Tag Archives: extortion

Math is really, really hard

12 Thursday Dec 2019

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Bad combover. Check. Too long red tie. Check. Orange spray tan. Check. Tiny hands. Check. Cluelessness. Check…

Seriously, quoting Louis Gohmert (r):

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump
…..What’s gone on the last three years is not reasonable. The majority has been so abusive.”
8:57 PM · Dec 12, 2019

The 116th Congress (currently in session) started with a Democratic Party majority in the House on January 3, 2019. The Senate remains under republican control. That’s a little over eleven months.

An appropriate insult for Donald Trump (r) and the republicans in Congress – from junior high school days: If their brains were condensed into gasoline it wouldn’t be enough to run a minibike around the inside of a Cheerio.

Some of the comments:

Thoughts and prayers

You should deal with your anger management. See a good old-fashioned film with friends. Chill, Donny, chill!

I would like you to do us a favor though

And i can see Russia from my back yard

Maybe next time don’t engage in a multi year crime spree and you won’t have to be under constant investigation….

Donald taking a break from taunting a teenage girls to indulge in self-pity.

Freaking cry about it. Quit doing your dumb shit, no one would be investigating you. You give every reason for them to do just that. No one more deserving than you!

Where President Trump admits he represents a minority of population fighting to maintain near absolute power over majority. And, somehow, wants US to feel sorry for him because vicimization is their thing.

If by the majority you mean Mitch McConnel, I agree. He has abused the American people.

You’re so screwed Donnie

I would say by all your nervous tweeting the last few days you are … nervous.

Be better

You’re spiraling

“Make America Great Again” – in Russian.

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D): Impeach

11 Wednesday Dec 2019

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Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D) [2019 file photo].

Cleaver’s Statement on House Judiciary Committee Introducing Articles of Impeachment
Dec 10, 2019 [….]
(Washington, D.C.) – United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) released the following statement after the House Judiciary Committee announced the introduction of articles of impeachment against the President of the United States.

Today is a profoundly sad day for our nation. My heart is heavy, as we enter only the fourth time in our country’s history that the House of Representatives has been forced to introduce articles of impeachment against a sitting President. While no member of Congress comes to Washington to remove a President from power, we all swear an oath to defend and protect the Constitution of the United States. In recent months, the House Intelligence and Judiciary Committees have presented a case with overwhelming evidence exposing significant presidential misconduct. The case presented alleges that the President abused the power of his office and undermined American national security by withholding congressionally-approved military aid in an effort to coerce a vulnerable foreign government into smearing a domestic political rival before the 2020 elections. This is a grave perversion of presidential power and antithetical to America’s founding ideals based on fair elections free from foreign interference.

I was extremely reluctant to agree to support an impeachment inquiry into the President. It was, and still is, a discomforting decision. But, as is the case in all of life, the most painful thing is ofttimes the most principled thing. After reviewing witness testimony, the call summary, and public statements from the President and his Chief of Staff, I am left with no other choice but to support the articles of impeachment introduced in the House. The evidence presented is unquestionably sufficient for a trial in the Senate. Should the articles of impeachment be sent to the Senate, I’m hopeful that every American will pay close attention to what is being presented and ask themselves whether or not this is the way we want our democracy to function moving forward. In this pivotal moment, I am thinking about my grandchildren and the country I want to leave for them. Future generations will look back on this time as a defining moment in American democracy. I intend to be on the right side of history.

###

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D) [2018 file photo].

Consciousness of guilt

10 Tuesday Dec 2019

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Bad combover. Check. Too long red tie. Check. Orange spray tan. Check. Tiny hands. Check. Cluelessness. Check…

This morning, one of several:

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump
WITCH HUNT!
8:56 AM · Dec 10, 2019

All caps. Heh.

