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US Congress impeaches self

by Cat Thu Dec 19th, 2019 at 05:47:12 PM EST


Pelosi threatens to delay Senate impeachment trial
"Some legal scholars have suggested she could consider refusing to transmit articles of impeachment to the Senate". Those are Article I, Abuse of power, and Article II, Obstruction of Congress. The business of the US Congress is after all above the law. Members choose the rules of personal and legislative conduct predicated by the political expedience of the majority faction ruling each chamber. (archived: #FactsMatter?)

The US constitution does not require the senate to proceed from referral of articles by the house. Also, impeachment is not a trial. It's a morality play for public consumption.
Unfortunately, 319 days remain until US voters may attempt to execute the verdict, derived from findings of fact, findings of law, or, gosh darn it, Gödel's incompleteness theorems.

Display:
US Congress impeaches self | 254 comments (254 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
< wipes tears > (none / 1)
archived
## Rule of law is not well understood.
## Democracy is not well understood.
## Ancestor worship is not well understood.
## Anomie is not well understood.
by Cat on Thu Dec 19th, 2019 at 06:47:16 PM EST
DICTION CORNER (none / 0)
anomie

reference
The Division of Labor in Society, 466 pp
Suicide, a study in sociology, 427 pp

archived durkheimism < 300 char
Made You Look!*
Yesterday -100: November 15, 1917: Of underwear. And other stuff.
did Durkheim discuss amok or mass murder suicide?
how this relates to Durkheim and the division of labor recently
preventing any "deviant" discussion at all
Between Durkheim,Weber and Habermas there is

by Cat on Sun Dec 29th, 2019 at 11:54:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]
< wipes tears > (none / 0)
o, look.
RULES   OF   PROCEDURE   AND   PRACTICE   IN   THE  SENATE  WHEN  SITTING  ON  IMPEACH-MENT  TRIALS until further notice.
by Cat on Tue Dec 31st, 2019 at 07:16:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: &lt; wipes tears &gt; (4.00 / 2)
Those are the rules from the Clinton impeachment. But the Senate has to adopt or write whatever rules it will use in the upcoming trial. The Democrats are advocating that these same rules be adopted for Trump's impeachment. McConnell has not agreed. McConnell can just support a motion to dismiss or adopt rules that allow no additional witnesses to be called - provided he can get 51 votes to do so. Had Pelosi simply sent the Bill of Impeachment to the Senate it is likely that McConnell would have been able to get the 51 votes. Withholding the Bill of Impeachment provides time for pressure to be brought on individual senators to support adoption of fair rules of procedure for the trial.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Tue Dec 31st, 2019 at 04:37:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]
< wipes tears > (none / 0)
from the just-like-Watergate NORMS and CONVENTIONS corner of the twitterverse:
hmmm
President Ford Pardons Richard Nixon
"A month after taking office, President Gerald Ford, addressed the nation on television [A/V, transcript] to announce that he had decided to pardon Richard Nixon."
BONUS!: Full Text of the Pardon Proclamation"

reference
Ex parte Garland, 71 U.S. 4 Wall. 333 333 (1866)
enemies of the state, excluding impeached officers of the state
CRS, "An Overview of the Presidential Pardoning Power"
Miscellany: Always read the footnotes.

by Cat on Tue Dec 31st, 2019 at 07:31:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]
< wipes tears > (4.00 / 2)
by Cat on Thu Dec 19th, 2019 at 07:04:08 PM EST
< wipes tears > (none / 1)
by Cat on Thu Dec 19th, 2019 at 07:20:01 PM EST
< wipes tears > (none / 0)
McConnell: 'As of today, we remain at an impasse' - latest updates
"It's hard to appoint managers if you don't know what the plan is going to be."
by Cat on Fri Dec 20th, 2019 at 02:14:17 AM EST
< wipes tears > (none / 1)
by Cat on Fri Dec 20th, 2019 at 02:47:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: < wipes tears > (none / 0)
David Davis School of Government
by Cat on Sat Dec 21st, 2019 at 02:19:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]
The situation here is still pretty psychotic. (none / 0)
Nothing ascribed to the US Constitution joins literally prescribes a procedure to remove a president. Articles specifically divide authority to execute the monarch du jour between House and Senate: Those bastid bibble editors!

< wipes tears >

[[ INSERT INTERPRETATION OF norms ][Federalist Paper No. 89 (n - REFERENDUM)]] = democracy
N = 3

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Dec 20th, 2019 at 08:33:58 AM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self (4.00 / 3)
Given McConnell's statement that he would coordinate closely with the White House regarding the rules and conduct of Senate Impeachment proceedings it might be better to hold the impeachment findings as a threat than to use them now.

