Pssssstttt... the air came out of the balloon, and the Press was left hanging on a press conference that announced that nothing was changing, nothing was happening, and that there was no real news. In fact, the only real news appears to be that the Democrats have finally found the missing evidence of the Trump Putin conspiracy (just kidding - they really didn't find anything).
So now the natives are getting restless. Trump's talking points that this is an illegitimate "inquiry" appears to be convincing many that the lack of a vote is representative of a lack of seriousness. Moreover, the fact that Schiff is running things in private is not sitting well with either side. Oh, and the fact that Schiff is running things (at all) is a problem for many on both sides.
Lastly, many legal people in that know are convinced that Federal Judges are not likely to help Pelosi and Schiff out as it pertains to enforcing the so called subpoenas, and most assuredly will not if there has been no House vote to authorize it. They tend not to get involved in these disputes anyways, leaving it up to the House to police this themselves.
The reality here is that Democrats garnered a whole bunch of momentum when they first brought up the idea of an impeachment inquiry. Pretty much everyone was sure the only way this ended was with the House voting on the record. But now some are questioning it. If there are Democrats nervous about just voting for an inquiry, how are they going to agree to vote on the actual impeachment. Moreover, without any serious information being provided to the public, there is much concern that any sort of vote would seem premature and unserious.
The reality is that there is a reason why Pelosi is still pushing back on a full vote, a more classic hearing, and a more public manner to hold this. Either there is legitimate push back from moderate members of the caucus, or they really question whether they have the goods to put this out for John Q Public to judge. As it stands, they talk big, they selectively leak this and that, and they hope that the public continues to stay engaged.
But this was always a big bet. Even if they win in the House, they are almost certain to lose in the Senate. If they win in the House without ever really providing the Public with information, and then the Senate holds a big trial (where many of the so-called witnesses either don't appear or are not compelling) and Trump is obviously acquitted, that could potentially be a big loser for them.
Pelosi may be a lot of things, but politically stupid is not one of them. If holding a vote and bringing their case out into the open for the public to witness first hand was a winning strategy, Pelosi would have already done it.
61 comments:
Peolosi says Trump had a meltdown.
Trump says Pelosi had a meltdown.
Actually, Trump is having a meltdown
just about every hour lately.
Trump’s Impeachment Blockade Crumbles as Witnesses Agree to Talk
NYT 2 hrs ago
WASHINGTON — The White House’s trenchant declaration to House impeachment investigators last week was unequivocal: No more witnesses or documents for a “totally compromised kangaroo court.”
But just a week later, it has become clear that President Trump’s attempts to stonewall the Democrat-led inquiry that has imperiled his presidency and ensnared much of his inner circle are crumbling.
One by one, a parade of Trump administration career diplomats and senior officials has offered a cascade of revelations. Those accounts have corroborated and expanded upon key aspects of the whistle-blower complaint that spawned the impeachment inquiry into whether the president abused his power to enlist Ukraine to help him in the 2020 presidential election.
The latest disclosures came on Wednesday, when a former top aide to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo offered an inside account of what he said was a demoralized State Department, where career diplomats were sidelined and others apparently were pressed to use their posts “to advance domestic political objectives.” In six hours of voluntary testimony, the former aide, Michael McKinley, told impeachment investigators that he quit his post as Mr. Pompeo’s senior adviser amid mounting frustrations over the Trump administration’s treatment of diplomats and its failure to support them in the face of the impeachment inquiry, according to a copy of his opening remarks.
On Thursday, Democrats are set to hear from Gordon D. Sondland, the United States ambassador to the European Union, a central figure in the president’s pressure campaign on Ukraine. He is expected to testify that he learned that Mr. Trump did not intend to invite President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine to a meeting in the Oval Office until Mr. Zelensky pledged to open an investigation that could benefit Mr. Trump’s political fortunes — bolstering a central allegation in the inquiry that the president steered foreign policy for political gain.
And Democratic lawmakers have directed William B. Taylor Jr., one of the top American diplomats in Ukraine, to appear before their committees next Tuesday, according to an official familiar with the investigation. Text messages produced as part of the inquiry suggest that Mr. Taylor was deeply uneasy about what he saw as an effort by Trump aides to use a $391 million package of security assistance as leverage over Ukraine for political favors, calling the notion “crazy.”
All three are examples of what can happen when Congress secures cooperation from government witnesses in a rapidly moving investigation aimed at the president.
