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babylonsister
babylonsister's Journal
babylonsister's Journal
October 28, 2019
Trump’s Plan to Take Syrian Oil Slammed as ‘Clear Violation of International Law’ and ‘Imperial Looting’
by Colin Kalmbacher | 1:13 pm, October 27th, 2019
President Donald Trump announced plans to violate several longstanding tenets of international law on Sunday morning during a controversial press conference celebrating the death of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, legal experts say.
snip//
Experts previously dismissed Trump’s desire to expropriate the oil reserves of other countries as blatant violations of international law.
more...
https://lawandcrime.com/crazy/trumps-plan-to-take-syrian-oil-slammed-as-clear-violation-of-international-law-and-imperial-looting/?fbclid=IwAR1fWzFPrajnLWXwDzTtYf98jgnd3k3s4LJnNR7Dq4IhlQQNImdRr8ufIlw
Trump's Plan to Take Syrian Oil Slammed as 'Clear Violation of International Law' and 'Imperial Loo
Trump’s Plan to Take Syrian Oil Slammed as ‘Clear Violation of International Law’ and ‘Imperial Looting’
by Colin Kalmbacher | 1:13 pm, October 27th, 2019
President Donald Trump announced plans to violate several longstanding tenets of international law on Sunday morning during a controversial press conference celebrating the death of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, legal experts say.
“We are leaving soldiers to secure the oil,” Trump said. “And we may have to fight for the oil. Maybe somebody else wants the oil, in which case they have a hell of a fight.”
“The oil is so valuable,” Trump added later during the press conference. “For many reasons. It fueled ISIS: number one. Number two: it helps the Kurds. Because it’s basically been taken away from the Kurds. They were able to live with that oil. And number three: it can help us because we should be able to take some also. And what I intend to do, perhaps, is make a deal with an Exxon Mobil, or one of our great companies, to go in there and do it properly. Right now it’s not big–it’s big oil
underground. But it’s not big oil up-top. Much of the machinery’s been shot and dead. It’s been through wars.”
“The oil is so valuable,” Trump added later during the press conference. “For many reasons. It fueled ISIS: number one. Number two: it helps the Kurds. Because it’s basically been taken away from the Kurds. They were able to live with that oil. And number three: it can help us because we should be able to take some also. And what I intend to do, perhaps, is make a deal with an Exxon Mobil, or one of our great companies, to go in there and do it properly. Right now it’s not big–it’s big oil
snip//
Experts previously dismissed Trump’s desire to expropriate the oil reserves of other countries as blatant violations of international law.
“In international law, you can’t take civilian goods or seize them. That would amount to a war crime,” Anthony Cordesman, the Arleigh Burke Chair in Strategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told the Guardian during the 2016 presidential campaign. “Oil exports were almost the only Iraqi source of money. So you would have to pay for government salaries, maintain the army, and you have triggered a level of national animosity far worse than we did. It would be the worst kind of neo-colonialism. Not even Britain did that.”
more...
https://lawandcrime.com/crazy/trumps-plan-to-take-syrian-oil-slammed-as-clear-violation-of-international-law-and-imperial-looting/?fbclid=IwAR1fWzFPrajnLWXwDzTtYf98jgnd3k3s4LJnNR7Dq4IhlQQNImdRr8ufIlw
October 27, 2019
10/27/19 2:14pm
Al Jazeera: Trump's 'Died Like A Dog' Insults Are 'Really Going To Incite' Followers Of Slain ISIS Leader
Al Jazeera correspondent Patty Culhane cautioned on Sunday that followers of slain ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi could be incited by President Donald Trump's "crass" rhetoric.
By David
Al Jazeera correspondent Patty Culhane cautioned on Sunday that followers of slain ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi could be incited by President Donald Trump's "crass" rhetoric.
During a Sunday morning press conference, Trump explained that he had watched the killing on video, which he said was "amazing" and "like a movie."
He went on to viscerally describe the death of al-Baghdadi as being "like a dog."
"The president did something that we don't see U.S. presidents do," Culhane explained following Trump performance. "He used language that is going to really incite al-Baghdadi's followers if they hear it. He called him a dog, said he died whimpering like a coward, said he wished he could show the video so that people could see exactly how he died."
Culhane also noted that Trump had revealed that al-Baghdadi had three children with him when he died by detonating a suicide vest.
Fox News reported on Sunday that officials believe there is a greater risk of ISIS terrorist attacks on Americans in the wake of Trump's press conference.
