Impeachment Announcement
In the above politically charged video, Nancy Pelosi cites fear of a monarchy and a “king president” corrupted by foreign influences.
Pelosi goes on to say “The facts are uncontested. The president abused his power for his own personal political benefit at the expense of our national security in exchange for an announcement of an investigation into his political rival.”
“The president’s actions are a profound violation of the public trust. The president’s actions have seriously violated the constitution, especially when he says and acts upon the belief, Article II says I can do whatever I want.”
“No, his wrongdoing strikes at the very heart of our Constitution.”
Mike “Mish” Shedlock
THIS is the beginning of why Dems are pushing impeachment. The process creates the basis for counter-spin once the Barr-Durham indictments starting coming out and can no longer be ignored by the mainstream. However, they will be spun as a corrupt defense against impeachment rather than being substantive stories in their own right with potentially extensive repercussions.
In other words, the entire impeachment process is no more than a talking point. A very powerful one, but only a talking point nevertheless. It will be deflected in the Senate where there will be no trial and no revelations etc. However, possibly there will be substantive Trump Team DOJ-led criminal process counterpunch sufficiently convincing to get them to cease and desist all substantive attacks, or he will proceed wit further indictments no matter how high up they go.
My bet is that most of this is theater for the Reality TV Republic 2020 Election Series episodes, and that a truce has already been negotiated – which is why both sides seem so supremely confident even though both are being accused of high treason.
To add one more thing, The Republicans in the Senate are compromised here as well. If we had a real trial, Trump would totally destroy the Democrats and some Republicans would go down with them. I suspect McCain and Romney both had their fingers in the pie there directly or indirectly. Schiff is running a total conspiracy, based on an opinion of a guy who thinks he is in the Army, who spread a tale and likely engaged in corruption himself. You will never get the truth out of the American media.
Would any President survive those standards? Are we a country or have we surrendered? Biden bragged about holding Ukraine up. It is a legitimate question as to what was going on then, especially with the conflict of interest he had. The American press won’t cover it, but the head guy at Burisma owned the money laundering bank there and $7 billion vanished. It appears to me Pelosi is acting more like a king than Trump. She even things she is President.
Democrats are all acting like they are in some type of hypnosis especially Adam Schiff. At one hearing you could look right into his soul through his eye’s like two big rotten apples in a swill barrel.
Watching a car accident in slow motion.
Regardless of what one thinks of Trump, the hearings revealed: not one of the “witnesses” actually witnessed anything personally (the only one asserting such was the guy with Superman’s super-hearing ability). Almost all of them appear to be donors to the Democratic party (just a coincidence, I’m sure). Several seemed to think that foreign policy is under the purview of a bunch of unelected faceless bureaucrats rather than being set by the president. The target of Trump’s alleged misdeeds, namely the president of Ukraine, was implicitly denounced as a liar, since he quite clearly denied that he was pressured with a quid-pro-quo proposition (and there is one very good reason to believe him: Ukraine got the money without launching any investigation into Biden-related corruption). All in all, the whole thing seemed even more ridiculous than the Russia hoax.
There is of course an upside to all of this – for one thing, the circus is highly entertaining, and secondly (and more importantly), it leaves Congress with no time to do anything else, which is generally an ideal state of affairs. Once the impeachment proceedings are over, it would be best to send the entire House on an open-ended vacation – the cheapest and safest option for the citizenry at large.
“it leaves Congress with no time to do anything else, which is generally an ideal state of affairs.“
This is one of my all-time favorite quotes. I have said the same in the past. One of best things for for country is when we have a split Congress. However, they always seem able to waste our money.
You are correct
The good news is that illegal wars of aggression that kill millions of innocent brown skinned people it totally legal.
Trump is a buffoon and a braggart. That said, the alternative was considerably worse.
I agree with this sentiment. He’s a buffoon, but I considered the war harpy to be downright dangerous. A potential health risk so to speak.
There is one thing I know and one thing I don’t know.
I know: that on January 21, 2025 Trump will not be president.
I don’t know: how many presidents there will be during that time. One? Two? Three? Four? Five? What is going to happen, 100% sure, is that for many years, probably the remaining life of America as a republic, whenever the president is of a different party than congress he’s going to be impeached, simply for revenge, to even up the score. The people’s vote has become nothing but a non-binding referendum that Congress will overturn whenever it suits them.
History: Andrew Johnson impeached for firing his own Secretary of War. Bullshit.
Nixon: sort of impeached for ‘obstruction of justice’ meaning, I suppose, you have to provide the hangman with a rope. No one has ever suggested that he had anything to do with the Watergate breakin itself. So, semi bullshit.