Previously:

Dude’s gotta go (December 3, 2019)

James Staab: The Case for Impeachment is Clear (December 6, 2019)

#ImpeachTheMF (December 10, 2019)

James Staab: The Case for Impeachment is Clear

06 Friday Dec 2019

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House Democrats have been remarkably cautious in considering whether to impeach Donald Trump. Even after the Mueller Report, which did not exonerate the president from obstruction of justice in the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election, they did not call for his impeachment. However, the concerns raised in the current impeachment inquiry directly implicate the president. The most alarming evidence is the July 25, 2019 transcript of the telephone conversation between President Trump and the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. After preliminary words of congratulations for the recent parliamentary elections in Ukraine, President Trump asked President Zelensky for a “favor.” He mentioned two specific things he would like to have investigated. First, the president mentioned “CrowdStrike,” the discredited conspiracy theory that the Ukrainians, not the Russians, tried to influence the 2016 election. He then turned to the Bidens and the former Ukrainian prosecutor general, Viktor Shokin, who was fired in March 2016. President Trump expressed regret that the former prosecutor had been “shut down” and suggested (based on another debunked conspiracy theory) that Vice President Biden wanted him fired to prevent an investigation of the company (Burisma) that his son, Hunter Biden, worked for.

We now know that President Trump was leveraging an official state visit with President Zelensky during their phone conversation. After President Zelenksy was elected in April, President Trump called the newly-elected president to congratulate him and mentioned that he would like him to visit the U.S. Through various back-channels, Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal lawyer, connected the official state visit with Zelensky’s public announcement of the investigations mentioned during the July 25 phone call. On July 10, two weeks before the conversation between the two heads of state, Gordon Sondland, the Ambassador to the European Union, raised the quid pro quo arrangement in a meeting in Washington D.C. with both Ukrainian and U.S. officials present. Alexander Vindman, National Security Council Director of European Affairs, and Fiona Hill, former White House Russia adviser, expressed concerns that such requests were “inappropriate.” John Bolton, the former National Security Adviser, abruptly ended the meeting and later described the arrangement as a “drug deal,” according to Hill’s testimony. At the end of the July 25th phone call, President Zelensky acknowledged the link between the official state visit to the United States and the requested investigations.

Another source of leverage that President Trump attempted to use was money. Congress had previously committed $392 million dollars to Ukraine for military support to protect against Russian aggression. On July 18, President Trump unilaterally withheld that money. The money to Ukraine was eventually released in September, but not before top State Department officials raised questions about why it was being withheld and the House became aware of a whistleblower complaint filed back in August. Bill Taylor, the top diplomat to Ukraine, said it was “crazy” for President Trump to withhold money to a foreign country to help with his own political campaign.

Historically speaking, the impeachment case against Donald Trump satisfies the constitutional standard of “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors” better than any previous one, except perhaps Richard Nixon’s. What President Trump engaged in during the July 25 conversation with President Zelensky was nothing short of bribery. Andrew Johnson did unpopular political acts during his presidency, but he did nothing illegal. In fact, his removal of Edwin Stanton, the Secretary of War, was proven to be within his constitutional authority historically. Bill Clinton exercised incredibly poor judgment in having a sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky, a White House intern, but it did not warrant removal from office. The clearest parallel to the current investigation is Richard Nixon’s. Nixon ordered the burglary of the Watergate building to learn what the Democrats were planning in the 1972 election and then orchestrated a coverup. When the Supreme Court ruled that the Oval Office audiotapes had to be released, Nixon had no choice but to resign. Similarly, Donald Trump wanted information against a political rival that would give him an advantage in his reelection bid for 2020. But Trump’s actions were arguably worse than Richard Nixon’s because he wanted to involve a foreign government in U.S. elections! No president should be able to call on a foreign leader to ask for a personal favor in a domestic election. If your members of Congress do not review the evidence of this investigation with the degree of seriousness it deserves, then you should vote them out of office.

