MAGAThread XVI: Raising the Barr

[Chan Island]

Of course, personally I wonder if his tax returns have any Saudi Arabian connections. Because if they do, it will make the case for impeachment due to emoluments and his aiding of the genocide in Yemen so much more concrete.

[New Bremerton]

I've been sitting on the fence for about a year now beginning around the time of the Kavanaugh witch hunt and the Democrat-induced moral panic that followed. I have never been a Trump supporter, but I still distrust the mainstream of the Democratic Party, excluding Andrew Yang and Tulsi Gabbard. I've always been an independent, liberal centrist since before Trump's election in 2016. Even before that, I was pretty much a mainstream liberal/leftist and made no distinction between the two, but I was never a Democrat supporter. I may have walked away from the Democrats and the Western Left, but unlike Brandon Straka, I have opted not to jump on the right-wing Trump bandwagon in the process. I'm not going to stop calling myself a liberal for a number of reasons, even if my views have shifted radically over the years.

Hmm, so like a Blue Dog type Democrat? I feel your views would be closely aligned to the likes of Manchin though I could be wrong. In any case, let's assume neither Yang or Gabbard get the nomination. Who will you vote for then?

I'm not American and have never lived in the States, but if I could vote, then I'd probably vote for some third-party candidate as a symbolic protest vote. Or maybe just stay home? But I'm more the kind of person who wants to make the world a better place, however small my contribution, so I'd probably vote.

Odd thing is that I lean left and liberal in my home country Malaysia in opposition to far-right Islamist and Malay supremacist parties, whereas in the UK, I consider right-leaning Conservative Boris Johnson to be the most "liberal" and democratic choice, at least in the context of Brexit. Hong Kong's a little more complicated, as the usual definitions of left and right tend to break down depending on one's political views. I consider the Chinese Communist Party to be a far-right fascist party. I'm not a huge fan of right-wing Israeli PM Netanyahu and lean left (or center) in the Israeli context. Globally, I identify as a liberal centrist.

I lean left economically (e.g. universal healthcare, welfare for the poor, Andrew Yang's Freedom Dividend) and right on foreign policy (e.g. preventing massacres and genocides short of all-out, destabilizing regime change, and economic sanctions, trade tariffs and a full-fledged cold war against China, the evil empire of our time).

On social issues, I'm essentially a classical liberal or libertarian. I'm pro-free speech, pro-internet freedom, pro-privacy, pro-choice, pro-LGBT, staunchly secular and atheistic, and pro-democracy, human rights, due process and the rule of law, but I'm also for the death penalty for particularly heinous crimes that involve taking the life of another in certain cases. As I'm not American, I don't take a strong view on guns either way and I can appreciate both sides of the gun debate.

I support increased adoption of clean nuclear energy to combat climate change, and tough climate sanctions against China, whose CO2 emissions exceed the next four countries combined. Not sure if this qualifies as left or right.

EDIT: Totally forgot about immigration. I'm against open borders and illegal immigration and believe that borders are there to be enforced, but I'm not against immigration or multiculturalism in principle.

Hope that answers your questions.

[Austria-Bohemia-Hungary]

Former Ambassadorto the Ukrainian speaks to the House. Apparently she isn't happy with be taken out of her job for no reason, and decided to define the ban on goverment officials talking to the House.

The Absolute Monarchy of "God"-"Emperor" Donald J. Trump ladies and gentlemen.

[Gormwood]

Oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy...

Scoop: EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland to testify next week

U.S. Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland will testify next Wednesday before the House committees investigating President Trump and Ukraine, despite being blocked by the State Department from appearing at a closed-door deposition this week, 4 congressional sources tell Axios.

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

Stop messing with Lumen, you know full well that removing Trump isn't overthrowing the government.

I wasn't talking about removing Trump. He's just a proverbial brick. An orange, toupee wearing brick tossed through Washington's window.

I was more talking about how they are dead set on piece by piece destroying our nation.

"OTHER POLITICAL SIDE BAD"

[Arumdaum]

Does anyone think Trump will actually get convicted by the Senate?

[Telconi]

I wasn't talking about removing Trump. He's just a proverbial brick. An orange, toupee wearing brick tossed through Washington's window.

I was more talking about how they are dead set on piece by piece destroying our nation.

"OTHER POLITICAL SIDE BAD"

Is this not the foundational principle of politics?