The White House has had more success blocking the release of documents tied to the case. But the president and his lawyers had hoped to use the power of his office to muzzle current and former diplomats and White House aides, arguing in presidential tweets and a lengthy letter to Democratic lawmakers on Oct. 8 that their subpoenas are invalid and unenforceable.
“President Trump cannot permit his administration to participate in this partisan inquiry under these circumstances,” wrote Pat Cipollone, the White House counsel.
And yet the president has been unable to prevent it.
Just since Mr. Trump declared war on the impeachment effort, three current and former senior State Department officials and a former top White House aide have testified for nearly 36 total hours, delivering to lawmakers a consistent narrative of how they were effectively pushed aside by allies of the president operating outside America’s usual foreign policy channels.
“It’s partly because this shadow foreign policy that the president was running was so deeply offensive to people in his own administration who took pride in overseeing a professionally run and arguably exemplary policy in support of Ukraine,” said Representative Tom Malinowski, Democrat of New Jersey and a former State Department official involved in the inquiry. Referring to Mr. Trump’s personal lawyer, he added, “And then to see the official policy undermined by this clownishly corrupt effort led by Rudy Giuliani on behalf of the president was just more than many people apparently could bear.”
Republicans who control the Senate view the fast-building case as serious enough to begin preparing for the trial in their chamber that would follow impeachment by the House. Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the majority leader, briefed fellow lawmakers over lunch on Wednesday about how a trial would work, expressing his hope of conducting it speedily and completing it by the end of the year, people familiar with his remarks said.
Facing ACCUSATIONS OF SECRECY from Republicans, Representative Adam B. Schiff, Democrat of California and the chairman of the Intelligence Committee, informed colleagues on Wednesday that he planned to OPEN THE INQUIRYU TO THE PUBLIC SOON. He wrote that he planned to release transcripts of ALL THE INTERVIEWS as the investigation proceeded and pledged to soon hold PUBLIC HEARINGS “so that the full Congress and the American people can hear their testimony FIRSTHAND.”
THE ARTICLE CONTINUES WITH MUCH MORE INTERESTING READING
Also, go to politicalwire.com for more amazing revelations of what is now going on.
Read over that last paragraph a few times, Ch Un Truth.
So Pelosi storms out of the meeting, but it's Trump with the meltdown? Once again, up is down, white is black. The person who stomps out is a huff is the one most people would say had the meltdown.
Speaker in Name Only Polosi remains firm.
No vote will be held of USMC.
Socialist Democrats hurting Ranchers and Farmers .
She doesn't have the votes.
She ran out crying and her lap mutt Schumer in tow.
BREAKING NEWS.
"BREAKING NEWS: U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md. and House Oversight Committee chairman, died early Thursday at age 68, according to his office. Cummings' office released a statement, saying, "At approximately 2:45 a.m. on Thursday Oct. 17, 2019, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings"
He died a miserable, Hate filled Racist .
And the goat fucking asshole acts like the bigoted racist his POTUS is with his comment on a man with more integrity than he can even dream of passes.....sad he makes a box of rocks look smart......
"Bacon Addicts, Beware: Top Pork Producer Warns of Belly Shortage ...
Oct 8, 2019 · The U.S. Meat Export Federation also expects increased Chinese buying in 2020. American pork exports to China will likely see 12% growth in 2019 and 13% growth in 2020, reaching 3.1 million metric tons, Erin Borror, an economist with the group, said at the Urner Barry conference."
America Farm Strong
Too bad the miserable hating bigot
does not see his immorality and hatred toward
anything that does not please him....typical of dumb fucking
haters of America and melts like a pile of snot in trumps hand!!!!
Bacon Addicts, Beware: Top Pork Producer Warns of Belly Shortage ..
There's your opportunity goat fucker.....sell your pig wife and you may solve the problem!!!!
Why does it seem all R's think they are entitled????? The goat fucker will applaud....!!!!
ssion to the European Union
BRUSSELS — Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union and a central figure in the House impeachment inquiry of President Trump, is overseeing a nearly $1 million renovation of his government-provided residence, paid for with taxpayer money, that current and former officials have criticized as extravagant and unnecessary.
The work on the ambassador’s home on the outskirts of Brussels includes more than $400,000 in kitchen renovations, nearly $30,000 for a new sound system and $95,000 for an outdoor “living pod” with a pergola and electric heating, LED lighting strips and a remote-control system, government procurement records show.
Pelosi melted down when she didn't have the votes for impeachment.
