MAGAThread XVIII: The Authority Is Total

[Gravlen]

I don't remember who originally posted this in the MAGA thread, but it deserves a repost here since it's going through the document which set off the impeachment process:

The Whistleblower Complaint Has Largely Been Corroborated. Here's How.

[Asle Leopolka]

I don't remember who originally posted this in the MAGA thread, but it deserves a repost here since it's going through the document which set off the impeachment process:

The Whistleblower Complaint Has Largely Been Corroborated. Here's How.

Here's my question - does the Senate actually care? Graham has become Trump's gimp so I can't take anything he says seriously, but I'd wager McConnell is going to do everything he can to keep Trump in office.

[Valrifell]

I don't remember who originally posted this in the MAGA thread, but it deserves a repost here since it's going through the document which set off the impeachment process:

The Whistleblower Complaint Has Largely Been Corroborated. Here's How.

Here's my question - does the Senate actually care? Graham has become Trump's gimp so I can't take anything he says seriously, but I'd wager McConnell is going to do everything he can to keep Trump in office.

McConnell has said that he'll do his best to keep the trial speedy, meaning a quick aquittal.

Though it is possible for only three Senate Senate Republicans to defect when setting rules for the trial to absolutely fuck with McConnell's ethically dubious plans.

[Asle Leopolka]

Here's my question - does the Senate actually care? Graham has become Trump's gimp so I can't take anything he says seriously, but I'd wager McConnell is going to do everything he can to keep Trump in office.

McConnell has said that he'll do his best to keep the trial speedy, meaning a quick aquittal.

Though it is possible for only three Senate Senate Republicans to defect when setting rules for the trial to absolutely fuck with McConnell's ethically dubious plans.

Romney is definitely going to vote against him. Susan Collins is a crapshoot, especially since she's up for reelection next year. I don't know who else would be willing to flip, though.

[Zurkerx]

McConnell has said that he'll do his best to keep the trial speedy, meaning a quick aquittal.

Though it is possible for only three Senate Senate Republicans to defect when setting rules for the trial to absolutely fuck with McConnell's ethically dubious plans.

Romney is definitely going to vote against him. Susan Collins is a crapshoot, especially since she's up for reelection next year. I don't know who else would be willing to flip, though.

Murkowski is another: she did vote against Kanavaugh after all and was the third Senator not sign that Resolution in the Senate Condemning the House Process on Impeachment.

[Zurkerx]

I don't remember who originally posted this in the MAGA thread, but it deserves a repost here since it's going through the document which set off the impeachment process:

The Whistleblower Complaint Has Largely Been Corroborated. Here's How.

Mi boi (or gurl)

But seriously thank you for re-posting this. It kind of got lost in all the other posting

I'll re-post this:

Soliciting a foreign government to get dirt on a political opponent is illegal: The FEC says so:

§ 30121. Contributions and donations by foreign nationals
(a) Prohibition. It shall be unlawful for—
(1) a foreign national, directly or indirectly, to make—
(A) a contribution or donation of money or other thing
of value, or to make an express or implied promise to make a
contribution or donation, in connection with a Federal, State, or
local election;
(B) a contribution or donation to a committee of a political party; or
(C) an expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement for an electioneering communication (within the
meaning of section 30104(f)(3) of this title); or
(2) a person to solicit, accept, or receive a contribution or donation described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) from a
foreign national.
(b) As used in this section, the term “foreign national” means—
(1) a foreign principal, as such term is defined by section
611(b) of title 22,²⁴ except that the term “foreign national” shall not
include any individual who is a citizen of the United States; or
(2) an individual who is not a citizen of the United States or a
national of the United States (as defined in section 101(a)(22) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act) and who is not lawfully admitted for
permanent residence, as defined by section 1101(a)(20) of title 8.²⁵

Foot notes:

24: 22 U.S.C. § 611(b) provides:
“(b) The term “foreign principal” includes—
(1) a government of a foreign country and a foreign political party;
(2) a person outside of the United States, unless it is established that such person is an individual and
a citizen of and domiciled within the United States, or that such person is not an individual and is
organized under or created by the laws of the United States or of any State or other place subject to the
jurisdiction of the United States and has its principal place of business within the United States; and
(3) a partnership, association, corporation, organization, or other combination of persons organized
under the laws of or having its principal place of business in a foreign country.”

25: 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(20) provides: “(20) The term lawfully admitted for permanent residence means the
status of having been lawfully accorded the privilege of residing permanently in the United States as an
immigrant in accordance with the immigration laws, such status not having changed.”

[The united American-Isreali empire]

I support POTUS and I think this is a witch Hunt on Trump and his supporters.