[The Black Forrest]

Does anyone think Trump will actually get convicted by the Senate?

If they get the impression they can control Pence and Pence doesn't get himself impeached....maybe.

Too many idiots these days. Not enough people harping on their reps to say this corrupt fucker has to go.....too busy daydreaming about being in maga nirvana I guess.

[Chan Island]

Does anyone think Trump will actually get convicted by the Senate?

If the Senate convicts Trump, I will livestream me eating my beloved baseball cap from Pearl Harbour. Absolutely, never, ever, happening. Not with the Republicans in charge or it.

[Arumdaum]

Does anyone think Trump will actually get convicted by the Senate?

If the Senate convicts Trump, I will livestream me eating my beloved baseball cap from Pearl Harbour. Absolutely, never, ever, happening. Not with the Republicans in charge or it.

Yeah, I don't think the Democratic leadership thinks it's gonna happen either.

[Telconi]

Does anyone think Trump will actually get convicted by the Senate?

If they get the impression they can control Pence and Pence doesn't get himself impeached....maybe.

Too many idiots these days. Not enough people harping on their reps to say this corrupt fucker has to go.....too busy daydreaming about being in maga nirvana I guess.

I mean, I live in California. My Senators would vote to remove him regardless of what for or rather he had done it.

[The Black Forrest]

If they get the impression they can control Pence and Pence doesn't get himself impeached....maybe.

Too many idiots these days. Not enough people harping on their reps to say this corrupt fucker has to go.....too busy daydreaming about being in maga nirvana I guess.

I mean, I live in California. My Senators would vote to remove him regardless of what for or rather he had done it.

Sorry. Opinions are not facts.

Unless of course you have proof Donnie is innocent...…….I won't hold my breath.

[Zurkerx]

If the Senate convicts Trump, I will livestream me eating my beloved baseball cap from Pearl Harbour. Absolutely, never, ever, happening. Not with the Republicans in charge or it.

Yeah, I don't think the Democratic leadership thinks it's gonna happen either.

The point isn't impeachment: it's to expose Trump's corruption and hope it sticks. Even with damning evidence, I don't see Republicans convicting. However, I do see polls in the future saying Trump has done wrong; Republicans will remain firm but Independents will be the ones turning on them. Unless we see a smoking gun, 2020 will decide Trump's fate.

[Telconi]

I mean, I live in California. My Senators would vote to remove him regardless of what for or rather he had done it.

Sorry. Opinions are not facts.

Unless of course you have proof Donnie is innocent...…….I won't hold my breath.

Your comprehension of my post isn't factual either.

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

"OTHER POLITICAL SIDE BAD"

Is this not the foundational principle of politics?

Not this way. Not the way that is saying "Other political side r ebil"

[The Black Forrest]

Sorry. Opinions are not facts.

Unless of course you have proof Donnie is innocent...…….I won't hold my breath.

Your comprehension of my post isn't factual either.

Hmmmm? Nobody ever seems to understand you. Oh well.

[Telconi]

Your comprehension of my post isn't factual either.

Hmmmm? Nobody ever seems to understand you. Oh well.

Seems like a you problem TBH.

[Cannot think of a name]

Does anyone think Trump will actually get convicted by the Senate?

They'd have to get 20 Republican senators to feel like they'd be worse off voting to remove than not. I don't think there are 20 vulnerable Republicans. Even if it becomes very popular to remove the President...actually I think if it it becomes so toxic to have that vote the party might pressure him to step down...now that would be epic, because his ego could go either way and if it goes staying in to defy the party forcing them to have that difficult vote...the Republican Convention might be must see tv as an angry party is forced to support a notorious whiner...

Dunno. I don't see a path to removal, but there's a lot of tricky knots that they could end up in.

[The Black Forrest]

Does anyone think Trump will actually get convicted by the Senate?

They'd have to get 20 Republican senators to feel like they'd be worse off voting to remove than not. I don't think there are 20 vulnerable Republicans. Even if it becomes very popular to remove the President...actually I think if it it becomes so toxic to have that vote the party might pressure him to step down...now that would be epic, because his ego could go either way and if it goes staying in to defy the party forcing them to have that difficult vote...the Republican Convention might be must see tv as an angry party is forced to support a notorious whiner...

Dunno. I don't see a path to removal, but there's a lot of tricky knots that they could end up in.

Indeed. Do you think this bunch would have gone after Nixon?

