into authoritarianism.
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@Robert
Give me a break Robert, there was plenty of outrage when Obama cracked down on leakers.
Just google "Obama leakers" and hundreds of news articles pop up about it.
People leaked under Obama, does that corroborate some kind of deep state conspiracy theory against Obama like the one Trump is pushing? By your logic, it does. So there was a deep state against Bush too, because he also cracked down on leaks.
In fact, there was a deep state against every President going all the way back to George Washington according to you.
4
Hint Robert:
* Obama worked for the nation's good and within the law.
* Trump works solely for his good and outside the law.
7
The United States of America in not, or was not before Trump , a police state. The United States of America has, or had before Trump, freedom of speech. No matter how deranged the spineless, fearful Republican leaders are whom Trump has cowed into joining the Trump cult, we still at this moment are a free country with freedom of speech. Allowing the Trump hate machine to aggressively take revenge against those who speak the truth will result in degradation of democracy. I implore Republican leaders to come to their senses and save the United States of America from the would-be Trump autocratic police state.
51
I do not know if Obama did the things you say or not. I do know that I was never concerned about his sanity or that he might be selling us out to a foreign country.
7
There was no deep state. It's pretty simple. There were some principled public servants who took a stand to sound the alarm on his lawless behavior. Now he is looking to create a real deep state for himself so that no one in government will hold him accountable or stand up to him in the future. What a nightmare for our country. DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE OR BUST FOR DEMOCRACY.
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“We’re not a banana republic where lieutenant colonels get together and decide what the policy is.”
What kind of Orwellian doublespeak is that? Lieutenant colonels are allowed to think for themselves in America. Banana republics are where a tyrant metes out punishments for disloyalty.
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Serious question: are tweets not considered putting things 'in writing'? Why can he use it to address millions of people about high profile cases with clearly threatening language and then say he wasn't involved in the case? Are we just considering his twitter account his diary? I don't understand
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@Leslie
Orwell's 1984 used the intimate individualized story of Winston Smith (a mid level apparatchik, no less) as a window into the methods of totalitarian control.
We're getting very close. We don't need telescreens spying on us from every room, we carry them with us 24/7 and fill our heads with their disinformation constantly, voluntarily. We don't need a daily "two minutes hate", we have Trumps' twitter feed, which we spend far more than two minutes per day digesting.
It's all working quite nicely for the 2%, abetted enthusiastically by the 40%.
16
@Leslie Because rules don't apply to you when you're a prominent white man in this country.
@Leslie: I am not a lawyer, but do have a background in audit and compliance. Having read Twitter's terms of use letter for letter, I cannot see how Mr. Trump has not been removed from the platform. If Twitter users had the courage of Lt. Col. Vindman, they would leave the platform in droves of protest. If the Scions of Tech had the courage of Lt. Col. Vindman, they would stop Mr. Trump's nefarious exploitation of social media platforms. Hopefully, that would lead to far less commentary coming from this rogues' gallery of an administration. Does anyone have any evidence Mr. Trump is actually literate? Does he know how to use a laptop? It seems a literacy test and mental health assessment should be required for all current and future presidential candidates.
Democrats, independents and republicans with any conscience should consider that Trump is doing these extra legal and authoritarian moves before the election. The media calls Trump aggrieved, unbound and emboldened now that he was acquitted in the Senate trial.
Voters should be asking: if Trump can get away doing this now before an election, harassing patriots like Col. Vindman and using the apparatus of the Justice Department as his own political tool to settle scores, what will he do if the American people approve of these actions through their vote?
Our country’s survival as a democratic republic will be tested in November.
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America needs a hero.
5
I am appalled and disgusted by the statement of the national security advisor that “We’re not a banana republic where lieutenant colonels get together and decide what the policy is.” No, Mr. O'Brien, we're a banana republic when the President has a distinguished and decorated soldier and public servant (and his uninvolved brother, no less) frog-marched out of the White House for the crime of obeying a subpoena and telling the truth.
985
@Lucy Cooke
If he does it in the interest of his own personal gains, YES!!
13
I’m humbled by young Hongkongers taking to the streets because they see the writing on the wall, given recent transgressions by mainland China:
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/inside-the-battle-for-hong-kong-were-now-at-war/
Too bad Americans aren’t doing the same seeing their Democracy unfolding as overtly as it is.
21
@Bluesq
If you want to see the next chapter in the GOP plans, study German politics in the 1930s.
They have to consolidate power and suborn elections lest they be tossed out.
It's a dark day for the government of the people, by the people and for the people.