So Cummings died from a long standing medical condition, in the hospital for a procedure he said would only keep him out of work a week. Still lying right up to the end.
Funny thing about the who had the meltdown argument. Trump has a picture of Pelosi being the only one in the room standing, wagging her finger at Trump, barking something at him.
Pelosi, as usual, has no evidence. Only accusations.
A Rasist and a loser.
"Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD)
Estimated net worth $0.6 million"
Myballs said...
Funny thing about the who had the meltdown argument. Trump has a picture of Pelosi being the only one in the room standing, wagging her finger at Trump, barking something at him.
Pelosi, as usual, has no evidence. Only accusations
democrats project everything they do onto the republicans.
another staged charade by the hoaxers
That photo Pelosi proudly displayed on her own website. Just look at Trump's minions sitting with looks on their faces, incredulous and embarrassed by his over the top behavior.
That photo Pelosi proudly displayed on her own website
Proudly displaying her meltdown? OK.
No the looks on everyone's faces were 'boy, Trump will have a field day with this. Nancy's lost it.'
We have to understand Speaker in Name Only Polosi wears crazy as a badge of honor.
TRUMP IS OFF THE RAILS AND THAT IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE OBVIOUS
It was she who first described what happened as Trump's meltdown, for which, she said, the poor man needs prayer. He didn't even have the originality to come up with something different.
He's got the evidence that she was in meltdown. A picture speaks a thousand words.
1,000 Days of Trump
October 17, 2019 at 8:17 am EDT
Washington Post: “Wednesday was the 1,000th day of Donald Trump’s presidency. He spent it the usual way, by saying unusual things.”
Mike Allen:
“There have been many holy-crap-that-did-not-just-happen days in the Trump White House, but few top the soap opera of Oct. 16, 2019 — exactly Day 1,000 of the Trump presidency.”
AMEN!
______________________
Does Trump Realize the Trouble He’s In?
October 17, 2019 at 7:53 am EDT
Jonathan Bernstein: “Every once in a while, some event offers a clarifying reminder of the president’s poor judgment. On Wednesday, it was the release of a letter Trump wrote to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The letter itself was an embarrassment…”
AMEN! REALLY an embarrassment!
“But what really underlined Trump’s problem for me wasn’t that he wrote an incompetent letter to follow up on what seems to have been an incompetent phone call. Or that his Syria policy has resulted in chaos and death. Or that, on a crass political level, he’s managed to alienate his congressional allies just as he needs them most, with House Republicans voting overwhelmingly on Wednesday to condemn his decision.”
“No, what really got to me was that Trump distributed copies of this letter to congressional leaders when they showed up at the White House for a briefing.
AMEN, AMEN!
"Think of it. Even if the letter had been perfectly normal, what Trump was handing them was an Oct. 9 request to Erdogan to halt his invasion — a request that Erdogan has, as we’ve seen, totally ignored. Trump was bragging about what he considered to be a sign of his own brilliance without realizing that it was instead evidence of abject failure.”
TOO DAMN NARCISSISTIC TO SEE EVEN THAT.
_____________
Erdogan Not Impressed with Trump’s Letter
October 17, 2019 at 6:18 am EDT
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan put President Trump’s extraordinary letter ‘in the bin,” the BBC reports.
Well, he was being nice. He could have put it in the crapper.
Trump-Pelosi Feud Intensifies
October 17, 2019 at 6:45 am EDT
“The reality of Washington in 2019 is this: A meeting between President Donald Trump and Speaker Nancy Pelosi will very likely end with someone abruptly walking out of the room. Wednesday’s ugly encounter marks the third time in less than nine months that a meeting between two of the nation’s most powerful leaders has been derailed after a barrage of insults from the president,” Politico reports.
“Trump accused Democratic leaders of sympathizing with communists in Syria and slammed Pelosi as ‘a third-rate politician,’ before ripping a series of targets including Jim Mattis, his own former Pentagon chief. While Trump also makes clear that he doesn’t care much for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), it’s Pelosi who clearly angers the president most — a fury that has only grown since Democrats launched their fast-moving impeachment inquiry of Trump.”
___________
It KILLS Frump to be outsmarted by a competent, principled woman.
When he called her a third rate politician, she shot back, "At least I'm a politician."
(More than he can say.)
When network newscasters were sent a copy of Trump's letter to Erdogan, they felt compelled to check with the White House on whether or not they were being pranked.
Is this real, or a joke? Did Trump actually write this?
