US Politics Mega-thread - Page 1837

Two Trump administration officials reportedly drafted a statement meant to be released by the Ukrainian government announcing investigations related to President Trump's political rivals in the U.S.The New York Times reported Thursday that Kurt Volker, Trump's former envoy to Ukraine who tendered his resignation last week, was involved in drafting the statement along with Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union (EU).

The statement pledged Ukraine's support for an investigation into the energy company Burisma, where former Vice President Joe Biden's son Hunter sat on the board, as well as a probe into allegations that Ukrainian officials sought to help Hillary Clinton's campaign against Trump in 2016, the Times reported.The two officials reportedly drafted the statement in the weeks following a widely-scrutinized call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in late July during which Trump pressed the Ukrainian leader to open an investigation into Biden, the current Democratic presidential front-runner.It is not clear if the statement ever made it to Zelensky's desk, but a top aide to the Ukrainian leader was made aware of the drafted statement, the Times reported.

In newly disclosed text messages shared with Congress, the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine writes to a group of other American diplomats that "I think it's crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign.”

In the Sept. 9 exchange, obtained by ABC News, the concerns are expressed by Bill Taylor, the top U.S. diplomat to Ukraine. Gordon Sondland, the United States Ambassador to the European Union, responds to Taylor, saying that charge is "incorrect."

"Bill, I believe you are incorrect about President Trump's intentions. The President has been crystal clear: no quid pro quo’s of any kind. The President is trying to evaluate whether Ukraine is truly going to adopt the transparency and reforms that President Zelenskiy promised during his campaign," Sondland says.

Sondland then suggests to the group take the conversations off line, typing, “I suggest we stop the back and forth by text.” It’s unclear whether the material obtained by ABC News included the full exchange.

WASHINGTON—President Trump ordered the removal of the ambassador to Ukraine after months of complaints from allies outside the administration, including his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, that she was undermining him abroad and obstructing efforts to persuade Kyiv to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, according to people familiar with the matter.

On October 04 2019 10:34 KwarK wrote:
Does anyone know why Trump is tweeting images from Nickelback music videos and ramblings about moots? Asking for a concerned country.

On October 04 2019 10:34 KwarK wrote:
Does anyone know why Trump is tweeting images from Nickelback music videos and ramblings about moots? Asking for a concerned country.

On October 04 2019 13:35 iPlaY.NettleS wrote:

Just showing how Biden lied about Ukraine, getting it out there.The video got 13 million views within the first 24 hours.If it was just a boring, serious video it’d maybe had got 2-3 million tops.

Now - We’ve got Schiff making a dramaticised interpretation of the Transcript and Pelosi claiming on TV that those were Trumps own words.Even the interviewer Stephanopoulos had to tell her “Those were not the Presidents own words.”Dems just falling to pieces, absolute disaster for them.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_BleVqhw8Ps

On October 04 2019 13:35 iPlaY.NettleS wrote:

Just showing how Biden lied about Ukraine, getting it out there.The video got 13 million views within the first 24 hours.If it was just a boring, serious video it’d maybe had got 2-3 million tops.

Now - We’ve got Schiff making a dramaticised interpretation of the Transcript and Pelosi claiming on TV that those were Trumps own words.Even the interviewer Stephanopoulos had to tell her “Those were not the Presidents own words.”Dems just falling to pieces, absolute disaster for them.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_BleVqhw8Ps

On October 04 2019 11:16 DarkPlasmaBall wrote:


Every day he loses a bit more of the little sanity he has left. He's like the Dark Wanderer between Diablo 1 and 2, except he was never an actual hero or martyr.

Border moats filled with snakes, alligators, and spikes? Is Mexico going to pay for that too? And I feel like we should be playing Collusion Bingo in our homes, as we currently have records of Trump and his buddies traitorously working with or trying to extort for their own personal gain: Russia, Ukraine, Australia, China, and Italy.

Question though, because he's clearly scared of being impeached: Why does Trump care about being impeached, since he won't be removed from office? Here's what's likely to happen, imho:
1. The impeachment inquiry will lead to an impeachment vote, because of course it will (and it should);
2. House Democrats will (and should) impeach Trump;
3. Senate Republicans will not convict or remove Trump from office (especially because the vote isn't anonymous);
4. Trump will tell his constituents that he's still the best president of all time because he remains in power;
5. Trump's supporters will believe him, and very few will leave his side if they haven't already.
So even though the impeachment process will be important historically and morally for the majority of Americans, I really don't see it weakening Trump's current base, or even making reelection any harder. (I think Trump's reelection will be almost entirely predicated on which Democratic candidate we elect in the primary to run against Trump.)

On October 04 2019 16:58 Taelshin wrote:
@Biff, I looked at that link, its literally just the clip from ABC news with Pelosi and Stephanopoulos as described in NettleS post. What exactly is your issue with it? You can find clips from every main stream media source on random YT channels, if there's no added commentary I'm unsure why it matters.

Feels like a desperate deflection to avoid actually addressing what Nettle's wrote in his post. Also I tried to find the full interview from ABC's YT channel but it seem's they themselves have clipped it, Perhaps in time they will release the full thing.

President Zelenskyy: ...I would also like to thank you for your great support in the area of defense. We are ready to continue to cooperate for the next steps specifically we are almost. ready to buy more Javelins from the United States for defense purposes.
The President: I would like you to do us a favor though...

On October 04 2019 19:45 Dangermousecatdog wrote:
I don't know, I really can't see how they think it is appropriate, unless they are anti-democracy. To use state power to denounce political opponents is exactly what autocrats do to retain power. It is the defining usage of state power that autocracies operate under. If Trump isn't removed, then it sets a dangerous precedent. Whoever is next in power will likely forever be in power, be it Republican or Democrat. And so American democracy dies.