19
He is the president. He was duly elected to be in charge.
4
@Chris Anderson He was not appointed as a King.
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@Chris Anderson -
He wasn't elected to be a despot.
--
26
Within certain boundaries!!!!!!
15
Not too early to ask where the Joint Chiefs stand regarding Trump. May soon be all that keeps America from morphing into Guatemala.
20
I am reminded of Stalin secretly watching an audience applaud to see who stops clapping first.
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@lhurney Yes, and when I was in Russia - mid-90's - I met a few older people who were nostalgic for Stalin and who continued to admire him. We will never rid ourselves of Trump supporters, but we must come together and make them irrelevant.
77
With the judiciary under the control of the executive, and a blatant disregard for the rule of law, the President is turning America into a banana republic.
26
It is now official, in case there was any doubt, that the United States of America is now a banana republic.
66
As a question, what makes his actions more or less acceptable than any president before him. If this were any other person, there would serious consequences. What has given him, and him alone the ability to gradually degrade our democracy?
32
@John Because he has a Senate that looks the other way no matter what he does. Not to mention his AG and McConnell.
4
@John
Trump's base is against the Constitution. They would rather have a white King than be politically equal to minorites, LGBTQs, or "liberals."
Until The rest of us admit to ourselves that not every American actually supports the Constitution, we will not be able to defend oyr Republic from this internal threat
Trump asked Russia to attack our elections during the election and these people voted for him. They are against democracy.
Trump’s dictatorial power is based on the refusal of the Republican controlled Senate to exercise any of its own power to check his or even to investigate and hear the facts of Trump’s criminal conduct. Behind that there is only greed and money!
Let's just call it for what it is. REVENGE.
And it's distressing that the President of the United States would sink to such lows in order to exact it.
Make no mistake abut it.
This is what tyrants, despots and dictators do.
Is this what you want, America?
It's time you start asking yourselves this question.
158
This is the new and better Trump unleashed from acquittal. Can it get much worse?
It will get worse and Trump knows nothing will happen to him. He is not going to be held accountable for any of his abhorrent behavior.
What have you to say Senate Republicans? Cory Gardner, Susan Collins, Thom Tillis and Lamar Alexander should be asked everyday if this is what the founding fathers imagined.
Hey Senator McConnell was it worth it not having any witnesses? History will not be kind to you and your fellow Republicans.
57
@Charna
You are right. It is obvious that Trump will stop at nothing. Don't look to Republicans to stop him, especially McConnell. They believe in holding power and it is becoming increasingly clear they are willing to trade authoritarianism for democracy to keep it. How likely is it they will allow a free and fair election in November? If Trump is defeated at the ballot box, what's to stop him and the Republicans from contesting and delegitmizing the results?
God help us.
11
When he was elected three miserable years ago, I wrote to the Times rather often, predicting that Trump would bring purges with him. Nobody really cared, because who am I, that anyone should listen to me? I am nobody. I will now declare, "I told you so," and carry on being a nobody. We haven't seen the last of Trump, sadly, and if we don't get him and his eager little gang of sychophant senators out of office soon, there will not be much of a republic left to analyze or defend.
46
So now Trump's going to persecute people for speaking the truth. He's now totally out of control and innocent people are going to suffer. May God help us all.
833
@anonymous This is why the whistle blower must remain nameless and protected from this vengeance. Individuals who do the right thing are scarce enough as it is.
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@anonymous
Funny thing about Trump wanting a pound of flesh for every individual who either went on record or spoke out publicly against him - the more he punishes, the greater disgust and contempt for him will occur.
It will be interesting to see if the Pentagon follows suit like the Justice Department by issuing punishment to Lt. Col. Alexander S. Vindman for his willingness to tell the truth at the impeachment inquiry.
This country needs more brave Americans like Vindman. He is a true patriot who loves the USA.
Scary that Trump assumes those around him are loyal when in actuality, they are fearful of him. He is surrounded by cowards, just like him.
253
@anonymous :Why does this remind me of the 1930s in Germany, the Nixon midnight massacres of the 1970s???? History IS repeating itself before your eyes. Wake up voters . These are maniacal actions by the king wearing no clothes. Time to tell him that he is naked!
42
Purge? Sounds like high crimes and misdemeanors again.
225
Not too many smiling fawning faces behind the man in the chair. I hope they think he is going too far. How can Veterans who have served this country stand behind this man & vote for him? If they do, they are condoning punishment on one of their own. "No man left behind"? He praises a man who killed a man & then stood by to have a picture taken, like a big game hunter. But he attacks a true hero who served with honor. It is impossible to say thank you for your service to veterans wearing MAGA hats. I am no longer proud of their sacrifice & service when they support this man.