Note that this commentator actually had to laugh as she read part of it.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/don-t-be-tough-guy-trump-s-extraordinary-letter-erdogan-n1067746
the "pastor" said: When he called her a third rate politician, she shot back, "At least I'm a politician."
(More than he can say.)
I guess some people don't even understand being called a politician itself is not a compliment.
CLUELESS
ROFLMFAO !!!
@Doc_0
The problem is not that Trump wrote that odd letter to Erdogan. The problem is that NOBODY ELSE WROTE ANY LETTERS TO ERDOGAN. This should not have been Trump's decision to make. Where was Congress, NATO, the UN? They were nowhere, doing nothing of importance.
Pelosi is a competent politician, at least.
So is Putin.
So is Erdogan.
So are the heads of state of our European allies.
Trump is not a competent politician.
He just handed Putin* the football.
*and others
LOL
Even Cowardly's citation admits it was an "odd" letter.
And as for where everybody else was, manyh of them were scratching their heads, wondering what was going on.
But at least they weren't handing the football to Russia, Syria, and Iran.
@RepLizCheney
The Constitution does not say that the power of impeachment resides with @SpeakerPelosi, it says it resides with the entire House. The Democrats' secret impeachment effort is a shameful miscarriage of their duties.
@RaniaKhalek
The US armed and funded extremists in Syria to overthrow the Syrian government and the media cheered. Those same extremists then attacked the Kurds on Turkey’s behalf to the horror of the same media. Now what?
Obama was responsible for a policy that resulted in over 500,000 deaths.
An manic commentator laughing at Trump. Gee, that's never happened before.
Dear Liz,
Read this:
______
Facing ACCUSATIONS OF SECRECY from Republicans, Representative Adam B. Schiff, Democrat of California and the chairman of the Intelligence Committee, informed colleagues on Wednesday that he planned to OPEN THE INQUIRY TO THE PUBLIC SOON.
He wrote that he planned to release transcripts of ALL THE INTERVIEWS as the investigation proceeded and pledged to soon hold PUBLIC HEARINGS “so that THE FULL CONGRESS AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE can hear their testimony FIRSTHAND.”
_______
That should calm your fears, Liz.
(I say that laughing.)
A "manic" commentator.
Thanks for the laugh, balls.
That's just one of several I have had this morning.
Sure. Just like he was going to show the country all of his irrefutable Russia collusion evidence. Lol indeed.
@ChadDubee
I wonder if we're going to find out that it was Hunter Biden that paid to be peed on in a hotel in Ukraine (even though Dossier claimed Muh Russia). If leftists and democrats are usually guilty of what they accuse others of then I wouldn't be surprised if it was Hunter's Dossier.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/don-t-be-tough-guy-trump-s-extraordinary-letter-erdogan-n1067746
The reporter reporting from Ukraine also had to laugh.
Actually I typed msnbc. Auto correct strikes again.
Myballs said...
Sure. Just like he was going to show the country all of his irrefutable Russia collusion evidence. Lol indeed.
the dems are losing and are trying to extricate themselves. people are pissed on how this is being run. Schiff will continue to lie, it's in his DNA. He even lied about his "bombshell" "whistleblowers"
Another HOAX in front of a landslide Trump victory in 2020
**** Circulating ****
Justin Trudeau should dress up as Obama this Halloween
THAT WOULD BE PERFECT !!!
"the dems are losing"
Thanks for yet another laugh.
Correction:
The second "manic/msnbc" reporter who could not keep from laughing was reporting from Turkey, not from Ukraine, with a British accent.
WASHINGTON POST:
Trump Told Sondland to Work Through Giuliani
October 17, 2019 at 10:16 am EDT
“Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, told House impeachment investigators Thursday that President Trump urged him to work with his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani on matters related to Ukraine, the Washington Post reports.
“The revelation came as Sondland, a key figure in the probe, appeared behind closed doors to testify about Trump’s efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate former vice president Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden at a time when nearly $400 million in military aid was being withheld.”
WHEN THEY FROG MARCH GIULIANI IN, THINGS WILL REALLY GET INTERESTING.
Politico:
“Sondland’s testimony has the potential to be the most devastating yet for Trump’s defenders.”
OH NO! "Say it ain't so, Joe."
But the later frog march will be even better.
THIS BELONGS IN THE SUNDAY FUNNIES:
Dear Mr. President,
Let’s work out a good deal! You don’t want to be responsible for slaughtering thousands of people, and I don’t want to be responsible for destroying the Turkish economy—and I will. I've already given you a little sample with respect to Pastor Brunson.