– 30 –

James B. Staab is a Professor of Political Science and Constitutional Law at the University of Central Missouri. He has authored or co-authored articles or book chapters on various Supreme Court justices, including Levi Woodbury, Benjamin Cardozo, and Antonin Scalia. In 2006, he published a book on Justice Scalia titled The Political Thought of Justice Antonin Scalia: A Hamiltonian on the Supreme Court (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield). He is currently working on a book project tentatively titled, “The Limits of Constraint: The Originalist Jurisprudence of Hugo Black, Antonin Scalia, and Clarence Thomas.”

Previously:

Because a footnote in Marbury v Madison (1803) gives Wayne LaPierre the final word? (January 24, 2013)

The Tea Party is Anti-Federalist (October 16, 2013)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r) “Four legs good, two legs better.”

05 Thursday Dec 2019

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Eric Blair should be so proud. Or, more probably, horrified.

From the Federal Election Commission [pdf]:

OFFICIAL 2016 PRESIDENTIAL GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS
General Election Date: 11/08/2016
DATE: January 30, 2017 SOURCE: State Elections Offices

CA Clinton 8,753,788 Trump 4,483,810

MO Clinton 1,071,068 Trump 1,594,511

NY Clinton 4,556,124 Trump 2,819,534

Total Clinton 65,853,516 48.18% Trump 62,984,825 46.09%

Representative Vicky Hartzler (r) [2016 file photo].

This morning, from Representative Vicky Hartzler (r):

Rep. Vicky Hartzler @RepHartzler
This impeachment inquiry has been a political attack against Trump. This is a move started by and supported by only Democrats.

This is what happens when California and New York Democrats want to undo the decision of the 1.6 million Missourians who voted for @realDonaldTrump.
8:52 AM · Dec 5, 2019

Math is hard, high dudgeon is cheap and easy.

As usual, there was much hilarity in the responses:

You’re peddling fiction.

Just like you did on birtherism.
Just like you did promising to lower our national debt.
Just like you did promising not to support tariffs.
Just like you do on climate change.
Just like you do on evolution.

You lie. Over and over. [….]

You know better. He did it. He is immoral, indecent, and probably, illegitimate. Our great country and our democracy is under attack by him, putin, and more. He’s debilitated our State Department, along with the EPA, along with any public entity that serves our citizens. Shame.

Nice tactic Vicky. Call out those coastal “elites”. Can’t wait to be rid of you in 2020.

Nope, this is what happens when presidents are DIRTY.

Shame on you for making it political, you know better.

You couldn’t be more wrong. It’s a shame you’ve decided to choose that orange malignancy in the Oval Office over your country and your oath to the Constitution. But that’s OK. You officially won’t have to care about that oath after next Election Day anyway.

Ma’am, politics has absolutely NOTHING to do with what the Speaker is doing. Our President broke his oath to the constitution & to the American people. The evidence is irrefutable.

Wrong. It was started by the corruption of this Administraton – that was revealed and exposed.

Missouri voter here: impeach and remove.

Same

read the transcript!

The inferiority complex is strong in this one.

The rest of the country better become the new resistance, or we will become a two state nation!! East of the Mississippi will be New York and west will be California. Theirs will be the only votes that count!

/whine Math is hard.

I can’t wait to see you at the Harrisonville Walmart so I can publicly shame you. You’ll hear me before you’ll see me, that’s for sure. [….]

Such courage you have (sarcasm). When was the last time you had a town hall in Columbia to face your constituents? Come and share with us voters your defense of extortion, bribery and obstruction of Congress. [….]

“…Subject startles easily at the sight of concerned consituents…”

We understand there might be a future open public townhall at the national anti-union chain store branch in Harrisonville.

Ummmm how many people voted against trump? Really better track up those numbers again. He lost the popular vote.

No. This has nothing to do with undoing votes. It has to do with the LAW.

Thanks for reminding us that the GOP has no interest in oversight or accountability. Given this dereliction of duty, maybe you should find another line of work.

This is about abuse of power. If you support him, you must be compromised.

What is your defense for the accusations and testimonies against him? You can’t just dismiss them all because “only democrats support impeachment.” That’s not a defense.

