President Trump has repeatedly claimed that there were no “quid pro quos” in his push for Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden’s family. But now the exact quids and quos of the pressure campaign are clear, following the release of text messages related to the scandal.
Any reasonably sane person would get this, but we are dealing with a cult that is willing to drink the orange Koolaid…
We’re on…what, step 3.1 at this point?
Of course, an explicit quid pro quo isn’t really necessary to show that the withdrawal of military aid was being used as a tool to leverage the Ukrainian government. But it doesn’t hurt.
I expect the Trumpists to attack this guy Taylor and throw more distortion on the fires. At some point they don’t care if their explanations make any sense. They just need sentences in moderately comprehensible English that their drones can latch onto.
And of course they are out, blithely unaware of the greater context, asking questions like “What’s wrong with investigating Biden?” While completing burying the fact that military aid was being used as a diplomatic tool for Trump’s personal benefit.
Somebody needs to explain to Donnie and the Morons, if you go to rob a bank but there is no money in it, you have still committed a crime, it really is that simple.
Bill Taylor seems like an interesting guy. I bet his congressional testimony will be great.
Don’t leave out:
2.1 “The whistleblower contacted Schiff’s staff! This entire investigation is out of order!”
2.2 “Pelosi never had the house vote on opening an impeachment inquiry!”
2.3 (any other random, pointless process objection that completely ignores the substance of what’s going on)
The fact that no quid pro quo is required for Trump’s actions to be a felony seems to have escaped almost everyone.
But this does put paid to that particular lie.
Yes, the GOP has dumbed itself down to the point where any combination of subject and verb is treated as a legal argument.
One big question is what advice is Trump getting now on these revelations, and from whom? Anybody in this position would surely be reaching out to get advice on what to say and do now.
Trump is doubling down with his statement about China and Biden. Where’s he getting this from? Maybe just his own intuition. But at some point he might ask some qualified people what’s this looking like. But that’s one of his weaknesses, a lack of an ability to seek advice.
Probably we’ll see more defections from high level people like Pompeo, who imagine they have careers to save.
Trump’s people have to be thinking about these people being called in to testify under oath. Either now, or before the Senate during an impeachment trial. Their testimony can’t be suppressed then. So, who knew what when will come out. Things sure happen fast when the water gets to the bottom of the drain, swirling faster and faster. Good metaphor, if I do say so.
Variant:
-Clearly, that’s not what Tump meant.
-And if he did mean it, it’s perfectly legal.
-And besides, everyone does it.
-The impeachment inquiry is illegal because the full House didn’t vote.
-So cut this out, Trump is a busy man with a country to run.
Quid pro quo is not necessary.
Trump requested aid from a foreign leader to help his reelection campaign. He says everyone does it.
If everyone does it, why did he go to such lengths to mask the intent of the infamous meeting Junior had at Trump Tower in 2016?
There are recent reports of sightings of Putin/Trump bumper stickers.
I want one.
However, his followers do believe in Squid Pro Quo…cause they are all suckers.
I have one answer: Trump is currently seeking advice from Hannity and Carlson. They’ll know what to do.
Tayler later added that he thought it was “crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign.”
Smoking. Freaking. Gun.
Checkmate.
Game, set, and match.
(Feel free to offer additional superlative clichés.)
Well, much as I hate to, I have to mow the lawn.
Later, Taters!
- Everyone does it!
But not like Trump. His people are saying "You sir are magnificent! You are to thuggery what Picasso is to art. Roy Hobbs calls you The Natural!
In the 9/9/19 5:19:35 AM text, Gordon Sondland said: “The President has been crystal clear no quid pro quo’s of any kind. […] I suggest we stop the back and forth by text”.
It is almost as if he is already consciously playing the press and providing anticipatory ammo for the Gym Jordans out there: they will repeat “The President has been crystal clear no quid pro quo’s of any kind” but not fully, or at all, get that he, Sondland, is straight-up lying – hence the need to “stop the back and forth by text”.
Excellent analogy!
Dems need to appropriate it.