I have worked hard to solve some of your problems. Don't let the world down. You can make a great deal. General Mazloum is willing to negotiate with you, and he is willing to make concessions that they would never have made in the past. I am confidentially enclosing a copy of his letter to me, just received.
History will look upon you favorably if you get this done the right and humane way. It will look upon you forever as the devil if good things don't happen. Don't be a tough guy. Don't be a fool!
I will call you later.
Sincerely,
Donald Trump
@CarpeDonktum
EXCLUSIVE: I have obtained the transcripts of the exchange between Trump and Nancy
Trump: I want to thank you for coming to my tremendously beautiful house, the best house, fantastic.
Pelosi: We are gonna impeath you cause you a bad man *burp* and then I'm gonna be prethident.
Insanity on the left has reached epic proportions. Obama is practicing his "frog march". In his Mom jeans. He knows it is coming.
2016 called and they want his election interference back
ROFLMFAO !!!
Pedophile did you see what happened in LA Saturday after the Trump rally Friday?
Donk Gov now in a runoff and a super majority of R's in their state senate. YUGE Trump bump
You're in an echo chamber of stupidity
https://www.msnbc.com/hallie-jackson/watch/pence-meets-with-erdogan-to-call-for-a-cease-fire-in-northern-syria-71474245851
@EmeraldRobinson
LeBron James. Andrew McCabe. Jeffrey Epstein. Jim Comey. Colin Kaepernick. Hunter Biden. Ilhan Omar. Harvey Weinstein.
Athletes. Government officials. Bankers. Politicians. Hollywood moguls.
Our corrupt elites.
accidently left off the OBAMA CRIME SYNDICATE
people are disgusted
PENCE and ERDOGAN sure had solemn looks on their faces, didn't they?
I wonder if Pence repeated Trump's unmatched wisdom:
Don't be a tough guy. Don't be a fool.
@PressSec
.@realDonaldTrump was measured & decisive today. @SpeakerPelosi walking out was baffling but not surprising w NO intention of participating in a mtg on nat’l security. Dem “leadership” chose to storm out & whine to cameras, everyone else stayed to work on behalf of our country.
and I'm sure Pence didn't pull an Obama and get caught whispering to the Russians "I'll have more flexibility after the election"
why do dems always use projection?
What Problems Did Trump Help Erdogan Solve?
October 17, 2019 at 11:35 am EDT
Philip Bump:
“There are a number of remarkable lines in the letter President Trump sent to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan this month. But it’s a relatively unremarkable one that may be the most revealing.
“‘I have worked hard to solve some of your problems,’ Trump writes at the beginning of the second paragraph. It’s not as splashy as ‘Don’t be a fool!’ but it’s more interesting. What, exactly, are those problems Trump has been working to solve?”
_______________
Yes, perhaps Ch can help us with an answer to thats: What problems of Erdogan did Trump work hard to solve?
Or maybe Cowardly or Califreight could answer?
@EmeraldRobinson
Jobs you don't want to have today:
LeBron James PR guy.
ABC News video guy.
CNN's HR department.
Hunter Biden's substance abuse counselor.
@catturd2
Has anyone else noticed this?
Where is Jerry Nadler?
He went from in your face 24/7.
To poof!
NYC dem Carolyn Maloney takes over Cummings committee spot. She's the only member of congress to endorse Gillibrand 2020, proposed credit card holder bill of rights years ago and proposed gun liability insurance requirements.
@GOPChairwoman
Voters are tired of Democrats’ baseless witch hunts.
@realDonaldTrump’s supporters fueled another record-breaking fundraising month — the most either party has ever raised in a non-election year — and we’re already working hard to ahead of 2020!
another FANTASTIC DAY !!!
@tuckerhiggins
Trump's Syria letter reportedly made Erdogan so angry, he threw it in the trash
same as Nancy,
TRUMP keeps WINNING and the left has completely lost it.
ROFLMFOA !!!
US intervenes "The US should stop occupying Middle Eastern countries!"
US stops intervening "OMG the US are abandoning the people in the Middle East!"
The Left: "Imperialism, Colonialism, and War are bad."
Trump: "I agree."
The Left: "WE NEED MORE WAR AND FOREIGN OCCUPATIONS AND WE NEED IT NOW!!!"
True. Of Trump had invented electricity, dems would scream that he was threatening the candle making industry.
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