[Greater Miami Shores]

I support POTUS and I think this is a witch Hunt on Trump and his supporters.

I second this post. I support President Trump of America - The USA, and I think this is a witch Hunt on Trump and his supporters.

[Valrifell]

I support POTUS and I think this is a witch Hunt on Trump and his supporters.

Incorrect.

[Greater Miami Shores]

I support POTUS and I think this is a witch Hunt on Trump and his supporters.

Incorrect.

I agree with The United American-Isreali empire.

If these are our opinions not our facts, those are your opinions not your facts, it does work both ways, lets not deny it.

[Aclion]

Folks are pretty entrenched.

It's no surprise: the country is deeply divided and partisan. However, this should be more concerning:

Few respondents, however, told pollsters they plan on tuning into the first public impeachment hearings on Capitol Hill in 21 years.

Just 27 percent said it’s “very likely” they will watch, with another 31 percent saying it’s “somewhat likely.” Thirty-three percent say it’s not likely they’ll watch the impeachment hearings at all.

Which is beneficial to Trump at first because if people aren't going to bother to pay attention, then it takes some pressure off of Republicans. Hopefully people we'll read the news updates.

The days when you needed to "tune into" a hearing to find out what happened are long gone.

I support POTUS and I think this is a witch Hunt on Trump and his supporters.

Incorrect.

So which of these are incorrect? Does he not support the President, or does he not believe that this is a which hunt.

[Asle Leopolka]

Romney is definitely going to vote against him. Susan Collins is a crapshoot, especially since she's up for reelection next year. I don't know who else would be willing to flip, though.

Murkowski is another: she did vote against Kanavaugh after all and was the third Senator not sign that Resolution in the Senate Condemning the House Process on Impeachment.

Right. But I've read she could be vulnerable to a more conservative challenger down the road. She's not up for reelection until 2022, though, so this would certainly be a calculated risk on her part. Specifically, will people remember, forgive, and/or care by that point.

I support POTUS and I think this is a witch Hunt on Trump and his supporters.

Incorrect.

It's not hard to make an argument that this is politically driven and not legally. I'm not a fan of Trump and fear his policies will have long-term economic consequences, but I can empathize with his supporters' disapproval of how the impeachment inquiry has been handled (and frankly I'm not a fan how the Dems have handled it - too much secrecy)

[Zurkerx]

Murkowski is another: she did vote against Kanavaugh after all and was the third Senator not sign that Resolution in the Senate Condemning the House Process on Impeachment.

Right. But I've read she could be vulnerable to a more conservative challenger down the road. She's not up for reelection until 2022, though, so this would certainly be a calculated risk on her part. Specifically, will people remember, forgive, and/or care by that point.

The thing is, Alaska does have a good streak of individualism and she maintains a steady support. Alaskans also have a tendency to support "independent" politicians:

Experts on Alaska politics told NBC News that the state tends to reward an independent streak in its politicians.

"As far as supporting or opposing the president, we support individualism and we support individual freedom of expression. And that goes for our politicians, too, whatever party they are," said Tuckerman Babcock, who retired as the chairman of the Alaska GOP last year. "Republicans here may disagree with her on certain things, but I can say safely that they respect her independence of judgment."

After all, she lost her primary back in 2010 I believe, ran anyway and still won. I don't think she'll have to worry too much.

[Asle Leopolka]

Right. But I've read she could be vulnerable to a more conservative challenger down the road. She's not up for reelection until 2022, though, so this would certainly be a calculated risk on her part. Specifically, will people remember, forgive, and/or care by that point.

The thing is, Alaska does have a good streak of individualism and she maintains a steady support. Alaskans also have a tendency to support "independent" politicians:

Experts on Alaska politics told NBC News that the state tends to reward an independent streak in its politicians.

"As far as supporting or opposing the president, we support individualism and we support individual freedom of expression. And that goes for our politicians, too, whatever party they are," said Tuckerman Babcock, who retired as the chairman of the Alaska GOP last year. "Republicans here may disagree with her on certain things, but I can say safely that they respect her independence of judgment."

After all, she lost her primary back in 2010 I believe, ran anyway and still won. I don't think she'll have to worry too much.

And it was the state that brought us....

[Greater Miami Shores]

To be fair the whistleblower should testify behind closed doors or in public in front of the committee of Democrats and Republicans, where each side and question him or her directly. At least the whistleblower should testify behind closed doors in front of the committee of Democrats and Republicans, where each side can question him or her directly.

[The Black Forrest]

I support POTUS and I think this is a witch Hunt on Trump and his supporters.

