Donald Trump thus far

[blynk]

If it wasn't so close to the election, I wonder what the odds are that he would be impeached again (or is that not possible).

Could they hold it back until after the next election?

[Lightspeed]

Mitch McConnell Complains About Democrats Breaking Precedent. Internet Responds: Merrick Garland.

[Lightspeed]

Trump adviser: Expect more aggressive poll watching in 2020

One of President Donald Trump’s top re-election advisers told influential Republicans in swing state Wisconsin that the party has “traditionally” relied on voter suppression to compete in battleground states but will be able to “start playing offense” in 2020 due to relaxed Election Day rules, according to an audio recording of a private event obtained by The Associated Press.

"Democracy"

Related:

Journalist Anne Nelson talks about her book, Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right.

[Ab]

Originally Posted by Lightspeed

Mitch McConnell Complains About Democrats Breaking Precedent. Internet Responds: Merrick Garland.

With the current partisan senate Trump would not get convicted. Him not getting convicted would be portrayed as a victory for him. By never actually going to trial Pelosi deprives him of a victory. He is already impeached and that can’t change. And now she is depriving him of being found not guilty. Game.

[DrTiTus]

He's hilarious.

https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/...40210364051456

Can't beat him.

[blynk]

I wonder how long she can hold it for?
Wait for just in case he is re-elected and play more games?

[blynk]

I feel more than ever, the Democrats need to vote Sanders in.

I think right now the Impeachment will rally people that already are in love with Trump, but if its still hanging around during the election, then Joe Bidens name is going to be dragged into it with his whole Ukraine son thing.

[Ab]

“I never understood wind. You know, I know windmills very much... Gases are spewing into the atmosphere. You know we have a world, right? So the world is tiny compared to the universe. So tremendous, tremendous amount of fumes & everything.”

[Lightspeed]

[Nich]

I wish I could say I am glad that as WWIII potentially breaks out my family is safe in a regional town with a strong community around us. But as I type this my baby is asleep in a car full of our belongings, and we can’t return home yet.

[Lightspeed]

So apparently the Iranians killed were in Iraq for peace talks Trump had organised via the Iraqi PM.

War crimes FTW.

[Cyberbob]

2019: This can't possibly get worse.

2020: Here's a burning continent and WWIII.

[fixed_truth]

So Trump backs off now. I wonder if it was anything to do with Iran's anti-aircraft system accidentally shooting down a civilian plane?

[pxpx]

edit nvm found it

[Lightspeed]

Trump's Middle East plan proposes Palestinian state with a capital in East Jerusalem

How Israel's election in March goes has the potential to have significant ramifications in the US election.

[Ab]

Farrar's commentary is on the money:

https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2020/02/i..._now_dead.html

So there is no doubt Trump will be “acquitted”. This has significance into the future. I think that the actions of the Republican majority have meant that impeachment is now dead as a remedy for any future President. Nixon resigned from office because there were Republicans willing to remove him from office for his abuses of office. But it impossible to imagine any future President ever having two thirds of the Senate remove them from office, no matter what they do.

I think the partisan divide will have further ramifications also. The next time the same party holds the Presidency, House and Senate I predict the Senate will quickly remove the requirement to get 60 votes to pass legislation. The minority will lose their power, and it will become winner takes all. That will please the party in power, but not be so nice when you’re the party in opposition.

I also suspect we will see other conventions die. Again if one party holds Congress and the Presidency, expect a law change to allow them to appoint more members of the Supreme Court, so they gain a majority.

That's it. The US is structurally broken and can't be fixed.

(usual kiwiblog warning applies, don't read the comments)

[blynk]

I figured as soon as the House and Senate are different to the president (not sure how often that actually happens) then there will be an automatic impeachment.
They will find something to impeach them on.

I don't know what it was like during Clintons impeachment, but the fact that the Republicans have turn this into a partisan issue in the senate is a major concern.

[Lightspeed]

Lev Parnas releases recording of Trump dinner: Full video

Highlights (not mine):

8:50 Unsaid racial thoughts.

10:30 Crony capitalism discussion.

11:00 Trump shows that he realizes that tariffs are a tax, but completely is clueless as who is paying for it or worse yet the we're he refers to isn't the American tax payer.

15:30 Trump says the cost of middle east wars now totals $7T over the last 18 years.

20:00 More crony capitalism, this time Trump side steps it.

23:55 Trump admits to know the wall is effortless scaled

24:30 Trump talking with his mouth full.

38:55 Beginning of Ukraine discussion, Javelin Missile system comes up and Trump appears to hear for the first time than the Ukraine has oil.