Your disingenuousness & lack of spine will be quite lovely to read about in the history books. Hope you’re ready for the public shaming of your family for decades to come. You’re on the wrong side of this issue and you know it. Here’s hoping that karma will be extra bitchy.

Impeachment doesn’t undo an election any more than jailing a criminal “undoes” their right to freedom. Impeachment is called for under the Constitution when a President abuses his office.

Independent voter here. I always understood the value of ideas left vs right in politics. But I don’t understand why you are protecting corruption for a president who does not value the importance of the office he holds. Continue on this path and all moderates will leave you.

Interesting. The “last straw” wasn’t the overt racism of birtherism or the Muslim ban, nor mocking a reporter with a physical disability, nor attacking Gold Star parents, nor separating children from their parents and holding them in cages…

No this is what happens when a game show host crimes in the White House.

Trump withheld aid from a foreign country to get dirt on a political rival. That’s Bribery. This isn’t the Democrats doing, this is trump and his crooked administration.

“I need you to do us a favor, though.”

No this is what happens when Republicans stand up for Republicans and not the United States, you will NEVER receive my vote again for anything.

The only New Yorker responsible for Donald Trump’s malfeasance is Donald Trump.

No, this is what happens when someone actually has the balls to stand up and protect the constitution against high crimes and misdemeanors. Trump’s a crime boss and you’re a family member.

It’s all about abuse of power, obstruction of justice, the rule of law and upholding the Constitution, which was part of your oath of office. Get a clue or resign.

This impeachment is a slap in the face of every little city in rural America who voted for @realDonaldTrump. Democrats who live in big cities desire to rule over all. It’s past time for a Civil War or Breakup of the USA into 3 or 4 Autonomous Republics.

That there’s a real patriot. Good luck on your own, sucker. Until the revenues generated by the citizens of New York and California to subsidize those other states disappear, right?

Bullshit. I’ve voted against you in every single election you’ve run. I knocked on doors, put up signs. Every day you dismiss half the electorate of this state like you’ve got some kind of carte blanche to enact their corporate bought and paid agenda. You are the worst.

Do you have any idea how ridiculous you sound? Or is that on purpose?

We’re gonna go with a “no” on the first one.

Trump is a criminal – and so are you for being his accomplice

Even Republican voters have Trump fatigue

#TrumpIsALaughingStock

Let us be clear about this Vicky, you support a criminal and a traitor.

The election you and your party are vaunting was objectively attacked by a foreign power to help donald trump win.

I don’t see the will of 1.6M Missourians, I see the will of Vladimir Putin.

“Make America Great Again” – in Russian.

You’re on the wrong side of history and are spouting a false message.

Why are Republicans parroting Putin propaganda & disinformation? Why don’t Repubs defend Constitution? Your oath was meaningless. You know if a Democratic president had done any ONE of the things 45 has done, you’d impeach.
#Hypocrites

“Россия” (Russia) – a variant of the Russian presidential flag.

You believe a President can never be impeached because it would be “undoing” the decision of certain voters?

This conflicts with the express terms of the Constitution which mandates Impeachment for Bribery, Treason, or High Crimea and Misdemeanors.

No one is above the law.

No, that’s what happens when Missourians get hustled into voting for a lifelong New York Democrat as if he’s the brand standard of the Republican Party. Y’all got bamboozled. People like you are the reason i left the party. Grow a spine and standup for what’s right.

He changed his vote registration to Florida.

Dude’s gotta go

03 Tuesday Dec 2019

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Bad combover. Check. Too long red tie. Check. Orange spray tan. Check. Tiny hands. Check. Cluelessness. Check…

Early this evening:

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump
Too bad. We will miss you Kamala!
[….]
5:25 PM · Dec 3, 2019

Ten minutes later, a response:

Kamala Harris @KamalaHarris
Don’t worry, Mr. President. I’ll see you at your trial.
[….]
5:35 PM · Dec 3, 2019

There is a difference.