Clinton: Perjury. Yeah, but you can’t prosecute a married man for admitting he didn’t keep his pants zipped. “None of your F**king business” would have been the correct response. At that point Congress would have had to get a judge to issue a subpoena to find out where the president’s penis was at a particular time. Actually, that would have been hilarious. Bullshit anyway.
Trump: not my favorite guy, but with Clinton US citizens and foreigners could stay overnight in the Lincoln bedroom and have coffee with the president for a $300K donation to the DNC. That’s much worse than anything Trump is accused of, which is not to excuse either one, but it does establish a precedent of sorts.
Hillary: if she wasn’t Secretary of State she’d be doing serious time in prison for the email server breach. So, I guess we’d have an impeachment going on anyway.
Anyone who watched the DNC debates, including Bloomberg and Obama, have concluded that Trump is going to be re-elected. That is not an endorsement, its simply a recognition that a better qualified candidate will not subject him/herself to the corrupt circus that is Washington DC… voters will be forced to choose among those willing to run, plus the incumbent has a huge advantage.
The inquisition is going to send Hunter Biden to white collar prison, and send Brennan / Comey to prison for violating dozens of laws / executive orders that came out of the Church Commission.
I seriously doubt a Chicago politician like Obama would make a rookie mistake and have his signature on an order to spy on the political opposition… ergo Brennan and Comey will hang for their crimes, regardless of what Obama knew or when he knew it.
H Biden was paid millions (in aggregate) despite not knowing anything about Ukraine and even less about natural gas. Its a flagrant bribe, and it is illegal.
So after all this nonsense, the question remains whether the government can fix itself enough to think about how to help the citizenry — health care costs are simply out of control, the education system is failed, jobs are evaporating almost as fast as debt levels are rising. And most voters can’t have their daddy hook them up with a cushy political job (lobbyist, contractor, or outright bribe recipient).
Or will the US end up a failed state like France? I hope we will avoid that fate, but I don’t see anyone competent wanting to subject themselves to Washington corruption by running for office.
I think that Steve Bullock could have been that guy. Now? I don’t know.
Trump is guilty and is the laughing stock of the world as has been seen over the last few days. All Trump has to do is show up to testify along with his aids which he refuses to do because he is GUILTY, just like he won’t release his tax returns as he said he would. Most corrupt POTUS ever.
I seem to remember Obama saying “I could keep my doctor” and “I would pay less for insurance.” Both were lies, to the American people and to Congress.
As for ‘laughing stock’, I’d expect as much from ‘Black face Trudeau’ and Moron Macron, whose competence is evidenced by the thousands of people demonstrating every day in Paris. The real joke is not that America put up with Obama for eight years, but they elected him in the first place.
My insurance dropped 50% and I kept my doctor. Obama lying? Ludicrous compared to Trump!
Almost all politicians at that level lie. The surprise is when you find one that does not.
I partially agree with minvest but have seem no evidence the President is guilty. I would not lime to have someone on a jury who would jump to a conclusive decision of guilt or innocence without evidence. So far, they have no real evidence or first-hand witnesses of any validity.
“Trump is guilty”
of winning an election.
Its hard to imagine how powerless and defeated Pelosi must feel now. This circus was supposed to discredit the extremists and solidify Pelosi’s power among the Dems… instead she pulled the pin on a grenade that is going off in her face.
Hunter Biden will end up in white collar prison. Brennan and Comey will end up in real prison (albeit a federal prison for spies, etc). And a half dozen or so senior FBI officials will get disbarred. As everyone points out, the evidence against these people (Hunter B, Brennan, Comey, etc) is uncontested — they violated almost every law and executive order that came out of the Church Commission.
I suspect that even the dems in the Senate will vote against removal. Not because they like Trump, because they don’t want the same happening to the next Dem in the White House. If every presidency gets second guessed by the opposing party, that is the end of the republic — and even the Dems know it.
Impeachment is supposed to be for really serious crimes, not a vindictive partisan dirty trick. Lots of Republicans and Democrats made this very argument during the Clinton impeachment. Clinton is a low life, but he didn’t commit a high crime. Same here
These things go only one way. It’s not the 90’s anymore.
Many people in New York City said “Gotham” is ungovernable after Ed Koch served a couple terms. It was during that period that dozens of city agencies with billions (yes BILLIONS) of dollars in budgets could not get the Wolman skating rink repaired. The Dems controlled NYC for a lot of that period, and the Reps had intermittent control in Albany — neither could fix a silly ice rink (never mind far more important city services).
