All-purpose news and politics thread: Two Steps Beyond!(Part II)

[Kirby101]

If the reason you started an investigation was to prove Russian collusion that tipped the scales in the 2016 election, what do either of those things have to do with it?

I'm not really big on Impeachment unless there is a "Black And White" example of Russian collusion. Anything short of that will just give Republicans an "Out" in any potential impeachment.

As for the tax evasion, no one says he can't be held accountable later.

It doesn't matter why the investigation started. It can and does broaden when further wrong doing is found.

[Kirby101]

That's the endgame. The GOP already made the choice of whether to get in bed with Trump, knowing full well how corrupt a creature he is.

Now they continue to make it harder to disassociate themselves from that corruption going forward, and not just in 2020. They may be tainted as the party that sold out this country to the Russians and Trump to try and get Supreme Court picks and win the culture wars they were losing, and are likely to lose anyway.

Hopefully they will one day be as prevelant as the Nazis are in Germany now.

[numberthirty]

It doesn't matter why the investigation started. It can and does broaden when further wrong doing is found.

If that is the case?

Address those issues. There is already a mechanism for dealing with campaign finance violations in place. Impeachment is not that mechanism.

As for the state tax law violations?

It seems like most of that stuff is already past the statute of limitations. Again, there is a mechanism for dealing with those laws being broken. Impeachment is not that mechanism.

Anything short of actual proof of Russian collusion in an attempt to tilt an election is just going to give Trump the means to say "They are just trying to impeach me on this because they don't have any proof of collusion."

I see no reason to give him that out.

Edit: As for "It doesn't matter why the investigation started..."? Come on with that noise. Of course it matters.

[worstblogever]

Hopefully they will one day be as prevelant as the Nazis are in Germany now.

It's telling that in the past few days since Fox News' Rupert Murdoch met with Mitch McConnell after the mid-terms that the network's fanatical support of Trump has waned. Less hysterics from Hannity, Ingraham, and Pirro on his behalf, and even Tucker Carlson has gone from white nationalist talking points to actual criticism of Trump.

Meanwhile, at the White House, John Kelly gets forced out, and Nick Ayers opts to not take the White House Chief of Staff job, from most reports being that he wants to run for office, and doesn't want to be associated with Trump with what's coming in the next few weeks.

The ship really is starting to sink, and while the smarter rats have fled, the dumber ones are just about to head for the lifeboats.

The only other possibility, is that the GOP are deciding to leave Trump to his fate, but then will repaint him as a martyr if they think he's worth salvaging, or jettison him if he's too toxic (for the love of all that's holy, be smart enough to take an exit at SOME point with this ***hole.)

[Kirby101]

Come on with that noise. Of course it matters.

I meant the investigation is never restricted to the reason it started. If Trump is a felon, he should be impeached, period.


Clinton started as a real estate investigation.

[numberthirty]

I meant the investigation is never restricted to the reason it started. If Trump is a felon, he should be impeached, period.


Clinton started as a real estate investigation.

Yes, and look at how people talk about it now.

It is clearly divided into "Was Total Bunk" and "He Was Caught On That Red-Handed" camps.

I really don't see a reason to give Trump that sort of a break when a state-level felony can be addressed at the state level later.

[JCAll]

If no one wants the job of White House Chief of Staff, then maybe WH can go on without a Chief of Staff as it did during Jimmy Carter's first couple of years on the job

Well it seems to be doing pretty well without a President.

[Kirby101]

Yes, and look at how people talk about it now.

It is clearly divided into "Was Total Bunk" and "He Was Caught On That Red-Handed" camps.

I really don't see a reason to give Trump that sort of a break when a state-level felony can be addressed at the state level later.

Just giving an example of a broader investigation. Trump is guilty of multiple felonies, not getting a hummer.

And BTW he did colude with the Russians as well.

[numberthirty]

Just giving an example of a broader investigation. Trump is guilty of multiple felonies, not getting a hummer.

And BTW he did colude with the Russians as well.

First off, lying under oath in front of a Federal Grand Jury(which plenty of people have been convicted of something similar to this time out) along with obstruction of justice were "Why?" Clinton was impeached. Let's not try to say it was about something it was not in what feels like an effort to minimize the "Why?"

As for "Multiple Felonies", you brought up a felony at the state level. I see no reason not to eventually address it at that level where it probably will not be something that can be pardoned.

As for "He Did Collude..." If that is the case, impeach based on that. End of discussion.