He ain’t too bright, is he?

Senator Kamala Harris (D) [2019 file photo].

Yes, we will.

Previously:

Sen. Kamala Harris (D): “We will keep up that fight.” (December 3, 2019)

Russian asset

02 Monday Dec 2019

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“Россия” (Russia) – a variant of the Russian presidential flag.

This morning, from the senior United States Senator from Hawaii:

Brian Schatz @brianschatz
So, today is a good day to find out whether Senator Kennedy’s “Ukraine is the real culprit” represents the consensus position of Senate Republicans.
6:40 AM · Dec 2, 2019

They won’t answer. Vladimir Putin won’t let them.

“Make America Great Again” – in Russian.

It’s in the Constitution. You can go check.

30 Saturday Nov 2019

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Bad combover. Check. Too long red tie. Check. Orange spray tan. Check. Tiny hands. Check. Cluelessness. Check…

This evening:

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump
“Trump did nothing impeachable, day-by-day review of all impeachment hearing testimony shows”
@GreggJarrett
[….]
7:26 PM · Nov 30, 2019

Because, of course, as explained in the Constitution the Faux News Channel is the final arbiter.

Some of the Twitter responses:

Yeap. A Fox news commentator is the final word on everything.

Propaganda TV doesn’t matter.

Looks like manbaby finally grabbed the phone back from his babysitters…. [….]

I can’t wait for you to testify.

Heh.

You are a very small, insecure man.

America can see right through their phony President.

He’s baaaaack!

Nearly everything Donald John Trump involves himself in becomes corrupted. It’s as if he is the Anti-Midas.

Yeah, I’m not sure “The Deep State is out to get me” is an entirely convincing argument from a man who has already lied 13,000 times and is about to be impeached

You tried to bribe another country to interfere in our elections.

“I’m innocent.” -Every guilty criminal

Ok, Donny. But could you do me a favor though?

We see what you did there.

Well then why is he obstructing Congress and intimidating witnesses ? Why is he hiding documents ? Innocent people don’t do that.

This whole presidency, day by day, makes Trump more impeachable.

He doesn’t get to decide, Congress does. Worried?

Sure Jan.

People who have a convoluted value system and an inability to discern a difference between right and wrong will always claim they are innocent of even the most dastardly crimes.

“Faux News channel, fascist groupies” – protest sign, circa 2003- 2004.

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): Oopsie, again…

27 Wednesday Nov 2019

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Yesterday:

U.S. Representative Lawrence Clarifies Statement on LeDuff Podcast
November 26, 2019 Press Release

Detroit, MI – Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (MI-14) issued the following statement in clarification of her interview with Charlie LeDuff:

“I was an early supporter for impeachment in 2017. The House Intelligence Committee followed a very thorough process in holding hearings these past two weeks. The information they revealed confirmed that this President has abused the power of his office, therefore I continue to support impeachment.

However, I am very concerned about Senate Republicans and the fact that they would find this behavior by the President acceptable.”

###

Representative Vicky Hartzler (r) [2016 file photo].

Yesterday morning:

Rep. Vicky Hartzler @RepHartzler
The impeachment inquiry only highlights divides in our nation. It has prevented us from working together to deliver real results for hardworking people.

The election is 11 months away. Let the American people decide President Trump’s political future.
[….]
10:36 AM · Nov 26, 2019

The American people decided Donald Trump’s political future on November 6, 2018. Don’t you remember?

As usual, there was much hilarity in the responses:

No, Vicky, the impeachment inquiry highlights that trump is utterly corrupt and should be removed from office. Impeach, Convict, Remove! Then in November 2020, VOTE BLUE!

there is a criminal in the white house and he should be held accountable.

Okay.

I decide… to impeach and remove Donald J. Trump from office.

But in the meantime u want us to turn a blind eye to the lawlessness of what he HAS done??

Sure sounds like that, don’t it?