It is a witch hunt; we know where the coven is......

[-Astoria]

We hope that this thread will have only impeachment-related posts but we do understand that three will be overlap between this and the MAGAThread and the Election megathread.

Bold text mine - bit of an error there, methinks...

---

Now for my personal bit - I think that there should be more transparency in what's going on, to be honest.

[Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States]

We hope that this thread will have only impeachment-related posts but we do understand that three will be overlap between this and the MAGAThread and the Election megathread.

Bold text mine - bit of an error there, methinks...

---

Now for my personal bit - I think that there should be more transparency in what's going on, to be honest.

More transparsncy than the public hearings?

[Zurkerx]

The thing is, Alaska does have a good streak of individualism and she maintains a steady support. Alaskans also have a tendency to support "independent" politicians:

Experts on Alaska politics told NBC News that the state tends to reward an independent streak in its politicians.

"As far as supporting or opposing the president, we support individualism and we support individual freedom of expression. And that goes for our politicians, too, whatever party they are," said Tuckerman Babcock, who retired as the chairman of the Alaska GOP last year. "Republicans here may disagree with her on certain things, but I can say safely that they respect her independence of judgment."

After all, she lost her primary back in 2010 I believe, ran anyway and still won. I don't think she'll have to worry too much.

And it was the state that brought us....

I mean, sometimes mistakes happen... But on the bright side, she is as relevant as the dead horse in California so no need to worry about her now.

Anyway, Taylor, who's testifying, has recently learned about a conversation a member of his staff overheard between President Trump and Gordon Sondland.

This is from the updates page but basically this:

Taylor said the aide overheard the president ask Sondland about "the investigations." He also said Sondland told the aide that "cares more about the investigations of Biden" than U.S. policy toward Ukraine.

Edit: Also, Trump threatening to fire Mulvaney.

As Arnold once said: "Do it- do it now!" Because then he may throw Trump under the bus, maybe but somewhat doubtful.

[The Black Forrest]

Anybody listening to Ambassador Taylor now?

[The Archregimancy]

Here's my question - does the Senate actually care? Graham has become Trump's gimp so I can't take anything he says seriously, but I'd wager McConnell is going to do everything he can to keep Trump in office.

McConnell has said that he'll do his best to keep the trial speedy, meaning a quick aquittal.

That's not entirely in McConnell's power.

The person presiding over the trial will be Chief Justice John Roberts, not Mitch McConnell. And while Roberts is undoubtedly right of centre by US standards, he also seems to genuinely care about his reputation, the reputation of the Supreme Court, and the constitution of the United States; there's no sign that he's a signed-up member of what's become the Trump wing of American conservatism.

I stress that I'm not trying to predict what Roberts will do, but I doubt that McConnell is foolish enough to think he can push a rapid show trial and quick acquittal past the Chief Justice.

[The Black Forrest]

McConnell has said that he'll do his best to keep the trial speedy, meaning a quick aquittal.

That's not entirely in McConnell's power.

The person presiding over the trial will be Chief Justice John Roberts, not Mitch McConnell. And while Roberts is undoubtedly right of centre by US standards, he also seems to genuinely care about his reputation, the reputation of the Supreme Court, and the constitution of the United States; there's no sign that he's a signed-up member of what's become the Trump wing of American conservatism.

I stress that I'm not trying to predict what Roberts will do, but I doubt that McConnell is foolish enough to think he can push a rapid show trial and quick acquittal past the Chief Justice.

I have to admit I thought Roberts was going to be a stooge when he first appeared. I agree with your assessment.

[Zurkerx]

Anybody listening to Ambassador Taylor now?

Not currently no, being at work I don't have the privilege of that. I am following the updates as best as possible however. All I know is that there was a conversation where Trump asked about the investigations into the Bidens after the call.

[The Black Forrest]

Anybody listening to Ambassador Taylor now?

Not currently no, being at work I don't have the privilege of that. I am following the updates as best as possible however. All I know is that there was a conversation where Trump asked about the investigations into the Bidens after the call.

When you get a chance; do listen. This guy is detailed and kept detailed notes. “If I put it in quotes, those are the words I heard said”

Unless Trump does is bully dance on Twitter; he will make a mistake trying to troll this guy. Seems rather genuine.....

[Cannot think of a name]

So, wait (not watching it because reasons, you don't need to know my life) but they have lawyers for each 'side' asking the questions? We're not going to get a couple weeks of Representative YukYuk representing the 23rd District of Whogivesadamn using 90 of his 120 seconds to grandstand so he can shove a pretend question in the last 30 seconds?

Where's the fun in that?