Al Jazeera: Trump's 'Died Like A Dog' Insults Are 'Really Going To Incite' Followers Of Slain ISIS L
https://crooksandliars.com/2019/10/al-jazeera-trumps-died-dog-insults-are?utm_source=social&utm_medium=facebook&utm_content=2265610/27/19 2:14pm
Al Jazeera: Trump's 'Died Like A Dog' Insults Are 'Really Going To Incite' Followers Of Slain ISIS Leader
Al Jazeera correspondent Patty Culhane cautioned on Sunday that followers of slain ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi could be incited by President Donald Trump's "crass" rhetoric.
By David
Al Jazeera correspondent Patty Culhane cautioned on Sunday that followers of slain ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi could be incited by President Donald Trump's "crass" rhetoric.
During a Sunday morning press conference, Trump explained that he had watched the killing on video, which he said was "amazing" and "like a movie."
He went on to viscerally describe the death of al-Baghdadi as being "like a dog."
"The president did something that we don't see U.S. presidents do," Culhane explained following Trump performance. "He used language that is going to really incite al-Baghdadi's followers if they hear it. He called him a dog, said he died whimpering like a coward, said he wished he could show the video so that people could see exactly how he died."
Culhane also noted that Trump had revealed that al-Baghdadi had three children with him when he died by detonating a suicide vest.
"He gave a lot of details about that, used very crass language," the Al Jazeera reporter said, "again called him a dog. And then he did say they took pieces of his body with them -- the special [operations] forces soldiers. Again, there's concern in Washington that this is not the kind of language you wanted to use unless the goal is really to incite the people who followed him."
Fox News reported on Sunday that officials believe there is a greater risk of ISIS terrorist attacks on Americans in the wake of Trump's press conference.
Colleague Gillian Turner rpts security source says Baghdadi’s death significantly increases the risk of reprisal attacks in US
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) October 27, 2019
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) October 27, 2019
October 27, 2019
This runs contrary to the president’s claim on Sunday morning that he has been focused on tracking down the leader for years while stating he has constantly been asking about the whereabouts of the Islamic terrorist since he came into office.
more...
https://politicaldig.com/officials-suggest-trump-lied-about-his-involvement-in-planning-of-isis-raid-made-it-more-difficult/?fbclid=IwAR2hbls30ONsVPXSHV6x-hV1KQ5DxPCbWOsxweRCRQ-2FPkDJtunTwFcevY
Pentagon Officials Suggest Trump Lied About His Involvement In ISIS Raid And Made It 'More Difficult
Pentagon Officials Suggest Trump Lied About His Involvement In ISIS Raid And Made It ‘More Difficult’
by Lance Perriman
Oct 27, 2019
President Donald Trump on Sunday claimed that he was “on top” and “in command” of the military incursion that led to the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. However, according to a report from the New York Times, Trump’s claim is not entirely true. In fact, the report cites two U.S. officials saying that Trump made the long-planned operation more difficult because of his impulsive decision to pull U.S. troops out of Syria.
Military intelligence officials have been tracking Baghdadi’s movements for months after getting tips from one of his wives and a courier, the officials told The Times.
The tips “came following the arrest and interrogation of one of Mr. al-Baghdadi’s wives and a courier this past summer, two American officials said,” according to the report.
“Armed with that initial tip, the C.I.A. worked closely with Iraqi and Kurdish intelligence officials in Iraq and Syria to identify Mr. al-Baghdadi’s more precise whereabouts and to put spies in place to monitor his periodic movements,” the report notes, before adding the president’s abrupt pull-out from Syria forced the military’s hand.
“Trump’s abrupt decision to withdraw American forces from northern Syria disrupted the meticulous planning and forced Pentagon officials to press ahead with a risky, night raid before their ability to control troops and spies and reconnaissance aircraft disappeared, according to military, intelligence and counterterrorism officials. Mr. al-Baghdadi’s death, they said, occurred largely in spite of Mr. Trump’s actions,” The Times reports.
This runs contrary to the president’s claim on Sunday morning that he has been focused on tracking down the leader for years while stating he has constantly been asking about the whereabouts of the Islamic terrorist since he came into office.
more...
https://politicaldig.com/officials-suggest-trump-lied-about-his-involvement-in-planning-of-isis-raid-made-it-more-difficult/?fbclid=IwAR2hbls30ONsVPXSHV6x-hV1KQ5DxPCbWOsxweRCRQ-2FPkDJtunTwFcevY
October 27, 2019
President Donald Trump on Sunday said he’s interested in making a deal with ExxonMobil or another energy company to tap Syrian oil reserves.