 I am concerned that Adam Schiff and Jerry Nadler may be better lawyers than politicians. They have crafted a very compelling, if minimalist, case for the impeachment of Trump - IF THE CASE WERE TO BE TRIED IN A COURT OF LAW.

Instead, we have a partisan Senate in which the case will be tried and there is only one way to change the minds of Republican Senators - overwhelming public opinion favoring impeachment. Thus we have the electorate as the real jury. Sadly, the Democrats have not adequately addressed this issue to date.

The Republicans in the House have not addressed the merits of the charges or the evidence against Trump. Instead, they have ridiculed the process and poised transparently fallacious exculpatory 'theories' such as 'Zelensky said he felt no pressure', 'there is no evidence of a crime in the transcript of the phone call', 'there was no investigation' and 'Ukraine got the money'. These 'defenses' need to be forcefully rebutted each and every time they are deployed. The Democratic House members have largely left these assertion unchallenged. Clinton knew that even ridiculous assertions about his candidacy and presidency had to be immediately rebutted. Have the Democrats forgotten that example?

The Republican defense of Trump 'is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing'. It needs to be treated as such at every opportunity. Ridicule and scorn and indignation are the strongest weapons against such nonsense. It is insufficient just to keep asserting Trump's wrongful acts. This will not change the mind of the Republicans, though they will, ironically, complain about the nasty tone of the Democrats should such rhetoric be used. But the target is the electorate.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Fri Dec 20th, 2019 at 04:58:20 PM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)
What is needed right about now is a leak of significant new information.
by asdf on Fri Dec 20th, 2019 at 10:30:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]
The moment of impeachment? (none / 0)
Trump Isn't Impeached Until the House Tells the Senate
"So far, the House has voted to impeach (future tense) [sic] Trump. He isn't impeached (past tense) until the articles go to the Senate and the House members deliver the message."

< wipes tears >

--
infinitive form of a verb not conjugated

by Cat on Sat Dec 21st, 2019 at 12:42:50 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: The moment of impeachment? (none / 0)
Grammar aside, lawyers and politicians consider that the House voting impeachment does impeach the president. The Senate convicts or exonerates. Pelosi doesn't want a kangaroo court exoneration for Trump. His idiot followers will not know or care about the difference.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Sat Dec 21st, 2019 at 07:01:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: The moment of impeachment? (none / 1)
Lawyers of any political persuation never set aside grammar. ubn warned before.

"Journalists" do, frequently, despite AP Stylebook guidance. < wipes tears > ditto.

by Cat on Sat Dec 21st, 2019 at 07:19:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: The moment of impeachment? (none / 0)
APsplainin | Plans for impeachment trial get FOGGY before holiday break
Schumer's leverage is limited, though his party can force votes on witnesses once a trial begins. He appears to be counting on public opinion, and political pressure on VULNERABLE Republican incumbents like Susan Collins of Maine, to give Democrats the 51 votes they need.
[...]
Trump, meanwhile, has been hoping the trial will serve as an opportunity for vindication. He continues to talk about PARADING his own witnesses to the chamber, including former Vice President and 2020 Democratic candidate Joe Biden and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who led the fact-finding phase of the impeachment investigation.
by Cat on Sat Dec 21st, 2019 at 04:09:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: The moment of impeachment? (none / 0)
And that is his right. It's supposed to atrial, not a lynching.
by StillInTheWilderness on Sun Dec 22nd, 2019 at 05:02:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: The moment of impeachment? (none / 1)
Of course it's not a lynching. You only lynch blacks or Sicilians.
by gk (gk (gk quattro due due sette @gmail.com)) on Sun Dec 22nd, 2019 at 05:07:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: The moment of impeachment? (none / 0)
Impeachment is not really one of Feldman's research areas.  Those who ARE published in that area, such as Larry Tribe, Jonathan Turley, and Frank Bowman, think he's wrong.
by rifek on Tue Dec 31st, 2019 at 04:50:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: The moment of impeachment? (none / 0)
Grammar aside, lawyers and politicians consider that the House voting impeachment does impeach the president. The Senate convicts or exonerates. Pelosi doesn't want a kangaroo court exoneration for Trump. His idiot followers will not know or care about the difference.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Sat Dec 21st, 2019 at 07:01:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: The moment of impeachment? (none / 0)
  1. Pelosi delays referring the house bill (impeachment "resolution") to the senate; the pretext is poor form of hearing proposed by senate majority rules. Despite some combined 1,000 pp testimony, exhibits, and argument ("evidence") compiled by two house committees, the house speaker requires four (4) additional witnesses and an indeterminate number of "house managers" to certify impartiality ("fairness") of 100 jurors plus the chief justice of the Supreme Ct of the United States.
  2. The senate majority ("GOP") anticipates receipt of the house impeachment resolution; the pretext is "speedy trial" of the indictment assembled by the house majority and ratified by vote.