235
@Nostradamus Said So He praises a war criminal and vilifies war heros like Senator John McCain and Lt. Col. Vindman, because he hates “good” and loves “bad.” This is how he justifies his own odious actions throughout life.
43
@Nostradamus Said So
Unfortunately, many veterans have no trouble supporting an authoritarian leader. Obeying orders has been beaten into their heads. Old soldiers divide along two lines, those who readily salute their leader come what may and those who thought a bit about the horrors they saw and in which they participated. Fortunately, most of my veteran friends are in the second group.
1
@Bill
No active or retired veteran worth his salt would support Trump. He is an affront to everyone who ever wore the uniform of this country.
A veteran.
1
“This is an unsettled time in Mr. Trump’s Washington.” Now that’s saying something.
34
Critical Question:
Where are the 3 Republicans who are challenging Trump: former governors Bill Weld and Mark Sanford, and Entrepreneur Rocky De La Fuente?
Given that these formal candidates loathe Trump, they should be waging campaigns that proclaim not only where they stand on the issues, but also their fervent, justified belief that, for the sake of the nation, Trump must be Defeated in November.
In case these Republican candidates need motivation, they should reread what Trump Tweeted about them last August 27: "Can you believe it? I’m at 94% approval in the Republican Party, and have Three Stooges running against me...."
Get moving, Mssrs Weld, Sanford, and De La Fuente (and John Kasich, too).
Exercising your bullhorns against Trump is as important to the nation as to you.
82
@Ken -- excellent insight. This should be an NYT Pick.
3
@Ken When you tell these potential candidates to "get moving" what exactly do you want them to do? They are ll trying to get media airtime, and the RNC will not support them with money or services.
Bill Weld received about 8% of the Republican Primary vote in New Hampshire. Will other Republicans throw their support behind him?
The stuff going on now is fascism “101”. We need to stand up to it.
412
What Trump has learned from is experience with the Republican Senate is that he can now do anything he wants. Democracy is being erased as we live and breathe. Who will stop him?
314
@YellowRose
Only We the People can stop Trump now.
How much effort are we willing to put into saving or Constitutional Republic?
24
@McGloin Yes, with an election system he was caught openly trying to corrupt and that Republicans refuse to protect. Oh and about 40% of an electorate so brainwashed they think the legitimate press is the enemy...
1
" “We’re not a banana republic where lieutenant colonels get together and decide what the policy is.”"
No, we're a banana republic where an unelected semi-literate decides what the policy is.
425
@Charlesbalpha - And was Colonel Vindman trying to tell anyone what the policy should be? He clearly was unhappy with the President's actions in withholding military aid for political purposes, which of course the President continues to deny he did. But in the end Colonel Vindman's only offense was telling the truth about what happened within the White House.
35
The Deep State exists only in Trump's imagination. Trump doesn't know the difference between morality and immorality. He is too busy seeking revenge on his perceived enemies to actually learn how to govern. Oh, and playing golf gets in the way, too.
142
Vindman deserves a medal! How cruel to even think of punishing him!
201
@Charlotte Morton
Take the medal off Limbaugh's neck and give it to
Lindeman.
5
@Charlotte Morton The military should give him a promotion - that will send a message.
4
Will El Caudillo arrange for Alexander Vindman's brother to be punished, too? After all, he looks just like his twin, even if he had nothing to do with the House subpoena or investigation; he was fired, wasn't he?
55
@Paul Or lock up the whole Vindman family, just like the Nazis and their Sippenhaft? The GOP is done with pretending they have any commitment to democracy.
Does the president have the right to fire these people? If he does, nothing can be said. If he does not, go ahead and try the second impeachment.
12
@widereceiver Vindman wasn't fired. He was transferred back to the Pentagon.
6
@widereceiver
The President has "the right" to do numerous things.
The President has "the right" to nuke Canada.
Doesn't mean he should do it.
And don't forget, in the USA, everything can "be said".
14
@widereceiver He has a right to launch nuclear strikes too... so “nothing can be said” if he does?
14
We are witness to the plunder
Our country torn asunder
Dismembered by the madness of a clown
Now we face our darkest hour
The vandals have the power
And everything we've built, they're tearing down
190
We officially live in a dictatorship.
287
@Howard64
Or at last an oligarchy
9
@Dawn we lived in an oligarchy well before trump. the corporate consolidation of power has been going on, slowly but surely, since reagan.