President Trump has identified Syria’s oil as a U.S. national security priority and has committed to deploying troops to protect the country’s reserves even as he pulls troops from Syria’s northern regions. U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said this week that the U.S. will send in troops to protect Syrian oil fields from Islamic State militants.
Trump has faced heated criticism from both Republicans and Democrats, who have accused the president of abandoning an American ally by pulling troops from the Syrian-Turkish border region. The withdrawal cleared the way for a Turkish military operation against the Kurds, U.S. allies in the fight against the so-called Islamic State, or ISIS.
more...
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/27/trump-wants-to-make-a-deal-with-exxon-or-others-to-tap-syrian-oil.html?fbclid=IwAR1rCVcgU26bknzyd41gYpD7DjC_lLSLkhFmNf8yl5bZmANKZN7jz1aqUgw
Trump wants to make a deal with Exxon or others to tap Syrian oil: 'We should be able to take some'
Trump wants to make a deal with Exxon or others to tap Syrian oil: ‘We should be able to take some’
Published 5 hours ago
Updated 4 hours ago
Lauren Hirsch
Key Points
President Donald Trump said he may want to make a deal with ExxonMobil to tap Syrian oil reserves.
Trump has used Syrian oil to help justify his decision to withdraw American troops from the region.
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said this week that the U.S. will send in troops to protect Syrian oil fields from Islamic State militants.
Trump has used Syrian oil to help justify his decision to withdraw American troops from the region.
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said this week that the U.S. will send in troops to protect Syrian oil fields from Islamic State militants.
President Donald Trump on Sunday said he’s interested in making a deal with ExxonMobil or another energy company to tap Syrian oil reserves.
“What I intend to do, perhaps, is make a deal with an ExxonMobil or one of our great companies to go in there and do it properly...and spread out the wealth,” he said.
President Trump has identified Syria’s oil as a U.S. national security priority and has committed to deploying troops to protect the country’s reserves even as he pulls troops from Syria’s northern regions. U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said this week that the U.S. will send in troops to protect Syrian oil fields from Islamic State militants.
Trump has faced heated criticism from both Republicans and Democrats, who have accused the president of abandoning an American ally by pulling troops from the Syrian-Turkish border region. The withdrawal cleared the way for a Turkish military operation against the Kurds, U.S. allies in the fight against the so-called Islamic State, or ISIS.
“The oil is so valuable, for many reasons,” Trump said on Sunday. “It fueled ISIS, number one. Number two, it helps the Kurds – because it’s basically been taken away from the Kurds... And, number three, it can help us, because we should be able to take some also.”
more...
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/27/trump-wants-to-make-a-deal-with-exxon-or-others-to-tap-syrian-oil.html?fbclid=IwAR1rCVcgU26bknzyd41gYpD7DjC_lLSLkhFmNf8yl5bZmANKZN7jz1aqUgw
October 27, 2019
10/27/19 8:08am
VIDEO AT LINK~
Pence Gets Grilled For Not Notifying Pelosi Of ISIS Raid -- But He Slobbers Over Trump Instead Of Answering
Vice President Mike Pence on Sunday refused to say why President Donald Trump broke tradition by not notifying select congressional leaders -- known as the Gang of Eight -- about a raid that allegedly killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
By David
Vice President Mike Pence on Sunday refused to say why President Donald Trump broke tradition by not notifying select congressional leaders -- known as the Gang of Eight -- about a raid that allegedly killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
During a Sunday interview with Pence, Wallace noted that Trump admitted that he had not told Democratic congressional leaders about the raid.
Pence followed up with another non-answer.
more...
https://crooksandliars.com/2019/10/pence-gets-grilled-not-notifying-pelosi?utm_source=social&utm_medium=facebook&utm_content=22635
Pence Gets Grilled For Not Notifying Pelosi Of ISIS Raid -- But He Slobbers Over Trump Instead...