Trump fixed the rink. Scream all you want, but he did. Neither political party could fix a silly ice rink, despite all their expertise, political power and a tax system that was out of control.
All the NYC politicos cared about was themselves and their perks and their power. Themselves, themselves, themselves.
You can just about do a search and replace on the above, just substituting the Dems and Reps in Washington instead.
Taxes in the US are too high (relative to services delivered). “The rich” don’t pay. The corrupt politicians are not held accountable for their crimes. Public unions run offices for their own benefit. Jobs are fleeing the country. Debt is out of control….
All Congress cares about is their mental patient like obsession with Trump. Its why Pelosi got so upset when the left leaning media asked her about her hatred of Trump (and she started screaming).
Pelosi already lost control of the process when she allowed the inquisition to happen, now even her own media pundits are saying her hatred has consumed her.
Right now, Paris is shut down. Taxpayers refuse to pay more, while public unions refuse to do much of anything — and Macron is reduced to making Jerry Springer insults at international events.
Even if Macron came up with a zinger, how would that fix things for the average French citizen? It would not.
Same in Washington DC now. They seek a zinger insult for the TV cameras because they are unable to address real problems — distracting voters away from their own inability to perform is what the inquisition is really about. its blowing up in their faces, Pelosi knows this, and its got her really really angry
If you think the biggest problem facing the US is taxes, then you are completely clueless.
Sir you are trying to put words in my mouth.
I said there are LOTS of problems, and instead of addressing them the political class is obsessed with themselves, their perks and their power.
Taxes are supposed to fund government programs to help the citizenry, not to enrich the political class. If you read up on government contractors and lobbyists, you can’t credibly say that taxes are currently going toward helping the citizenry
Looking forward to your return to lurking only!
Agree with your main points: impeachment should be for high crimes, not partisan politics; most politicians are obsessed with themselves, personal power and perks. I would add that the blame should be on the voters. When decent candidates, people with integrity of character stand, they don’t get public support and don’t get elected (Ron Paul, Bernie Sanders on either side of the divide; Tulsi Gabbard in the current campaign). When clear evidence of corruption or wrongdoing is available to the public, there is no outcry against it. eg The Clinton Foundation, Clinton email servers, Biden Ukraine and Biden China deals, numerous Trump ‘business’ deals. By not revolting against such brazen corruption, the American public is accepting it as the norm.
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” – John Stuart Mill
Too many people read only the mainstream media and blindly accept that every word is true. The Mueller Report should be a clear indication of the vast problems of government corruption, political bias, and ineffectiveness.
Yea! LOCK HIM UP!
King Trump would be better than what you have now.
And so we will have a few months of circus. An impeachment vote and a Senate acquittal. Yay! Meanwhile, bipartisan opportunities will die on the vine (infrastructure, immigration, USMCA, background checks for gun licenses). Congressional Job Approval: 16% positive v 63% negative according to the latest from YouGov. One of the few areas of agreement in our polarized landscape.
“Meanwhile, bipartisan opportunities will die on the vine (infrastructure, immigration, USMCA, background checks for gun licenses).“
Thank God..
They’ll never impeach him. There’s no way they’ll allow the senate to force Hunter Biden and others to testify.
If Trump were truly a King, he would have Pelosi, Nadler, and Shiff beheaded for treason.
If this nonsense goes to the Senate — then Hunter Biden will end up in white collar jail, while Brennan and Comey will be in real prison. And several other senior FBI officials will get disbarred.
I think KidHorn meant to write that Trump won’t be removed from office, but events have overrun Pelosi and she seems to have lost control of her own party– ergo impeachment (aka a trial, not a conviction) is plausible.
Clinton was impeached (it went to trial in the Senate) but he wasn’t removed from office.
However, Ukrainians will testify instead… The Schiff ship is going down.
The Ukraine thing pales in comparison to him letting Erdogan slaughter our allies in exchange for real estate favors.
No Republican President has been impeached since Nixon… hmmm, what’s different about trump? Unbridled, entitled, moronic criminality. If Obama had pulled ANY of that stuff, the Republicans would have (rightfully) Lost Their Freaking Minds.
A criminal remains a criminal, whatever his party affiliation. Bill Clinton was a criminal for lying to congress, and should have been removed from office. Trump lies, cheats and steals constantly, and should also be removed. He’s destroying the brand of the USA, and we will all suffer for it.
The Clinton impeachment about lying about getting a BJ is about as ridiculous as this is. Kinda like Karma for the republicans for wasting time trying to impeach a man about trying to cover up infidelity. That matter should have been a “let sleeping dogs lie”
Lying to Congress was the charge. Clinton’s crime went much farther, but it was too obscene for the American public. Here’s a one-word hint: Epstein!