Now you tell me: what articles of the US Constitution prescribe The Process of impeachment and conviction? And I have told you, it ain't Bloomberg journalism.
by Cat on Sat Dec 21st, 2019 at 07:37:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]
errata (none / 1)
The preferred locution, last time around, was "triers of law and fact."

FWIW When a Chief Justice Reminded Senators in an Impeachment Trial That They Were not Jurors

by Cat on Sun Dec 22nd, 2019 at 01:39:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: errata (none / 0)
Sen. John Kennedy: Senators Are Both Judge And Jury In Impeachment Trial; "There Are No Rules"
"'It's not a criminal trial,' Kennedy said. 'The Senate is not really a jury. It's both jury and judge. The chief justice is not the judge. He's the presiding officer. There are no standards of proof. There are no rules of evidence.'" < wipes tears >
by Cat on Mon Dec 30th, 2019 at 06:27:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: errata (none / 0)
Looks like press corpse in most ignorant, litigious nation on planet will run with ahh "proxy" title de jure:

As impeachment trial looms, senator-jurors look to get creative on the 2020 campaign trail

But this time around, there's an additional complicating factor: Four of Trump's jurors are also running for president.

Sens. Michael "WHODAT?" Bennet, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren will have to take PRECIOUS time away from the 2020 campaign trail to participate in a Senate impeachment trial that by all accounts could last weeks.

... while sublimating [FREUD ALERT] the legitimacy of the SCOTUS chief justice's function during senators' proceedings forthwith.

"senator-candidates"
I suppose, readers are to understand that typical juries simultaneously legislate, litigate facts, and judge truth at trials--whether or not sequestered by themselves.

by Cat on Sun Jan 19th, 2020 at 01:44:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]
< wipes tears > (none / 0)
When asked whether she's worried it will hurt her campaign, Warren responded, "This is not about politics."
by Cat on Sun Jan 19th, 2020 at 01:48:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]
< wipes tears > (none / 0)
"Impeachment is something I take very seriously. I take no joy in this. But this is about a constitutional oath that every single member of the Senate took to -- uphold the Constitution of the United States."
hmm, if not politic, then what, Warrenzi/War Tzu/War ren shi?
To keep her message out on the campaign trail when she can't be, Klobuchar in early December said that she will deploy surrogates to help her campaign while she is in D.C. for her "constitutional duty."
hmm, disciples, proxies, or gestational carriers?
by Cat on Sun Jan 19th, 2020 at 02:00:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]
< wipes tears > (none / 0)
Shannon Beckham, national press secretary for Bennet, said the Colorado senator's "duties, and his responsibility to uphold the Constitution and rule of law, come before any campaign."
ahh, politics and US Constitution not mutually exclusive code of conduct. m'k.
Sanders: impeachment 'is what the House has to do, because you have to have standards for the president of the United States. If a president can obstruct justice, if a president, in my view, can violate the emoluments clause and make himself rich because he is president, add additional revenue for his family, if a president can use military ["]aid["] to gain dirt on his opponent, uh, if you allow that to go on, the what kind of standard are you setting for future presidents?"  [KESQ-TV, running time 00:00:47]
Same as the standard set by past presidents?
by Cat on Sun Jan 19th, 2020 at 02:13:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: errata (none / 0)
6 reporters explain the latest in impeachment
"Democrats delivered the articles. Trump named his lawyers. Next up is the Senate trial. We break it down" -- an unfortunate turn of phrase.
Politico employees:
  • @ Kyle Cheney, Congress reporter
  • Facebook Nahal Toosi, foreign affairs correspondent
  • @ Anita Kumar, White House reporter
  • @ Darren Samuelsohn, White House reporter
  • Instagram Natasha Bertrand, national security correspondent
  • @ Andrew Desiderio, Congress reporter
by Cat on Sun Jan 19th, 2020 at 02:32:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: The moment of impeachment? (none / 0)

