A World of Hurt

The receipts are coming in. #1 is Lamar Alexander's defense of Trump, which marks our transition into a very dangerous world. The GOP is okay with authoritarianism, so long as it's their authoritarianism. We're in a world of hurt.

There is no need for more evidence to prove that the president asked Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter; he said this on television on October 3, 2019, and during his July 25, 2019, telephone call with the president of Ukraine. There is no need for more evidence to conclude that the president withheld United States aid, at least in part, to pressure Ukraine to investigate the Bidens; the House managers have proved this with what they call a ‘mountain of overwhelming evidence.’ There is no need to consider further the frivolous second article of impeachment that would remove the president for asserting his constitutional prerogative to protect confidential conversations with his close advisers. 

In the election it will be useful to remind people that Alexander and maybe others (like Romney) affirmed that Trump did something wrong. But if we tolerate politicians who use their offices in corrupt ways to pressure other countries -- our vulnerable allies! -- to interfere in our elections, we're giving up on our republican government.

We need to appreciate why Republicans are so cowed by Trump. If they speak out and leave their offices, they forfeit a world of very lucrative opportunities. Trump can destroy their futures -- and he would. Politico reporter Tim Alberta had some wise words on this front. They're compiled here.

We could have seen this coming. Neal Gabler told us what we were facing the day after Trump's election. Hell, I wrote about it in 2012.

Elizabeth Warren even forced Chief Justice Roberts to read aloud a question about the legitimacy of his own office in this light.

All this while even more damning information comes in about Trump and Ukraine.

Things we're learning.... Remember the context: Parnas and Fruman are funded by Ukrainian oligarch Dmitry Firtash, an energy tycoon closely aligned with Putin. It's all about Russia dominating Ukraine and its energy sector. Always has been.

So what have we learned from a recent Washington Post story?

• It's probable that Trump introduced Parnas and Fruman to Giuliani, not the other way around.
• Furthermore, RNC chair Ronna McDaniel has been familiar with these goons from the get-go. There's video. 

Basically, the Republicans are selling the United States government to Russia. Look at Oleg Deripaska. What do the Republicans get in return?

GOP Arguments

It's essential to recognize the Republican impeachment arguments for what they are: bullshit, in the sense described by philosopher Harry G. Frankfurt in his prescient classic. Their words have no relationship to the truth, only to the effort to survive another day without a mass revolt among their supporters. They are serious only in the sense that they are deadly committed to staying in power, only in the sense that they're destroying the foundations of a working republic.

Today, Senate Intel Chair William Burr (say that out loud) said there's no problem with soliciting dirt on a political opponent from a foreign power. In other words, it's 100% fine for candidates to be compromised. And it's 100% fine to put our republic in our enemies' hands.

Meanwhile, Republicans are saying the Bidens were corrupt because Joe Biden withheld funds from the Ukrainians over corruption. Yes, he did -- and several Republican senators were in the room when he told a Senate committee just why. He didn't bury it in a secure server, for example, because why? He wasn't fucking corrupt.

Lindsey Graham was in on the Giuliani/Parnas/Fruman thing back in 2018. He's always been dirty in this.

And of course the whole line that a president can't commit an impeachable offense if it's intended to help win an election, on the grounds that said president believes reelection is in the national interest, that's bullshit too: you know, Nixon also wanted to be reelected. That's what Watergate was about. What I didn't see coming? The Wall Street Journal endorsing this stinky pile of poo.

We are in a world of hurt.

Jan 29 stuff

There's a lot to be outraged about today, but remember: it's all meant to keep us on the outrage treadmill while Trump works his corruption and Republicans unplug democracy. John Kelly now says "I believe John Bolton." Translated: Donald Trump is lying.

For that matter, one sure sign the Republicans are doing a cover-up: their story keeps changing. The Articles of Impeachment have not.

Rep. Eliot Engel has released a statement, claiming that Bolton alerted him to his concerns about Ukraine back in September. By the way, CNN is reporting that Trump has threatened Bolton but hasn't said how.

Trump, while his impeachment trial is active, and Netanyahu, on the day of his indictment, announce a plan to annex Palestinian land--illegally, no less.

Meanwhile, Jared Kushner announces that he's a qualified to deal with this stuff -- he's read 28 books on the subject! He goes on CNN and says the Palestinians have screwed up every opportunity they've been given. He says the Palestinians have a chance to "earn" their dignity back. Racism out loud.

After Secretary of State Mike Pompeo drops f-bombs on NPR journalist Mary Louise Kelly, State removes an NPR reporter from a Europe trip. Trump congratulates Pompeo for "the job you did on her."

But wait! Trump is allowing TruNews, whose founder described the impeachment proceedings as a "Jew Coup," to go on the Davos trip.

Meanwhile, Trump supporters are trying to draw African American voters to campaign events with... wait for it, cash giveaways.

Oh, and Trump is narrowing the definitions of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Oh, Jesus. THOUSANDS of migrant children sexually assaulted at the border, per HHS report. Over the past 4 years.