@HouseGOP @FoxNews “Republicans hope lying will work better then their current start of defending the indefensible”

Vicky endorses trump’s crimes

It actually highlights the departure from truth and consequence by all @GOP. You’d have to be a fool to believe a word from @potus or any republican. Have a nice day, Vicky.

That’s the same as “bless your heart” if you live north of the river, right?

No, the highlights are that the American people are seeing the depth of corruption in our government, and not just from this administration, others also. The American people need to stand up for the constitution & hold even Presidents accountable, impeach and set the example.

That is not a defense.

BTW
– the gov’t has been divided since 2010
– trump & the GOP have made it worse
– 200+ bills waiting for
@senatemajldr to act

Got caught in the act. Withholding military aid in exchange for a personal favor is bribery (aka quid pro quo). Aid was released when the coverup scheme blew up

A crinimal potus who likens himself to Jesus Christ, compromises our national security and believes he is above the law, is what’s dividing our nation. My question is why doesn’t this bother you?
#CorruptGOP

Lol. Nope. Trump for prison.

How about we respect rule of law and punish those not following it? Crazy idea, huh?

Where is your responsibility in check a branches abuse of power?

No. Goddammit. He is corrupt and I’m sick & tired of the GOP pretending he is not. His entire entourage are corrupt. Most have had to resign because of ethics violations. Others have gone to prison. This corrupt administration is insufferable. What happens when he defies SCOTUS?

by that time, it’ll be too late. Just watch.

“It has prevented us from working together.” SERIOUSLY? Are you high??? They have committed crimes!

That is a fatuous argument.

@realDonaldTrump is accused of cheating on the last election and attempting to cheat on the next election. Are we guaranteed that he won’t still try to cheat? No.

He can’t be trusted. Let the investigation finish, and probably #ImpeachAndRemove.

Had to look that one up. Heh.

this from the party who said “we’re going to make sure Obama is a one-term president”

working together, it seems is convenient when your party is on the defense

#HeyGOPAmericansArentStupid

But, maybe their base is.

This is always your answer except if you had the chance to put another justice on the court your mantra would change. You continue to lie to the American people!

Please provide the name of the survey to which you are referencing? I believe the number were just released last night showing no change in the last 7 days. Naming your Source is the always best practice. Bills are moving forward to die in $ Moscow Mitch’s Graveyard.

Eat shit #welfarevicky

Well. That individual certainly has a strong opinion.

Sure vicky. Who cares if he broke the law. Nice concept

Impeachment or not, it is good to know what Trump is doing behind our backs. Who knows what else he will do to this country before the next election. Do you really want to wait that long and see the division getting even wider with more violence?

So you are saying trump hasn’t been divisive? You are saying if their is wrongdoing let it go?

Well, he is. And he’s confessed on TV.

So someone who is cheating and abusing their power, to win an election. To say that we should wait until after that election to do anything is just dumb. You know when everyone who worked on this says that he is guilty. It takes a special kind of stupid to say let’s wait.

You are an idiot. It’s about the soul of our country and holding this President and future Presidents accountable. If you do not understand that, I strongly suggest you resign immediately

Or you could stop kissing the ass of a traitor.

There is that.

Go to school, do your homework, and never, ever, engage in sloppy conspiracy theories with people who are just as dumb as you

24 Sunday Nov 2019

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On the fake “do not prosecute” list:

“…THE CHAIRMAN: Can you tell us what that letter was and what you know of its provenance?

MR. KENT: Well, that was part of series of news articles that came out I believe starting March 20th, this spring. There with a number of articles that were initially led by John Solomon of The Hill, who gave — who took an interview with Yuriy Lutsenko earlier in March. And so, there was, I believe, video somewhere, there certainly were pictures of them doing interview. And it’s part of a series of articles, it was an intense campaign. One of those articles released because the interview on the first day Lutsenko had claimed that Ambassador Yovanovitch had given him a list in their first meeting of people not to prosecute. Several days later, a list of names was circulated on the internet, with — the photograph had a copy of my temporary business card that I used for a short period of time in 2015. So it was a real — it didn’t look like a regular business card. It was the one that we did on the embassy printer. So I think the card was genuine, and someone attached that to a list of names that was a hodgepodge of names. Some of the people I had to google, I had not heard of. Half the names were misspelled. Not the way that any American, or even Ukrainian, or Russian would transliterate Ukrainian names. My best guess, just from a linguistics semantic point is the person who created the fake list was either Czech or Serbian…” – INTERVIEW OF: GEORGE KENT – Tuesday, 0ctober 15, 2019 – Washington, D. C.

