Yeah, but unfortunately, doesn’t it feel like if there’s just enough reason to connect the Hunter Biden situation to general corruption concerns in Ukraine–even if just in Trump’s opinion–then that could defuse the abuse of power article, since Trump’s actions could plausibly be considered in the interest of the country and not his personal electoral success? I don’t agree that’s the case, but when it comes to giving Republicans a little more plausible deniability, this line of attack–as skeevy as it is, given that it’s hurting Joe Biden in exactly the way Trump wanted all along–seems one of the more powerful levers the defense has.
Also, for all the arguments the house managers tried to anticipate, I have to say this one felt like one of the most under-countered. I’m sure they were trying to limit the damage to Joe Biden by not getting into details, but unfortunately that leaves it as one of the few points they didn’t hammer quite thoroughly. (I should say I didn’t see every hour of the HMs’ testimony.)
Menzo
6136
A smart person would have been able to make this plausible. But Trump is so dumb that he made it clear to basically everyone (he said it so loud that someone sitting next to the person talking to him on the phone hear it!) that he was withholding the aid specifically to get Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden.
Not that it matters, because you’re correct that this line of defense holds just enough water to wrap a nice, comfy blanket of denial around delicate MAGA shoulders.
What’s hilarious about all this “But NO ONE HAS INVESTIGATED BURISMA and the BIDENS!!1” BS is that the Republican Congress UNDER TRUMP EVEN could have done so AT ANY MOMENT if there was a “there” there. Why did it become so darned important in July of 2019, and why did a foreign government need to investigate it?
Timex
6138
So I’ve been in meetings all day, and finally get a chance to watch the live hearing.
And they are seemingly just going on with a “but Obama”?
I mean, ok. Let’s impeach Obama too. Whatever.
‘Where were the House managers in 1939 when Germany invaded Poland?!’
Are they doubling down on the crowdstrike theory?
Why is Herschmann giving a campaign speech for Trump?
Biden’s supposedly corrupt influence on getting the Ukrainian prosecutor (Victor Shokin) fired happened in 2016. The Republicans in the House AND Senate had two full years to investigate this supposed corruption, yet they did not for some reason. Hmm, 'tis a puzzlement.
I literally read that as “Henchmann” like it was a He-man character.
Timex
6145
I would vote for Skeletor over Trump.
I prefer to call him by his real name:
Orange Skull
ShivaX
6147
The White House is currently full of Trumps.
That’s why this is a stupid line to take. What’s more corrupt? Biden’s son working for Burisma or Ivanka and Don Jr talking to foreign heads of state and getting deals from foreign governments while working in the White House despite having no experience or credentials? Cause the Trumps are waaaay worse. Worst case scenario is that Hunter took the job to leverage his name in some foreign country, which is what Ivanka is doing. Only she’s also hanging out with Prime Ministers, while her husband is off trying to run US Middle East policy.
ShivaX
6148
Yeah, it’s laughable to buy the argument that the people who investigated Hillary base on absolutely nothing for like a decade non-stop wouldn’t investigate Biden if they thought there was even the inkling of something there.
ShivaX
6149
If Jefferson was alive he’d be mystified why this man wasn’t tarred and feathered.
Beard’s working, though. He’s like 20% less punchable now. Learned something from Jonathan Frakes I guess.
Oh yeah, he’s way less punchable with the beard.
Well, till he opens his mouth, anyway.
