This is ironic if Trump and Rudy G did not use sufficiently secure phones for their Ukrainian shakedown for their Russian puppet masters. Putin could dangle lots of things in front of Trump for not disclosing the transcripts of those phone calls. As I say, secrecy is overrated, and, as there was never any proof I saw how HRC's emails damaged national security in any true sense, I see little to worry about in terms of the content of the Rudy G-Trump calls that are not already otherwise available through any of the testimony so far or any future persons' testimonies. If there is other information not found through others' testimony, and it is material, then Trump may find himself hoisted on his own petard, to use an archaic phrase, because it means he is subject to Russian extortion or blackmail. That Trump is already likely subject to blackmail is something one gleans from Seth Abramson's and Craig Unger's books on the history of Trump's relationship with Russian oligarchs.
Your move, Trumpists.
Still, isn't there some way to implicate Pence so we are not subjected to a right wing, delusional Christian dominionist as president for even 10 months or so? I am counting on Trump to throw Pence under the bus along with every one else. He has already implicated Pence, and I think the focus of the impeachment should expand to Pence at this point. As I say when discussing this topic, House Speaker Pelosi could easily propose, and then set up, a bi-partisan caretake executive branch for the remainder of 2020 and January 2010 if enough Republicans were wise enough to go along. It would only take about 5-10 Republicans to make this happen. Also, let's keep in mind the removal of the Trump-Pence mistake or nightmare (it has elements of both) gives the Republican Party a chance to choose another Trumpist, but without Trump's deeply concerning Russian-tinged corruption and without Trump's refusal to follow even the most superficial diplomatic and political norms.
I continue to support impeaching Trump because I consider Trump's behavior to be a threat to what remains of our nation's republic, and consider Pence the fruit of a poisonous tree. I support impeachment not because I see much good coming out of this for Democrats per se. The key for me remains Bernie Sanders winning the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, which goes against the grain of those Democratic Party poobahs most interested in impeaching Trump. Also, for me, the Democratic Party needs to re-embrace a labor-oriented, New Deal-oriented stance which speaks to the majority of workers who struggle, no matter what macro economic indicators appear to say. That is all separate from impeachment. While I have chosen my strange bedfellows, I do not stand with them on any other major issue nor do I stand with them regarding the direction of the Democratic Party.
And, of course, Trump may yet decide his best defense is to say this impeachment proceeding is a criminalization of politics, and he has the right to cavort with Russians and work closely with Putin to the detriment of US relations with Western Europe and Japan. However, once this defense begins to unfold, I look forward to the exoneration of Alger Hiss and Jane Fonda. Still, the problem with this defense for Trump, in this instance, is Trump's shakedown of Ukraine's president with regard to US military aid is more of a personal type of corruption, not a criminalization of policy differences. Trump was not faithfully executing the laws, and was clearly motivated by personal considerations.
And, of course, Trump may yet decide his best defense is to say this impeachment proceeding is a criminalization of politics, and he has the right to cavort with Russians and work closely with Putin to the detriment of US relations with Western Europe and Japan. However, once this defense begins to unfold, I look forward to the exoneration of Alger Hiss and Jane Fonda. Still, the problem with this defense for Trump, in this instance, is Trump's shakedown of Ukraine's president with regard to US military aid is more of a personal type of corruption, not a criminalization of policy differences. Trump was not faithfully executing the laws, and was clearly motivated by personal considerations.