Incidentally, you are no doubt aware that the twitterverse of Lindsey Graham Cracker acolytes would be delighted for the DNC's extra-speshul witnesses to appear for cross-examination by either Trump or WH counsel in the senate?

by Cat on Sat Dec 21st, 2019 at 07:44:18 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: The moment of impeachment? (none / 0)

"Dean Obeidallah, a former lawyer turned political comedian and writer, is the host of The Dean Obeidallah show on SiriusXM radio. He co-directed the comedy documentary The Muslims Are Coming! His blog is The Dean's Report."
by Cat on Sat Dec 21st, 2019 at 07:54:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: The moment of impeachment? (none / 0)


Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.
by Cat on Thu Jan 9th, 2020 at 12:04:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: The moment of impeachment? (none / 0)
Pelosi says she will 'soon' transmit impeachment to Senate
″I'm not holding them indefinitely," Pelosi told reporters at the Capitol. "I'll send them over when I'm ready. That will probably be soon."

Pelosi said she's waiting for what she wanted from the start -- "to see the arena" and "terms of the engagement" that McConnell will use -- before sending her House managers to present the articles of impeachment in the Senate.
[...]
As Pelosi headed toward a morning meeting Thursday, Pelosi told reporters, "I know exactly when" she plans to send the impeachment articles over, but, "I won't be telling you right now.″

Asked if she had any concerns about losing support from Democrats for her strategy, she said: "No."
[...]
Returning to Washington from the campaign trail, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., told reporters she was confident in Pelosi's plan.

"I have no doubt that she will get this right," Warren said. "Some things are more important than politics, and the impeachment of a president is certainly one of those. No one is above the law, not even the president."

Democrats' contempt for Trump fuels an online cash SURGE
by Cat on Thu Jan 9th, 2020 at 07:45:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]
DICTION CORNER (none / 0)
to impeach
to impugn
to throw shade
by Cat on Sat Dec 21st, 2019 at 04:51:25 AM EST
Re: DICTION CORNER (none / 0)
incidentally, split infinitives and dangling modifiers are two crimes against humanity in the boomer Angloverse.
by Cat on Sat Dec 21st, 2019 at 04:54:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: DICTION CORNER (none / 0)
## Misplaced precision

it's a rule of family board [HOMOphone ALERT] games

archived
negotiated settlement

by Cat on Sat Dec 21st, 2019 at 05:05:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]
< wipes tears > (none / 0)

Trump accepts Pelosi invitation to deliver State of the Union address Feb. 4

The invite came in a letter Pelosi sent to Trump citing "the spirit of our Constitution," which calls for the president to give Congress information on the state of the union "from time to time."
[...]
After a partial government shutdown last December lingered into early 2019, Pelosi rescinded her invitation for Trump to give his State of the Union address on Jan. 29. She said she would not allow Trump to speak in the House chamber until the government was open, which prompted a spat between the two.
[...]
This time around, with the government funded through the end of September February 2020, that drama should be avoided for the 2020 State of the Union.
a compelling case. uh huh.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.
by Cat on Sat Dec 21st, 2019 at 06:55:09 AM EST
< wipes tears > (none / 0)

  1. Flake, in a new op-ed for The Washington Post published Friday, told senators not to be "complicit" and warned that if they are, they "cede our constitutional responsibilities [and] set the most dangerous of precedents."
  2. Conscience of a Conservative, book review by David "bobo" Brooks
by Cat on Sat Dec 21st, 2019 at 04:02:10 PM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 1)
By the end of next year, "impeached" will have been normalized as a routine adjective for the presidency. The next time the Rs get a majority in the house when there is a D president, impeachment is guaranteed.

However, much of the current discussion assumes that the current political system will continue to operate more or less like it did before 2016. That is not at all a given.

by asdf on Sat Dec 21st, 2019 at 05:44:46 PM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)
Is that what Wm. Jeff. Clinton predicted? I do not recall
by Cat on Sat Dec 21st, 2019 at 08:30:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]
< wipes tears > (none / 0)


Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.
by Cat on Sat Dec 28th, 2019 at 07:50:42 PM EST
Re: &lt; wipes tears &gt; (none / 1)
Biden ["]walks back["] comment on possible impeachment subpoena
totally electable. hunnerd percent Anyone Buttrump 2020.
by Cat on Mon Dec 30th, 2019 at 05:45:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: < wipes tears >: D2 (none / 0)
hmm, WWLGCD (What Would Linsey Graham Cracker Do>)
by Cat on Wed Jan 22nd, 2020 at 08:22:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]
< wipes tears > (none / 1)
Hunter Biden financial details sought in Arkansas paternity suit
"In an affidavit dated Nov. 27, Biden told the court that he is unemployed and has had 'no monthly income since May 2019,' the month the lawsuit was filed."