I am sure he was a frequent flyer at the hot spot and all the pedophiles should be outed but at the time I thought the impeachement proceedings against him were a bit much. They could have done something else, not sure what though. I didn’t vote for Billi but I did feel a bit sorry for having the dirty laundry politicized.
As I recall Clinton was clearly guilty of actual crimes one of which was perjury. He was, I believe, disbarred as a lawyer subsequently. Trump might not be a very nice man but he has committed no crime and it is more a case that he is a victim of multiple crimes.
I agree but even the Clinton impeachment thing was overdone in my opinion. He is a crook no doubt but unfortunately they could never prove it. The disbarment and other consequences of lying could have been done w/o the impeachment charade for the sake of not putting on a ridiculous show and putting the electorate on an emotional rollercoaster.
I suspect ‘impeachment’ is exactly what the Republicans wanted all along. It gives them a world stage to tell a very different story, one that the mass media cannot stop.
The Senate should subpoena the DNC for the ‘discredited server,’ which has always been at the heart of the matter. Armed with this, and the discredited Steele Report, falsified FISA Court documents, manipulation of foreign governments to justify an FBI investigation, witnesses from Ukraine who knew what was really going on behind the scenes, Crowdstrike, etc…. There is ample justification for the President to attempt to do what the DOJ, FBI, NSA, and CIA would not do–investigate election interference.
They have no choice. They have to go ahead with this nonsense, even though they know they won’t succeed.
Also, LOL, she mentioned the Constitution.
This partisan witch hunt was supposed to discredit the extremists in her party, and put Pelosi back “in charge” of dems… instead the grenade is going off in her face.
Your whole system is FUBAR. Now you only have extremists and appeasers. There is no real opposition.
Agreed. We have had bad presidents before (REALLY bad, far worse than Trump). But power was spread among a lot of officials, and overall it balanced out OK.
The sad truth is: Pelosi, Boehner, Ryan, Clinton, Schumer, Reid and Obama are the people most responsible for putting Trump into office in the first place. Trump wouldn’t be there if “the professional politicians” weren’t such screw ups.
Electing Trump was a desperate cry for help. It didn’t work out very well. Better than Bill Clinton’s wife is not good enough.
That is how elections work. Its the best of those who choose to run, not the best of some imaginary candidate.
The Dems didn’t have to run Hilary. There were other candidates who ran, and a lot more who looked at the circus and chose not to run.
Both political parties are dominated by screw ups, which is why Trump defeated a dozen or so Rep screw ups — and why Bloomberg and Obama are saying Trump will next beat two dozen Dem screw ups.
My point was, that people who voted for Trump did so because of certain promises he made. He was unable to deliver on most of them. But at least he is not Clinton’s wife, so there is that, right?
“….who voted for Trump did so because of certain promises he made….” Lets look at the four presidents who came before Trump:
Read my lips, no new taxes –> new taxes.
A place called Hope AK –> I did not have sex with that woman.
Kindler, gentler government –> wars in Afghanistan and Iraq
Hope and change –> more racial divide and disfunctional government than ever before
Exactly what are you complaining about Trump?
You are missing the point. The left is winning even with Trump in power. It’s not that he is not willing to do any of his promises. He can’t.
I understand your point and the other half of your point that you chose to ignore. BOTH sides have failed. NEITHER side is able to deliver basic government services.
Look at California, completely controlled by the left for decades, and ask yourself how you can say they are able to deliver?
If homelessness, feces and needles is your idea of “winning”…
There is a much bigger issue at play that is verboten to be talked about. That is the real reason why California is covered in feces and why the US is doomed.
“The facts are uncontested.”
Pretty sure everyone directly involved including both presidents contest it.
Umm, no! Everyone involved that was willing or allowed to testify fully testified Trump did exactly what is claimed. Trump won’t testify or allow his close aids to testify because he is guilty. No other sensible reason could be made up.
The only “witnesses” allowed by the democrats had no direct knowledge of the matter and at best were relying on hearsay and third hand accounts, at worst said they had no knowledge of any quid pro quo (e.g. Volker, Morrison). By contrast the people directly involved, such as the president of Ukraine, denied it and the transcript confirmed there was no qui pro quo. Nice try.
BTW I can see many reasons not to testify. For example not dignifying this mascarade kangaroo court which is already sinking on its own.
These FACTS are incontestable.
What further information is needed? ATTEMPTED extortion/bribery is equally a crime.
These are not facts but opinions based on hearsay and suppositions. Here are some facts based on actual physical evidences.
