Russia Keeps on Winning: How a Conspiracy Theory Rocked our Republic

Good Day World!

As history will show someday, Trump was a puppet of Putin.

It still has not been established exactly when Trump and Putin began working together, but the evidence gathered thus far points to the 2016 election.

Was Trump compromised by the ex-KGB chief and forced to cooperate with Putin's demands? Or, did their relationship begin when Trump was trying to build a hotel in Moscow? It could have been a combination of both.

From the day Trump got the Republican election platform to change their stance on the Crimea invasion, until the present, he's been a loyal ally of America's biggest enemy.

The damage Trump has done to all of our intelligence agencies, our standing in the world community, and the polarization of American politics has been extensive.

If it weren't for a whistleblower, no one would have known that Trump was bribing the Ukrainian president to investigate his political rival, Joe Biden.

The day after Trump and his minions stifled the Mueller report's findings and he declared he was exonerated from "the witch hunt," Trump went after his main opponent in the 2020 election.

A new conspiracy was born. This time, at the direction of Putin, a false narrative was advanced declaring the Ukraine really interfered with the 2016 election...not Russia. 

During the public hearing phase of the Impeachment inquiry a lot of damning facts were revealed by credible (and high ranking) career diplomats and foreign office employees.

Despite all of the GOP House members best efforts, they could not successfully challenge any of the facts and evidence presented.

During the hearings, I wonder how many GOP members knew of Devin Nune's relationship with Rudy Giuliani and their efforts to dredge up dirt on Biden, and his son?

The implications of him meeting with Trump's personal lawyer in Venice in 2018, are very troubling. How far does this conspiracy in Congress go to help Trump win the 2020 election? 

Related: Giuliani Associates Charged With Campaign Crimes Gave Money to California Republicans

As our Republic faces the greatest challenge to preserving the Constitution in American history, all of us have a decision to make...

Do we want corruption as our new normal? 

Can we step out of our ideological bubbles long enough to protect our democracy?

Finally...

Are we going to go along with destroying the balance of power in our government, and live with a dictator from here on out?

Time for me to walk on down the road...

A Pause in the Pursuit of Justice: Lawmakers Go Home and Face Constituents

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After two weeks of intense impeachment testimonies from a dozen individuals, we're getting a pause as lawmakers go home and start testing the waters with their constituents.

I wonder how many of those lawmakers will hold town halls to gauge people's response to the ongoing impeachment inquiry? I would think most would want to. But that's not necessarily what will happen.

Republicans in particular may not want to hear what ALL of their constituents have to say. Most have tied their political futures to following Trump like sheep.

GOP senators have already made up their minds to back Trump when the articles of impeachment are handed over to the senate, shattering any pretense about what kind of "jurors" they're going to be during the senate investigation.

There's little chance of justice prevailing when a trial already has a predetermined verdict with the majority of so-called jurors. 

The exception to this scenario is if a surprise witness - think John Bolton - testifies that there was a conspiracy going on, rocking their world!

Yesterday, when Bolton's government-tied twitter account was released from the hold the White House had slapped on it, he announced, "That everyone should stay tuned for some kind of back story (regarding Ukraine scandal)."

Needless to say, that's the kind of bombshell that's going to move the polls for Democrats, if Bolton testifies there was a conspiracy going on.

Related: House GOP Disregards Expert Warnings That Debunked Ukraine Theory Helps Russia

Moving on, those Republicans who have hitched their future with Trump's, have more to worry about than just protecting him during the predetermined senate phase of impeachment.

Related: Giuliani Associate Willing to Tell Congress Nunes Met with Ex-Ukrainian Official To Get Dirt on Biden 

Court cases filed against Trump in the last few years are moving to completion with decisions coming this month, and in the next two months. 

For example, yesterday the Supreme Court heard Trump's lawyers fight against releasing his records from his accounting firm Mazars USA. The justices agreed with the House to fast track their decision, and it may be released as soon as Monday.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say they're going to side with the House. Trump's defense lawyers have been using bullshit to shield him and were called out by the judge twice for making "ridiculous claims."

Then there's three emolument cases pending against Trump that could come up before the year ends. There's two other cases seeking Trump's personal tax returns. Both are expected to be decided soon.

Trump has to testify in a sexual assault case on January 31st, 2020, because his lawyers lost all of their appeals. I could go on about more than a dozen other cases against Trump, but I think my message is clear here...

Even if Trump isn't kicked out of the White House by the spineless Senate, his worries (and his enablers) are far from over.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Next-New Phase for Impeachment Inquiry: All Roads Lead to Putin and Rudy Giuliana

                                       Good Day World!

We now know Putin achieved his goal to divide Americans and to weaken our standings in the world community. 