10/27/19 8:08am
VIDEO AT LINK~
Pence Gets Grilled For Not Notifying Pelosi Of ISIS Raid -- But He Slobbers Over Trump Instead Of Answering
Vice President Mike Pence on Sunday refused to say why President Donald Trump broke tradition by not notifying select congressional leaders -- known as the Gang of Eight -- about a raid that allegedly killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
By David
Vice President Mike Pence on Sunday refused to say why President Donald Trump broke tradition by not notifying select congressional leaders -- known as the Gang of Eight -- about a raid that allegedly killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
During a Sunday interview with Pence, Wallace noted that Trump admitted that he had not told Democratic congressional leaders about the raid.
"The implication seeming to be that he was worried that Pelosi or members of Congress would leak this," Wallace explained. "Does the president not trust the Speaker of the House with sensitive national security information?"
"I don’t think that was the implication at all," Pence said. "I think from the time that we got actionable intelligence, the president’s total focus here was on a successful mission and the safety of American troops."
"Why didn’t he tell Nancy Pelosi?" Wallace pressed.
"We wanted them to be able to get in and get out, it’s a dangerous mission on the ground," Pence opined. "They went with the resolve in the determination as president to bring al-Baghdadi to justice but they also went with our prayers and I just couldn’t be more proud. When they were wheels up out of country, no American casualties and al-Baghdadi is dead."
"We all applaud that," Wallace replied. "I do want to ask you, it is my job as a newsman, respectfully, why didn’t the president notify Speaker of the House?"
"I don’t think that was the implication at all," Pence said. "I think from the time that we got actionable intelligence, the president’s total focus here was on a successful mission and the safety of American troops."
"Why didn’t he tell Nancy Pelosi?" Wallace pressed.
"We wanted them to be able to get in and get out, it’s a dangerous mission on the ground," Pence opined. "They went with the resolve in the determination as president to bring al-Baghdadi to justice but they also went with our prayers and I just couldn’t be more proud. When they were wheels up out of country, no American casualties and al-Baghdadi is dead."
"We all applaud that," Wallace replied. "I do want to ask you, it is my job as a newsman, respectfully, why didn’t the president notify Speaker of the House?"
Pence followed up with another non-answer.
more...
https://crooksandliars.com/2019/10/pence-gets-grilled-not-notifying-pelosi?utm_source=social&utm_medium=facebook&utm_content=22635
October 27, 2019
Top State Department official says ousting ambassador to Ukraine was a White House priority
Philip Reeker testified about Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch’s removal and withheld military aid in impeachment inquiry hearings Saturday.
By Anya van Wagtendonkanyavw@protonmail.com Oct 26, 2019, 5:31pm EDT
Philip Reeker, acting assistant secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, became the latest State Department official to testify on Capitol Hill in the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump Saturday.
Although the testimony occurred behind closed doors, the Wall Street Journal reported that Reeker testified that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo actively neutralized support for ousted US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch before she was abruptly removed from her post in May. Reeker also reportedly described concerns raised in a July White House meeting about defense aid being withheld from Ukraine.
When she appeared before lawmakers, Yovanovitch said her removal had been political, testifying that it had been a “concerted campaign against me,” led by Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and supported by the president himself. Some of the president’s critics are concerned Yovanovitch was removed because she was seen as an obstacle to White House efforts to pressure Ukraine into launching investigations into Democrats and one of Trump’s potential 2020 rivals, former Vice President Joe Biden.
It is not clear whether Reeker provided any testimony to support or invalidate that concern; he did, however reportedly tell lawmakers he defended Yovanovitch, a respected career diplomat who he had known for 25 years, before and after she was relieved of her duties. According to the testimonies of Yovanovitch, Reeker, and others, that removal came following a whisper campaign within the State Department — allegedly orchestrated by Giuliani — that presented her as disloyal.
snip//
Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) told the Wall Street Journal Saturday afternoon that Reeker’s testimony served to support the statements of previous witnesses; and though he refused to elaborate, Lynch suggested lawmakers are finding the assistant secretary to be a valuable resource.
Top State Department official says ousting ambassador to Ukraine was a White House priority
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/10/26/20933914/impeachment-inquiry-ukraine-aid-quid-pro-quo-reekerTop State Department official says ousting ambassador to Ukraine was a White House priority
Philip Reeker testified about Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch’s removal and withheld military aid in impeachment inquiry hearings Saturday.
By Anya van Wagtendonkanyavw@protonmail.com Oct 26, 2019, 5:31pm EDT
Philip Reeker, acting assistant secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, became the latest State Department official to testify on Capitol Hill in the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump Saturday.