Transliteration – Tchaikovsky, Tschaikovsky, or Tschaikowsky? It’s important to pay attention in language school.

“…There were about 15 names, and I remember it was very odd. It included the country’s leading rock star, Slava Vakarchuk, who is now the leader of one of the parties in parliament. It included very bizarrely a person who was a friend of the current — the ex-President Poroshenko and was head of the overseer of the defense industry named Gladkovskiy, and in parentheses it had his previous name, Svinarchuk. The reason why that’s memorable is because it means a pig or a pig farmer, and he changed his name before he went into government so he didn’t have a name that said basically Mr. Piggy. But no one knew that that was really — knew that was his name when the list allegedly was created in 2015. That was a story line from 2019…” – George P. Kent, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs: “Mr. Piggy” and the list (November 11, 2019)

In 2015 and 2016 the story of Mr. Piggy’s name change was not known.

“…they were quoting Giuliani saying to a Ukranian that the President really wants Ambassador Yovanovitch to go. And this seemed to be — the implication was that this was a roundabout way the President was trying to get rid of the Ambassador through this smear campaign.

I found it at the beginning very — I found it very hard to understand why a President of the United States would do it that way when he can just — I mean, all Ambassadors are Presidential appointees, they serve at the pleasure of the President, so it didn’t — it didn’t add up to me. I didn’t understand why that would be…” – Ambassador David Hale, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (November 19, 2019)

Donald Trump (r) could have removed Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch from her post by just simply removing her from her post. Instead, she was subjected to a campaign impugning her professionalism and character. For what reason?

Very late on Friday, in response to a court order in a lawsuit by American Oversight:

Publish Date: November 22, 2019
State Department Releases Ukraine Documents to American Oversight

On Friday evening, the State Department released nearly 100 pages of records in response to American Oversight’s lawsuit seeking a range of documents related to the Trump administration’s dealings with Ukraine.

Among other records, the production includes emails that confirm multiple contacts in March of 2019 between Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, at least one of which was facilitated by President Trump’s assistant Madeleine Westerhout.

[….]

From the material (C06852069) released to American Oversight:

The cover envelope. Note the “return address”.

“Timelines” folder. Note the “Trump Hotels” imprint.

“Outline”. “Source of this document?”

The “list”.

Mar. April 2016
Prosecutor General Lutsenko meets with US Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch. Yovanovitch tells Lutsenko that he must drop investigation of individuals and institutions. The list includes an organization run by George Soros. Lutsenko is aware that Yovanovitch is very close to Biden and Soros.

And, in one of the articles:

…’Unfortunately, from the first meeting with the U.S. Ambassador in Kiev, [Yovanovitch] gave me a list of people whom we should not prosecute,’ Lutsenko, who took his post in 20016, told [The Hill] last week…

It’s evident that the campaign to impugn the character of Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch was used, in part, to neutralize any questioning of the validity of the accusations aimed at the Bidens which were contained in this “package”. If, in their world, Marie Yovanovitch’s character and professionalism have no value, then any challenges to the accuracy of the information in their “package” have no value either.

And now, according to various news sources, Lutsenko has retracted his statement that there was a list.

It’s like Watergate, only this time, concocted by idiots. A student winter dance organizing committee at a junior high school run by clowns would have left fewer tracks.

Bad combover. Check. Too long red tie. Check. Orange spray tan. Check. Tiny hands. Check. Cluelessness. Check…