GOP Republicans have confirmed it by denying reality and pushing a conspiracy theory cooked up by Putin. 

For those who saw the public hearings in the last two weeks it's apparent that protecting Trump is more important to the Republicans on the committee, than getting to the truth behind what Trump did... he wanted dirt on Biden his main political opponent.

It was sad watching our House divided. 

Somewhere in Russia, Putin was watching the proceedings with delight. What he started in the 2016 election has been a success beyond even his ambitious dreams.

After the 12 testimonies were given it was established Rudy Giuliana was the point man for Trump's secret parallel foreign policy.

The next phase in the impeachment inquiry is coming after the House Intelligence committee, along with two other panels, are writing a report detailing their findings.

Their report will then become the basis for articles of impeachment that the Judiciary committee will consider.

They'll debate the size and scope of the articles, which are likely to focus on abuse of power, obstruction of justice, obstruction of Congress and bribery.

Stay tuned.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

The Final Impeachment Hearing Today? Don the Con is Cornered

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There's a wall going up right now, but not the one Trump promised to his base.

With Ambassador Sondland's damning testimony yesterday about Trump's quid pro quo scheme, a wall of facts is cornering Don the Con.

Like his longtime Mafia friends, Trump had many ways to communicate his demands without directly saying them. Anyone who has ever seen The Godfather knows what I'm talking about.

When Trump told the newly elected president of the Ukraine (during a phone call) "I need a favor" there was no mistaking the meaning behind his request.

He flat out asked Zelensky (the new president) to investigate Joe and his son Hunter Biden, and to look into a conspiracy theory that Ukraine meddled in the 2016 election, and not Russia.

It was confirmed during the hearing that Rudy Giuliani was Trump's consigliere at the State Department and everyone deferred to him. 

Apparently Trump counted on terrorizing federal officials and telling them not to cooperate with subpoenas served by Congress. He miscalculated, and there's been a parade of witnesses incriminating him and his cronies in the scheme since last week.

I'm not sure how we got back to using the Latin word for bribery - quid pro quo - but that's what Sondland testified was happening.

Today will probably be the last day of public hearings.  

Semantics are silly game to play during an impeachment, but politicians like to anyway. Like the public really cares. Bribery, is bribery.

The only thing most Americans want to know is the truth. 

No matter how it's dressed up, the truth comes from a series of facts... not fictional narratives. The fact is, Trump committed a high crime... bribery.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Another Impeachment Day:A Star is Born!

Good Day World!

On impeach TV today... a star could be born!
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Breaking News: Witness Implicates  Trump
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He doesn't look like your normal male celebrity - think Tom Selleck or Tom Cruise - but Gordon Sondland could steal the day today as he's at the center of the whole Ukraine scandal.

Sondland, a political appointee who donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration, was part of Trump's shadow foreign policy campaign designed to dig up dirt on his 2020 political opponent Joe Biden.

A witness testified that Sondland spoke with Trump frequently and in one conversation assured Trump, "That he (President Zelensky) loves your ass" and "will go along with the request to go public about an investigation into Biden."

Sondland's appearance today represents a laser focus on bribery. 

A word Republicans have been doing somersaults around in order to muddy up the central charge in the impeachment hearing.

The reason Sondland is the star today is because what he represents, and what he knows. He knows the linkage between Trump and his demands for the Ukrainian president to investigate his political rival Joe Biden.

He's a political appointee that was representing Trump's personal interest... and he's the first to openly expose Trump's true intentions by sharing his conversation with him with others.

Any pretense about Trump caring about corruption in the Ukraine before his own personal feelings, has been peeled away by Sondland's confession going into today's testimony.

Time for me to walk on down the road....

Quick Quiz: Are You Following the Impeachment Hearings?

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How important are the impeachment hearings to you? Have you been following them? Or, are you ignoring them?

Here's some questions if you have been following the whole Ukraine Scandal unfolding before Congress, and the American public: (Note that some questions have two answers)

1) Do Republicans "have a right" to expose the whistleblower?

a) Yes, the president deserves to know his accuser in order to defend himself
b) No. Whistleblower's are protecting from being exposed by Congress, and the Constitution. The law protecting whistleblowers was strengthened when the GOP was last in the majority of the House.
c) May be bogus, but no need to worry about it. 