40:10 First time Biden comes up, just a name drop.

42:10 Discussion about Marie Yovanovitch, Lev (I think) is saying she's a Clinton appointee and has to go. He then claims she's saying Trump is about to be impeached, and Trump says she'll be gone tomorrow. Trump then appear to be telling some to just do it, get her out tomorrow.

45:40 Discussion about banking in states that legalized weed, Trump seems to have no opinion.

50:50 More crony capitalism with regards of building a gas pipeline to Turkey.

54:15 A discussion about the 2016 election followed by Trump claiming Obama would have been easier to defeat.

57:30 A big push for natural gas cars and trucks, then claims electric vehicle are failing. Then the typical anti green song and dance. Trump actually seems skeptical.

1:06:50 A push to relax trucking regulations.

1:09:20 Amazon discussion, more of a bashing than anything else.

1:10:55 Driverless truck discussion.

1:12:40 Crazy numerology Jewish messiah discussion.

1:16:10 Trump's closing remarks, nothing of consequence."

[DrTiTus]

Originally Posted by blynk

...there will be an automatic impeachment.
They will find something to impeach them on.

Automatic would be great for efficiency, it took 19 minutes after Trump was sworn in before the campaign to impeach him began, according to the Washington Post, the White House tweeted out. Shave a few minutes off that time, and things will be a lot smoother. /s

The whole Eric Ciaramella [the unnamed whistleblower] saga is not partisan at all, of course.

Four more years!

[Ab]

Originally Posted by DrTiTus

Four more years!

On this, at least, we agree. Trump may be the most awful person in the world and sign that the United States has failed but he has delivered on the things that people actually care about come election time.

[Cyberbob]

To paraphase Ben Shapiro, The Democratic candidates largely believe America is rooted in evil and inequality, and how that has never changed, and that the American system must be destroyed from the bottom up.

It's up to you as to whether or not you see this as a good thing or a bad thing.

[Lightspeed]

Mitt Romney voting to convict. Can't complain about the show of decency, as little as it will achieve.

[Ab]

Mitt Romney, the guy whom all proper lefties derided as an untrustworthy cultist whose election to the presidency would be the greatest disaster imaginable.

We sweet summer children.

[Ab]

...and acquitted.

[crocos]

^^ Boringly, frustratingly predictable.

I hope he has something happen that causes him to retire.

Good, bad, not fussed really - I just want to see him gone.

[DrTiTus]

Bill Withers weighs in on today's events

[fixed_truth]

Ouch. Romney coming in with the steel chair is more of a blow than going through the impeachment process. His citing God & his consciousness is a big call out to religious republicans who otherwise probably weren't fazed by trump being impeached.

[DrTiTus]

Democrats calling in are now vowing never to vote Democrat again on CSPAN after the SOTU address

"Disgusting" etc.

The fact that the Dems turned this into a partisan issue during the SOTU address is a major concern. :P

[Ab]

Never underestimate the ability of the Democratic Party to fuck things up in the worst way possible.

[Ab]

Romney:

Were I to ignore the evidence that has been presented, and disregard what I believe my oath and the Constitution demands of me for the sake of a partisan end, it would, I fear, expose my character to history’s rebuke and the censure of my own conscience.

[blynk]

Is he planning on running against trump for the republican nomination

[Lightspeed]

I don't see the GOP ever running a non-Trump candidate again. Either the GOP collapses, or the US completes its transition away from democracy.

[Cyberbob]

Having being proved to be immune to all forms of consequence, Trump's now fired all those that had testified before Congress.

‘Friday night massacre’: Experts say Trump firing of 3 officials including Sondland and Vindman is a ‘criminal’ offense

Entirely illegal, but you know, who gives a fuck anymore.

[Lightspeed]

Seems about right.

[Ab]

Anyone read James Carville going off the other day?

[crocos]

J-Law & friends ignoring Trump and instead going after the cause of Trump:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfQij4aQq1k

[DrTiTus]

US/Taliban truce in place. Peace agreement to be signed on Feb 29th.

He's literally Hitler.

Stop hitting snooze guys, wake up.

[Ab]

Republican mega-donor buys stake in Twitter and seeks to oust Jack Dorsey – report

[Nich]

Originally Posted by DrTiTus

US/Taliban truce in place. Peace agreement to be signed on Feb 29th.

He's literally Hitler.

Stop hitting snooze guys, wake up.

Nothing new here, US has been working with Al Qaeda to topple Assad's regime for probably 10 years or more.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/us-su...a-l_b_10089410

[The Edge]

Is it worth starting an American Election 2020 thread (after the primaries finish, maybe)?