Trump/Russia 2016 election investigation (continued, now with Ukraine!)

MikeOberly · 2019-09-26T03:04:50.220Z

These shitheads move the goalposts like it’s their job. Maybe it is.

Max Boot (MaxBoot)

But now Republicans have moved the goal posts to claim that if Trump didn’t say “quid pro quo” it’s all good. twitter.com/kylegriffin1/s…

Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1

Before the release of the White House conversation memo, Chris Christie argued that Trump would only be in trouble if he said something like, 'Do me a favor...'. https://t.co/abKS3A6p3h

3:03 AM - 26 Sep 2019 32 8

Skipper · 2019-09-26T03:14:25.999Z

I’m reminded of the people that defended Roy Moore. There is no low bar here. Politicians will defend their own until it is no longer in their best interests.

If Trump’s polling tanks to a critical point the rats will be swimming away from his ship so fast it’ll make our heads spin, and that’s even knowing it will happen.

tomchick · 2019-09-26T03:40:56.330Z

Skipper:

I’m reminded of the people that defended Roy Moore. There is no low bar here. Politicians will defend their own until it is no longer in their best interests.

Republican politicians, as I’m sure Al Franken would be happy to remind you. :)

-Tom

Gordon_Cameron · 2019-09-26T03:52:21.956Z

As long as he didn’t say it in a Marlon-Brando-with-cotton-balls-in-his-mouth voice it’s legal.

MikeOberly · 2019-09-26T03:53:45.415Z

Ask Moscow Mitch, Jimmy Jordan, and Kevin McCarthy.

twitter.com

Renato Mariotti (renato_mariotti)

My question, after reading the "transcript" of the call: How could anyone possibly defend Trump's conduct?

3:44 AM - 26 Sep 2019 1K 160

MikeOberly · 2019-09-26T03:55:14.991Z

twitter.com

Ryan Goodman (rgoodlaw)

#Ukrainegate update: significant Quid, pro, and a quo Adviser to Ukraine President says, on the record, condition of communications and call itself was the Biden case. "This issue was raised many times. I know that Ukrainian officials understood." abcnews.go.com/Politics/ukrai…

3:53 AM - 26 Sep 2019 21 11

twitter.com

Ryan Goodman (rgoodlaw)

2. "'It was clear that Trump will only have communications if they will discuss the Biden case,' said Serhiy Leshchenko, an anti-corruption advocate and former member of Ukraine's Parliament, who now acts as an adviser to Zelenskiy." (@Reevellp @lcbruggeman reporting)

4:05 AM - 26 Sep 2019 3 2

twitter.com

Ryan Goodman (rgoodlaw)

Several tweeted ABC report of Ukraine Pres. adviser saying Biden case was precondition for communications/the call Important add: Same adviser wrote in WaPo: "As a person who has had direct experience of many of these events, I express my readiness to testify to the US Congress" https://t.co/nNcJa8uFZ5

4:14 AM - 26 Sep 2019 14 7

Skipper · 2019-09-26T03:59:54.988Z

tomchick:

Republican politicians, as I’m sure Al Franken would be happy to remind you. :)

I miss Al Franken, and yes I realize what that entails. How things have changed.

Mark_Asher · 2019-09-26T04:08:09.421Z

That was very funny! Let’s have comedians in charge of government everywhere!

Chuck · 2019-09-26T04:36:42.573Z

Al Franken is more than just a comedian.

Strollen · 2019-09-26T06:31:42.459Z

I’d up the aid package to $2 billion if we can give swap Trump for Zelensky. That was pretty damn funny.

Calelari · 2019-09-26T13:47:32.789Z

WTF WAS FINLAND TYPING?!

(I assume I’m missing the actual joke, or the payoff was after the end of the clip.)

nKoan · 2019-09-26T14:13:01.511Z

The joke is Finland is anti social (I think)

robc04 · 2019-09-26T14:23:28.901Z

Urg, Adam Shiff did not come across in a good light with his questioning. Maguire presented himself well and gave a clear opening statement. Shiff just seemed like he was grasping at straws and being combative. Usually he comes across as thoughtful and deliberate - not today. I didn’t listen to Nunez’s questions because it would make me want to punch him in the face.

MikeOberly · 2019-09-26T14:28:07.012Z

twitter.com

Matthew Yglesias (mattyglesias)

How is this different from what happened? twitter.com/jessbidgood/st…

Jess Bidgood @jessbidgood

I asked Lindsey Graham what “quid pro quo” would look like to him. “ ‘Uh, hey pal, you know, you need to like, go after the Bidens or I ain’t gonna give you any money,’” he said. “Be really, like, thuggish about it.” https://t.co/G1eTo5GdgJ

2:20 PM - 26 Sep 2019 460 59

Papageno · 2019-09-26T15:11:05.628Z

I see a Republican House Member from Utah a few speakers back was already flogging the “leaks” narrative regarding this incident, even though the whistle blower in this instance followed all the rules.

MikeOberly · 2019-09-26T15:19:39.030Z

Really good thread here.

twitter.com

Stephen Engelberg (SteveEngelberg)

As the editor in chief of ProPublica, I’m always telling reporters to read their work out loud. As an experiment, I tried that with today’s rough transcript of President Trump’s phone call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine. The results are illuminating.

9:09 PM - 25 Sep 2019 5.6K 2K

Timex · 2019-09-26T15:59:56.445Z

Calelari:

WTF WAS FINLAND TYPING?!

At the very end of the second clip, Finland says, “Hi!”

scottagibson · 2019-09-26T16:24:39.405Z

robc04:

Adam Shiff did not come across in a good light with his questioning. Maguire presented himself well and gave a clear opening statement. Shiff just seemed like he was grasping at straws and being combative.

Wow. I came away from this wondering how anyone ever let Maguire even row a boat.

robc04 · 2019-09-26T16:48:38.604Z

I wonder what we saw differently. I hate Trump just as much as anyone and want to see him go down. To me, based on the rules of what the whistle blower rules are, it seemed like Maguire didn’t violate anything and he articulated his explanation as to why he did what he did very well.

BennyProfane · 2019-09-26T16:51:29.870Z

robc04:

I wonder what we saw differently. I hate Trump just as much as anyone and want to see him go down. To me, based on the rules of what the whistle blower rules are, it seemed like Maguire didn’t violate anything and he articulated his explanation as to why he did what he did very well.

Sure, and why he did what he did can be summed up succinctly: I’m a coward.