-Does the president require Congress approval to conduct foreign policy. – NO.
-Did Trump offer to release the money if Ukraine’s president did a “favor” for him? – NO. All direct witnesses and the transcript deny it. All indirect “witnesses” when asked admit they have no factual knowledge of any quid pro quo.
-Was the money released anyway with no link to any investigation by Ukraine? – Yes
-Did a Ukrainian gas company investigated for corruption by the Ukrainians hire Hunter Biden, a crack addict with zero experience in gas production and Ukraine for $50,000/month while his father was Obama’s emissary in Ukraine? – Yes
-Did then vice-president Joe Biden admit on video to have pressured the president of Ukraine to fire the prosecutor investigating his son’s gas company by threatening to withdraw financial aid (i.e. a quid pro quo)? – Yes
And the Senate will never vote to impeach. Blah blah blah. Trump will easily win in 2020. The Democrats are desperate.
I do not believe Trump will win
It depends on who the Democrats nominate
I concur, Mish. In ordinary times and with a “usual president” and an economy in at least decent shape (how do you define decent?) the incumbent is usually a pretty good bet – but those are not the current conditions. Trump absolutely threaded the needle in 2016 – the vote of 70,000 people in MI, OH and PA – a feat that was so extraordinary that it is almost impossible to repeat. In addition, he has done nothing to broaden his base but has instead offended a lot so called independent voters with both his words and actions. I think he will have a difficult time getting re-elected IF the Democrats can get out vote regardless of who gets nominated by them. I grant you that whoever gets nominated better make a quick hustle back to the center but I’m confident they will, all candidates usually do. It should be an interesting election in any event!
Bloomberg (who has no chance himself) and Obama have both stated the current crop of Dem candidates are going to lose.
Trump doesn’t have to be perfect, he just has to be less insane than the crazies running against him… and on that basis Trump easily wins.
Even in Chicago and SF, a lot of people are starting to question how far left they can go and still remain tethered to reality.
Too bad. Mish used to run a great blog. I stopped commenting a few years ago (when it was hosted elsewhere). His recent obsessions with Brexit and Trump are a real turn off.
So obviously you have been reading the blog, since you have returned to bless us with your foolish comments. Why?
Yes, Mr. Bean you have come back to give us your blather and we have to wonder why?
“an announcement of an investigation into his political rival.”
…
And well there should be an investigation. Biden bragged on video (at a council of foreign relations event) of strong arming Ukraine as VPOTUS. Incredible. No matter if son was target.
The hypocrisy off the charts on the outrage of foreign influence on US politics.
Nancy Pelosi doesn’t even believe her own propaganda.
So WHY didn’t the Republicans commence an investigation of Biden & son back in 2016, when Trump became president and they controlled Congress?
Ummm…maybe because they remembered that the run-up to Clinton’s impeachment cost them during the 1998 midterm elections. Sen. Loch Faircloth (R-NC) lost to John Edwards. The Dems actually GAINED seats in the House; it had been 64 years since a sitting President’s party picked up House seats in the middle of a 2d term. Peter Fitzgerald BARELY triumphed over Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun (D-IL), a race that shouldn’t have even been close!
Trump commenced an investigation and look what happened to him.
If Biden was a Republican, he would already be in jail.
I do not blame Hunter for making money off of his old man’s influence, but Biden abused his position by helping him. Simple. Obvious. There is enough evidence already there for anyone who cares to look at it.
Hey Joe! – Fat men vote.
Pelosi goes on to say “The facts are uncontested.”
The fact is there was no quid pro quo and no bribery. There is no case for impeachment.
Even Sondland said Trump wanted no quid pro quo.
Wake up Ron. Quid pro quo isn’t a requirement for bribery (straight or attempted).
Them’s the facts Ron.
Good bot.
Seems like the DNC bots write most of the comments here now.
I miss the old Mishtalk blog
None of what you say is true.
I am more awake than you are.
There was no bribery.
Nothing the President did was illegal or unconstitutional. If you want to look at real crimes look no further than the rotten Obama administration. Look at how Biden bragged about getting a Ukrainian official dismissed. Look at how Hilary illegally used a private unsecured server for official and secret email. The list is endless.
“Nancy Pelosi cites fear of a monarchy and a “king president” “
…
I’ve had this fear for decades re prodigious use of “signing statements” by POTUS.
Like Obama didn’t act like a King with his many Executive Orders??? That liberal loser used Executive Orders to all but destroy the coal industry. Give me a freakin’ break please.
I think you were too triggered to read Tony’s actual statement closely. Notice he says “for decades”, but somehow you only see “Obama”.