Although the testimony occurred behind closed doors, the Wall Street Journal reported that Reeker testified that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo actively neutralized support for ousted US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch before she was abruptly removed from her post in May. Reeker also reportedly described concerns raised in a July White House meeting about defense aid being withheld from Ukraine.
When she appeared before lawmakers, Yovanovitch said her removal had been political, testifying that it had been a “concerted campaign against me,” led by Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and supported by the president himself. Some of the president’s critics are concerned Yovanovitch was removed because she was seen as an obstacle to White House efforts to pressure Ukraine into launching investigations into Democrats and one of Trump’s potential 2020 rivals, former Vice President Joe Biden.
It is not clear whether Reeker provided any testimony to support or invalidate that concern; he did, however reportedly tell lawmakers he defended Yovanovitch, a respected career diplomat who he had known for 25 years, before and after she was relieved of her duties. According to the testimonies of Yovanovitch, Reeker, and others, that removal came following a whisper campaign within the State Department — allegedly orchestrated by Giuliani — that presented her as disloyal.
snip//
Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) told the Wall Street Journal Saturday afternoon that Reeker’s testimony served to support the statements of previous witnesses; and though he refused to elaborate, Lynch suggested lawmakers are finding the assistant secretary to be a valuable resource.
“He’s being helpful in some respects, he is corroborating previous witnesses and their testimony,” Lynch said of Reeker. “It’s a much richer reservoir of information that we originally expected.”
October 27, 2019
Zachary Basu17 mins ago
Schiff: John Bolton is a "very important witness" in impeachment inquiry
House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said on ABC's "This Week" that he wants former White House national security adviser John Bolton to testify in the Ukraine investigation, but that he assumes the Trump administration will fight House investigators in court to prevent him from appearing.
The big picture: Trump's former Russia adviser Fiona Hill testified that Bolton told her to alert the chief National Security Council lawyer that Rudy Giuliani was "cooking up" a "rogue operation" with acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and Gordon Sondland, the ambassador to the EU.
What to watch: Schiff also told ABC's Martha Raddatz that he expects the committees to start conducting public hearings "soon," but wouldn't outline a specific timeline.
Schiff: John Bolton is a "very important witness" in impeachment inquiry
https://www.axios.com/adam-schiff-john-bolton-ukraine-investigation-7d57b787-660e-4034-824c-8170ebd5a2ff.htmlZachary Basu17 mins ago
Schiff: John Bolton is a "very important witness" in impeachment inquiry
House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said on ABC's "This Week" that he wants former White House national security adviser John Bolton to testify in the Ukraine investigation, but that he assumes the Trump administration will fight House investigators in court to prevent him from appearing.
"John Bolton is a very important witness. We already know from the testimony of others that this is someone who was concerned that people in the State Department — Ambassador Sondland and others, Mulvaney — were cooking up a "drug deal." And by that he meant a corrupt deal, involving withholding a White House meeting or perhaps the withholding of aid as well, for these political purposes."
— Schiff
— Schiff
The big picture: Trump's former Russia adviser Fiona Hill testified that Bolton told her to alert the chief National Security Council lawyer that Rudy Giuliani was "cooking up" a "rogue operation" with acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and Gordon Sondland, the ambassador to the EU.
The Washington Post reported on Thursday that Bolton warned U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer that Trump would likely oppose restoring some of Ukraine's trade privileges — an indication that the suspension of assistance to Ukraine may have extended beyond just military aid.
Bolton is currently in talks to testify in the impeachment investigation, the New York Times reports.
Bolton is currently in talks to testify in the impeachment investigation, the New York Times reports.
What to watch: Schiff also told ABC's Martha Raddatz that he expects the committees to start conducting public hearings "soon," but wouldn't outline a specific timeline.
October 27, 2019
Question about Nixon and Watergate
Was there an equivalent of faux snooze back in the day, tv or print? Did it seem to take so long because news didn't travel at the speed of light?
October 27, 2019
Schiff says committees are making 'rapid progress' in impeachment probe
By Mike Lillis - 10/26/19 07:58 PM EDT
The lawmaker leading the impeachment inquiry into President Trump said Saturday that Democrats are "making rapid progress" in their investigation into the president's dealings with Ukraine.
Schiff's comments came after Schiff's committee had finished interviewing its latest witness in the quickly evolving impeachment investigation into Trump, which launched just over a month ago.
Philip Reeker, acting assistant secretary of European and Eurasian Affairs, testified for roughly eight hours about what he knew of the administration's campaign to press Ukrainian leaders to launch anti-corruption investigations into Trump's political rivals.