2) Who Is Maria Yovanovitch?

a) Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine
b) "That Woman" who is bad news 
c) One of Trump's former girlfriends

3) Who is Jim Jordan?
a) A former assistant wrestling coach who ignored students being molested by the head coach at OSU
b) A Representative for Ohio, in the House
c) Trump's Number One "Butt Boy" in Congress

4) Who is Jennifer Williams?
a) One of 10 women filing a sexually assault against Trump in civil courts
b) Trump's hairstylist
c) An aide to Vice President Mike Pence

5) Who are The Three Amigos?
a) Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, and Martin Short
b) Rick Perry, Gordon Sondlund, and Kurt Volker
c) Hispanic cousins of the Three Stooges

6) Who is Volodymyr Zelensky?
a) A comedian
b) President of the Ukraine
c) A corrupt Moscow puppet

7) Who is Tim Morrison?
a) A national security council aide
b) Singer Jim Morrison's younger brother
c) A "Never Trumper"

I hope you have as much fun taking this quiz as I had writing it.

Dump Trump in 2020!

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Where Has "The Base" Gone? Trump Rallies Not Helping GOP Candidates

                                          Good Day World!

At one time, not so long ago, Trump rallies were seen as the best way to motivate his base to vote for him. or one of his cronies.

If that was true once, it's no longer the case now.

In the last month Trump has thrown his considerable bulk around trying to save GOP governors. The most recent example of Trump's waning influence took place in Louisiana when Trump extorted his minions at a rally to vote for Eddie Rispone for Governor.

He told his eager followers that Democrats were all "crazy...crazy." Then in a moment of rare truth he begged them, "..so you gotta give me a big win, please. Ok?Ok?!"

Despite Pence calling Conservative talk-in shows all around the Bayou State, and Trump's recorded robocalls in addition to money from the RNC, Democrat Gov. John Bel Edwards kept his office in the deep red state.

This political defeat was a referendum of Trump's pulling power. He may have a raucous following at rallies, but either they're not turning out at the polls, or their numbers are dwindling.

A week before his defeat in Louisiana, an incumbent Republican governor, Matt Bevins, lost to a Democratic challenger.

On election eve Trump who carried the state of Kentucky by 30 points in 2016, held a rally of support for Bevins. 

Just like he later claimed in Louisiana, "Democrats are all insane!" He want on to rant, "They want to indoctrinate your children - you know this. Destroy anyone who holds traditional American values." 

Amid the cheers he grew serious. "Listen it sends a really bad message if Bevins doesn't win. You can't let that happen to me," he pleaded.

In last year's midterms elections there was a "Blue wave" that overtook Trump's best efforts to slow it down. What does this all mean?

Trump has never been popular. He lost the popular vote. If it wasn't for Russian interference and the dirty tricks Trump's supporters used, he would have been just another footnote in history.

Every poll shows Trump "under water" when it come to national approval ratings. It's obvious Trump's corruption is finally catching up to him. It's also obvious he's going to be impeached.

Whether he's kicked out of office on his fat lying ass, or if he runs for re-election in 2020, Trump is going to be carrying more baggage than Hillary Clinton did in 2016.

When Trump finally got rid of all the adults in his cabinet and administration, he sealed his own political fate. His unrestrained tweet tantrums have become articles of impeachment.

His GOP supporters in the House and the Senate are finding it harder to defend his infantile and vicious language. Sixteen House Republicans are retiring after an exodus of over 30 members during the midterms.

There's 19 GOP senators who hope to be re-elected in 2020. They're going to have to listen closely to their constituents who are increasing becoming disgusted with Trump. 

The fact that Trump is showing more vulnerability daily isn't exactly encouraging for GOP lawmakers. If he can't keep them in line by bullying them with the threat of his base... it's over.

Trump will be confined to history's dump!

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Ukraine Scandal: The "Idiot Defense" is Trump's Best Chance of Staying in Office

                                        Good Day World!

Lindsey Graham may have come up with the best possible defense for Trump in the batshit crazy Ukraine scandal.

He basically told reporters that the people involved in the Ukraine scandal were "inept," and "bungling idiots." 

His argument that no harm was done because everyone involved was too stupid to be a danger to the country, isn't exactly flattering to Trump, but there may be a kernel of a defense there.

The problem is getting a world class egomaniac like Trump to go along with it. 

He thinks he's always right, and is a "stable genius." The last thing he'd ever admit to was being stupid. The "Chosen One" doesn't roll that way.

The Republicans are grasping for straws to counter all the facts that have been exposed showing Trump's efforts to bribe a leader of another nation to get political dirt on his 2020 opponent.

There is no "war room" of Republicans defending Trump. He doesn't want one because only he knows how to deal with the impeachment process against him.

It's that ego that'll be Trump's downfall.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Day Two Impeachment: Bully Boy Trump Attacks Witness During Live Hearing

Good Day World!

Once a bully, always a bully.

A valuable insight into the real Donald Trump was revealed to TV watchers yesterday.

