4055

So is Schiff, though.

4056

Schiff shows leadership.

4057

Yes, yes, MOTHERFUCKING YES!

I know the GOP won’t support it now, but get out there and make it unpalatable publicly for them not to support it. Get the public on board through visible and strong action, weak dithering makes the public (stupid as they are) think the case isn’t strong enough.

4058

President Donald Trump on Sunday said he would consider releasing a transcript of a phone call he had with Ukraine’s leader, even though two of his Cabinet secretaries said only hours earlier that such conversations must remain “private.”

“We’ll make a determination about how to release it, releasing it, saying what we said,” the president told reporters in Houston. “It was an absolutely perfect conversation. The problem is, when you’re speaking to foreign leaders, you don’t want foreign leaders to feel that they shouldn’t be speaking openly and good. … You want them to be able to express themselves without knowing that not every single word is going to be going out and going out all over the world.”

4059

Fucking putz.

4060

I’m sure he’ll release that transcript right after his tax returns.

4061

He might release it. After all, he has overwhelming evidence that the Democrats are spineless fucks that will let him get away with anything.

4062

If he releases it, a couple weeks later he’ll claim it isn’t him on the tape. Fox will dutifully report that it isn’t him, and then there will be a furious effort to find whoever leaked the tape (nevermind that if it were leaked, that would mean it was real).

4063

The transcript is what the Trumpists want to release. They’ll pretend they don’t want to, but they will be “persuaded” to release some redacted POS that they will have a plan to spin, like the Barr summary of the Mueller report.

What must be released (to the Intel committee) is the whistleblower complaint as reviewed by the IG. Anything less demands impeachment of Barr and Trump both.

4064

Should not the Congress do everything in its power to get the whistleblower to testify in person?

4065

I believe the whistle blower has to be identified first, plus I am sure the administration will assert executive privilege, which so far has completely thwarted Congress. Until Congress starts playing hardball nothing is going to change.

4066

Well, that’s a given.

4067

We’ve already bumped against the limit of Congress’ ability to play hardball. The ultimate threat they have is impeachment; if the administration does not fear that there is no constitutional check.

4068
4069

Wait, what? I thought we’ve determined the whistleblower complaint is about Ukraine? Not about conversations with Putin.

Unless she’s quoting another source?

4070

Nothing has been determined - its all rumor until the whistleblower’s report is released, or they come forward.

4071

She’s just putting together a timeline of events that seems potentially related. Could be that the Ukraine/Biden stuff was convenient distraction for Trump for the real issue at hand? Who knows.

They’ll likely be attending a nice polonium tea party soon.

4072

Yes, I seem to recall that exact sentiment 12 years ago, and now we have people arguing on this very forum that George W. Bush was an awesome guy who totally didn’t commit any crimes–obviously, because he wasn’t even tried for any.

4073

They just admit their corrupt best practices out in the open now. No one has spanked him yet for being naughty so he continues to be a venal piece of shit.

4074

Enough with this shitstain. Enough.