Schiff declined to comment on the substance of Reeker's testimony.
Schiff says committees are making 'rapid progress' in impeachment probe
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/467604-schiff-says-committees-are-making-rapid-progress-in-impeachment-probeSchiff says committees are making 'rapid progress' in impeachment probe
By Mike Lillis - 10/26/19 07:58 PM EDT
The lawmaker leading the impeachment inquiry into President Trump said Saturday that Democrats are "making rapid progress" in their investigation into the president's dealings with Ukraine.
“We’re trying to work expeditiously, but we’re also trying to be methodical in our work," Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), chairman of the Intelligence Committee, told reporters in the Capitol. "I think we’re making rapid progress — and that’s our goal.”
Schiff's comments came after Schiff's committee had finished interviewing its latest witness in the quickly evolving impeachment investigation into Trump, which launched just over a month ago.
Philip Reeker, acting assistant secretary of European and Eurasian Affairs, testified for roughly eight hours about what he knew of the administration's campaign to press Ukrainian leaders to launch anti-corruption investigations into Trump's political rivals.
Schiff declined to comment on the substance of Reeker's testimony.
October 27, 2019
Posted on Sat, Oct 26th, 2019 by Sean Colarossi
Conservative Commentator to Republicans: Get Off The Trump Train Because It’s About To Derail
Conservative commentator Charlie Sykes had some advice for Republicans on Saturday: Get off the Trump train now, because it’s going to derail in the near future.
During a discussion on MSNBC, Sykes said the GOP’s impeachment defense strategy – attack the process, not the substance – is doomed to fail as the inquiry quickly escalates with public hearings.
“Republicans in the Senate have to realize that things are going to get a lot worse,” he said. “At some point, they’re going to have to confront the substance and the substance of this is a president who has abused his power and sold out the country.”
https://twitter.com/i/status/1188117702524715009
Sykes said:
The Republican strategy is a ticking time bomb
The GOP’s entire impeachment strategy rests on two phony ideas: 1. Democrats need to take a formal vote to have an official impeachment inquiry; and 2. It’s taking place in complete secrecy.
Both of those arguments have already been torn apart.
more...
https://www.politicususa.com/2019/10/26/conservative-commentator-republicans-get-off-trump-train-about-to-derail.html
Conservative Commentator to Republicans: Get Off The Trump Train Because It's About To Derail
Posted on Sat, Oct 26th, 2019 by Sean Colarossi
Conservative Commentator to Republicans: Get Off The Trump Train Because It’s About To Derail
Conservative commentator Charlie Sykes had some advice for Republicans on Saturday: Get off the Trump train now, because it’s going to derail in the near future.
During a discussion on MSNBC, Sykes said the GOP’s impeachment defense strategy – attack the process, not the substance – is doomed to fail as the inquiry quickly escalates with public hearings.
“Republicans in the Senate have to realize that things are going to get a lot worse,” he said. “At some point, they’re going to have to confront the substance and the substance of this is a president who has abused his power and sold out the country.”
https://twitter.com/i/status/1188117702524715009
Sykes said:
All of this is also a distraction, and I think that became clear from that federal judge’s ruling yesterday. But the story of Lindsey Graham is really quite exceptional when you think about his willingness to shamelessly switch all of his positions and, look, this is where the Republicans are at right now. They have to talk about the legitimacy of the process, focusing on that vote. That’s a fig leaf that’s going to be torn away very, very soon and this is what, you know, David talks about you know, the offramp for Republican. Republicans in the Senate have to realize that things are going to get a lot worse in terms of the evidence, in terms of the venue that’s going to be televised trial, in terms of the president’s behavior and they’re not going to be able to hide behind these questions about when does the House have a vote, public hearing, private hearings, because that process issue will be resolved at some point politically, so at some point they’re going to have to confront the substance and the substance of this is a president who has abused his power and sold out the country.
The Republican strategy is a ticking time bomb
The GOP’s entire impeachment strategy rests on two phony ideas: 1. Democrats need to take a formal vote to have an official impeachment inquiry; and 2. It’s taking place in complete secrecy.
Both of those arguments have already been torn apart.
more...
https://www.politicususa.com/2019/10/26/conservative-commentator-republicans-get-off-trump-train-about-to-derail.html
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Member since: Mon Sep 6, 2004, 09:54 PM
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