[Kirby101]

First off, lying under oath in front of a Federal Grand Jury(which plenty of people have been convicted of something similar to this time out) along with obstruction of justice were "Why?" Clinton was impeached. Let's not try to say it was about something it was not in what feels like an effort to minimize the "Why?"

As for "Multiple Felonies", you brought up a felony at the state level. I see no reason not to eventually address it at that level where it probably will not be something that can be pardoned.

As for "He Did Collude..." If that is the case, impeach based on that. End of discussion.

Sounds good, since Flynn has already said he did.

[numberthirty]

Sounds good, since Flynn has already said he did.

I have the distinct impression that it is going to take quite a bit more than a "He Said..." from a guy who got a particularly sweet deal to convince anyone.

If there winds up being some actual proof that does not greatly benefit a guy and what he "Says..." happened? Whole other deal.

[Tami]

The Beltway buzz this hour is @RepMarkMeadows is now the leading candidate to succeed Kelly as chief of staff.

Twitter Link

Trump floating Mark Meadows for White House chief of staff: reports

President Trump has privately been floating the idea of replacing chief of staff John Kelly with Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), according to Axios.

The news outlet, citing three sources with knowledge of the matter, reported on Sunday that Trump has recently been asking many people about who he should name as his chief of staff when Kelly officially departs.

He's asked many of them what they think of Meadows, a North Carolina congressman who is currently the chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. He's also reportedly mentioned three other people as other possible candidates.

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Ethics Committee Rebukes Mark Meadows Over Aide’s Sexual Misconduct

WASHINGTON — The House Ethics Committee issued a rare letter of reproval on Friday to Representative Mark Meadows, Republican of North Carolina and chairman of the hard-line Freedom Caucus, for mishandling sexual harassment allegations against a top aide, after complaints from six female staff members that his former chief of staff frequently engaged in unwanted touching and stared down their blouses.

The committee faulted Mr. Meadows for failing “to take prompt and decisive action to deal with the alleged sexual harassment” by the aide, Kenny West, who was dismissed from the office in 2015. Although Mr. Meadows banned Mr. West from his Washington office, curtailed his responsibilities and forbade him to contact female employees, he improperly continued to compensate Mr. West for four months until firing him, committee investigators found.

“Representative Meadows could have and should have done more to ensure that his congressional office was free from discrimination or the perception of discrimination,” the committee wrote in its bipartisan report. It ordered Mr. Meadows to reimburse the United States Treasury approximately $40,000 that he paid Mr. West in salary that the committee said was not commensurate with his work.

[worstblogever]

Doesn't the WH bureaucracy look too bloated? I have noticed some of the positions are still vacant.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Office

No, it looks like it should be a well run engine, and Trump's mismanagement has people staying away so they don't get mangled as he keeps throwing monkey wrenches into its gears.

[Tendrin]

I have the distinct impression that it is going to take quite a bit more than a "He Said..." from a guy who got a particularly sweet deal to convince anyone.

If there winds up being some actual proof that does not greatly benefit a guy and what he "Says..." happened? Whole other deal.

Prosecutors don't tend to talk as firmly as they have been about this without corroborating evidence. Mueller has been pretty disciplined so far about this sort of thing.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

Fox News Talked More About Migrant ‘Invasion’ Just Before Election Than In Past 3 Years Total

And it appears they’re only ramping up that fearmongering rhetoric. With the Trump White House in chaos---- IT'S DISTRACTION TIME!!

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Fox News Contributor: Trump ‘Likely To Be Indicted’ On Campaign Finance Violations

“It’s clear that Trump is the target,” former U.S. attorney Andrew McCarthy said. Looks like talking heads on the Trump Propaganda Network are turning on their lord and master.

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Jared Kushner Gave Saudi Crown Prince Advice After Khashoggi Slaying: NY Times

Kushner has reportedly flouted White House protocol by having private, informal conversations with Prince Mohammed bin Salman. When Trump goes down, He Went To Jared needs to go as well.

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Carl Bernstein: ‘Donald Trump For The First Time In His Life Is Cornered’

The legendary Watergate reporter says the president is boxed in and the people around him know it. Problem is, there's no more dangerous animal than one that's cornered because there's no telling what it'll do, and the same holds true for Trump.

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Trump Scorched Over Tweet Bashing Obama For Burning Through ‘Chief Of Staffs’

That’s why Obama couldn’t get his agenda passed, Trump scolded. Boy, THAT tweet sure hasn't aged well.