When he tweeted during the live impeachment proceedings and brazenly attacked Maria Yovanovitch, he showed himself to be a bully.

As usual, Trump threw a grenade into the fray to the dismay of the Republicans who are desperately trying to defend the indefensible.

The Republicans plan was not to attack Yovanovitch and to concentrate on slamming the process. But then came Trump. The bully boy had to attack her during the hearing with a demeaning and threatening tweet. 

As Chairman Schiff entered Trump's tweet into the record and suggested it could be used as witness intimidation, the Republicans in the room turned pale. 

In that moment, they must of realized there was no way to defend a sociopath, unless they denied reality. 

In an angry press conference afterward, the Republicans led by Jim Jordan, took turns displaying their indignant rage - each taking a moment to rant about conspiracies and the process in general.

But when it came to substance, Trump's minions were without ammunition. Shifting arguments - already trotted out without impact - was all they could fall back to.

The truth hurts. Yovanovitch spoke truth to power as millions of Americans watched the historical drama unfold in their homes.

Trump, because of his wealthy upbringing, was always able to get away with bullying people. The power of money was intoxicating. The power he has as president of the United States unleashed his inner dictator.

It's up to all Americans to see that Trump doesn't get away with intimidating witnesses and bribing another government to go after his political opponents.

Don't be surprised if Trump continues to interfere with live hearings next week. As a vicious and habitual liar, he can't help himself.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

2nd Public Impeachment Hearing Today: Will it Matter?

                                      Good Day World!

After watching the first public impeachment hearing, I tried to gauge what Americans thought about it.

No easy task. Both political parties are deeply entrenched in their views about Trump extorting the Ukraine for personal political benefit.

Related: Ratings for 1st Impeachment Hearings Show Healthy Intertest and a Serious Partisan Divide

I found a video of eight undecided voters in Wisconsin who watched the hearing, along with a reporter. In a Q-and-A afterward, one thing became apparent... they were equally divided on the impact of the hearing.

They all did agree on wanting to see more evidence before they made up their minds before deciding if Trump is guilty as charged. I've questioned numerous friends and family about their impression of the hearing, and again got mixed results.

The Republican Party, and the Democratic Party, have both made up their mind's about Trump's corruption. That's a fact. Convincing undecided Americans is going to be a challenge for both parties in this polarized country.

The good news is there are a lot of voters who haven't made up their minds yet about impeaching Trump.

It's instructive to know that a majority of Americans think Trump has ties to Russia, and coordinated with them to win the 2016 election.

A Reuter's/IPSOS poll reveals that 8-out-of-10 Americans believe the Trump campaign had ties to Moscow.

Knowing this, is it safe to assume those same Americans will see Trump's attempt at holding the Ukraine hostage as impeachable? I'd like to think so, but you never know.

Which brings me to today's public hearing with former Ukraine Ambassador, Maria Yavonovitch. The same format as the first hearing will be used.

The bigger battle lies ahead, as both sides go about messaging.
A footnote: This poll notes an upward swing of Independent voters who want Trump Impeached and kicked out of office, even more than just being impeached. 

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Impeachment Notes: Fact Versus Fiction on Display During the First Day

Good Day World!

Day one of the impeachment hearings went pretty well, all things considered, because the Republicans came primed to disrupt the proceedings.

There were two very credible witnesses who testified under oath that Trump had an "irregular channel" headed up by his pal Rudy Giuliani, who sought dirt on Joe Biden and his son Hunter for political reasons.

Ambassador Bill Taylor, the acting U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and George Kent, a State Department official focused on European and Eurasian affairs, gave their testimony.

The Republican backlash to the facts was to unveil conspiracy themes that supported Trump's desire to discredit his main political opponent, Joe Biden.

The coordinated attempts to make the hearing into a three-ring circus failed, but not from lack of effort from some of Trump's stalwart minions.

No need to name them here. They played their parts like true thespians, and if you watched the hearing you know who I'm talking about.

The GOP strategy to double down on lies is doomed to fail because - in the end - facts do still matter. Perhaps not to Trump's minions, but the rest of America cares about the truth, and the rule of law.

The next witness will be Maria Yovanovitch, former ambassador to the Ukraine, on Friday. 

Don't be surprised if the GOP's antics pick it up a notch. It's important to understand that Trump's most ardent cronies aren't going to agree with any facts that make Trump look bad.

Not only are they shameless in their pursuit to protect Trump's corrupt ass, they're co-conspirators for enabling him to defy the Constitution and obstruct the Impeachment process by ignoring lawful subpoenas.

Regardless of the smokescreens Republicans put up on Friday's testimony, truth and facts will emerge, clear and unsullied after their juvenile attempts.  

Time for me to walk on down the road...