[Farnhamia]

Does anyone think Trump will actually get convicted by the Senate?

They'd have to get 20 Republican senators to feel like they'd be worse off voting to remove than not. I don't think there are 20 vulnerable Republicans. Even if it becomes very popular to remove the President...actually I think if it it becomes so toxic to have that vote the party might pressure him to step down...now that would be epic, because his ego could go either way and if it goes staying in to defy the party forcing them to have that difficult vote...the Republican Convention might be must see tv as an angry party is forced to support a notorious whiner...

Dunno. I don't see a path to removal, but there's a lot of tricky knots that they could end up in.

Ivanka could whisper in his ear, "Daddy, you can resign and then run as an independent."

[Telconi]

Is this not the foundational principle of politics?

Not this way. Not the way that is saying "Other political side r ebil"

Sure it is, we've fought wars for this reason.

[Cannot think of a name]

They'd have to get 20 Republican senators to feel like they'd be worse off voting to remove than not. I don't think there are 20 vulnerable Republicans. Even if it becomes very popular to remove the President...actually I think if it it becomes so toxic to have that vote the party might pressure him to step down...now that would be epic, because his ego could go either way and if it goes staying in to defy the party forcing them to have that difficult vote...the Republican Convention might be must see tv as an angry party is forced to support a notorious whiner...

Dunno. I don't see a path to removal, but there's a lot of tricky knots that they could end up in.

Indeed. Do you think this bunch would have gone after Nixon?

Nah, but they're also a group that is informed by the Nixon thing, who have spent a lot of time convincing themselves that it was just handled wrong. Without that, I don't know that you get the 'close the ranks' strategy the emerged to protect Reagan and Republicans since.

They'd have to get 20 Republican senators to feel like they'd be worse off voting to remove than not. I don't think there are 20 vulnerable Republicans. Even if it becomes very popular to remove the President...actually I think if it it becomes so toxic to have that vote the party might pressure him to step down...now that would be epic, because his ego could go either way and if it goes staying in to defy the party forcing them to have that difficult vote...the Republican Convention might be must see tv as an angry party is forced to support a notorious whiner...

Dunno. I don't see a path to removal, but there's a lot of tricky knots that they could end up in.

Ivanka could whisper in his ear, "Daddy, you can resign and then run as an independent."

Oh holy crap what an amazing shit show that would be if he left the party and refused to step down. Like...how would they even replace him on the ballot? This doesn't seem likely but possible. I could even see him beating whatever sock puppet they get to stand against him, but maybe still leading to it causing a 1984 style landslide for the Democratic candidate.

I mean none of this is super likely. But not impossible.

[Ifreann]

Does anyone think Trump will actually get convicted by the Senate?

If the Senate convicts Trump, I will livestream me eating my beloved baseball cap from Pearl Harbour. Absolutely, never, ever, happening. Not with the Republicans in charge or it.

I think it's possible, if this Ukraine thing makes Trump look guilty enough. That's probably not likely, though.

[Farnhamia]

Indeed. Do you think this bunch would have gone after Nixon?

Nah, but they're also a group that is informed by the Nixon thing, who have spent a lot of time convincing themselves that it was just handled wrong. Without that, I don't know that you get the 'close the ranks' strategy the emerged to protect Reagan and Republicans since.

Ivanka could whisper in his ear, "Daddy, you can resign and then run as an independent."

Oh holy crap what an amazing shit show that would be if he left the party and refused to step down. Like...how would they even replace him on the ballot? This doesn't seem likely but possible. I could even see him beating whatever sock puppet they get to stand against him, but maybe still leading to it causing a 1984 style landslide for the Democratic candidate.

I mean none of this is super likely. But not impossible.

It would be 1912 all over again.

[Chan Island]

If the Senate convicts Trump, I will livestream me eating my beloved baseball cap from Pearl Harbour. Absolutely, never, ever, happening. Not with the Republicans in charge or it.

I think it's possible, if this Ukraine thing makes Trump look guilty enough. That's probably not likely, though.

Trump enjoys over 90% support among republicans, even now after 3 years of near constant disaster- not to mention the completely fervent defence they had of their man during the Mueller investigation. This is more akin to religion than anything else. They won't. One or 2, maybe, but not 10 Senators. There is no amount of guilty look that he could do to convince them to remove him. Trump was telling the truth when he said he could shoot a man in the middle of fifth avenue and the polls wouldn't dip.