Private-eye firm claims Hunter Biden is linked to multiple criminal probes
"Biden and the others -- including Devon Archer, John Galanis and Bevan Cooney -- allegedly 'utilized a counterfeiting scheme to conceal the Morgan Stanley et al Average Account Value,' D&A claims in the papers filed at the Circuit Court of Independence County, Arkansas."

by Cat on Mon Dec 30th, 2019 at 06:24:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]
< wipes tears > (none / 0)
Les Crises | Plan du dossier "UkraineGate" - Des faits qui dérangent (EN, RU)
Episode 1 - Un procureur pas si solide
Episode 2 - Des enquêtes pas si dormantes

Consortium News mirror site
Part One: "A Not So 'Solid' Prosecutor"
Part Two: "Not So 'Dormant' Investigations"

A documentary in re: corruption of Ukraine Prosecutors General, 2014 to present, and US, EU, IMF efforts to select appointments and OBSTRUCT ("cover-up") sundry PGs' investigations of Burisma (oil and gas; featuring interviews with PGs and cameo appearances by J. Biden and G. Kent

by Cat on Wed Jan 22nd, 2020 at 04:07:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]
< wipes tears > (none / 0)
les-crises.fr released Part Three: A Not So Noble President/Un Président pas si intègre. running time 1:11:00, interviews with Renat Kuzmin (deputy PG 2006-2014) about Shokin's dismissal by Poroshenko-appointed PG Lutsenko during open investigation of Burisma business, particularly CEO Zlochevsky (mischaracterized! "Mr Z");  Andrii Telizhenko, former diplomat detailed to Ukraine embassy in Washington D.C.); Daria Kaleniuk, director, Anti-Corruption Centre (NGO); David Sakvarelidze (deputy PG, 2015-2016), US Amb. Geoffrey Pyatt's PR accessory; and Oleksandr Onyshenko, former MP, "whistleblower". (with cameos by Bernard-Henri Levy!)

View also at mirror-site Consortium News.

Incidentally, Consortium News sues for libel over claims it aided "Russian disinformation" campaign against Canada (24 Jan 2020)-- source:"Consortium News Sends Libel Notices to Canadian Signals Intelligence Agency and Major Television Network".

Indeed. What news about broadcast hygiene regulation is rising from Canada, homeland of SNC-Lavalin? Canada panel urges taxes and domestic content rules for Netflix, other U.S. firms

And what news for the EU project to "annex" Ukraine? Former ambassador: Ukraine EU membership bid possible within three years

Keyword search "Shokin": Congressional Record, Impeachment Trial, D8 - D9, Q&A. hmm.

by Cat on Sat Feb 1st, 2020 at 07:54:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]
< wipes tears > (none / 0)
Congressional Record, Issue: Vol. 166, No. 19, Jan 29, 2020, Q&A
House managers claim that the Biden/Burisma affair has been debunked. What agency within the government or independent investigation led to the debunking?
Mr. Counsel HERSCHMANN. Mr. Chief Justice, Members of the Senate, there is no evidence in the record about any investigation, let alone debunked, shammed, discredited, or, as Manager Jeffries told you tonight, phony. ...
Oleksandr Onyshenko, former MP, "whistleblower", Pt.3
Even in 2016 when I spoke with the US Justice there was some prosecutor came to see me but it was still a Democratic time and Obama was president, and they talked to me and they wanted to listen to me in Washington about everything. And the prosecutor and also the agent of Homeland Security made for me a two year visa to come to the US, like when the opposite party wants to listen to you as a witness. At the last moment I got my visa, and was supposed to fly to the US, to Washington, and then Joe Biden told the State Department to cancel my visa. That I wouldn't come--last moment. They already give it to me, then from US the consulate they come and say, "Oh please, please don't go because we've just got information from the State Department. We cancelled your visa."
by Cat on Sun Feb 2nd, 2020 at 08:30:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: < wipes tears > (none / 0)
Part Four of UkraineGate - Inconvenient Facts, "Shokin Strikes Back"
by Cat on Tue Feb 18th, 2020 at 02:38:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: &lt; wipes tears &gt; (none / 0)
Shokin ... just don't trust the sources of the investigation.

Ukraine is an epitome of state corruption

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Tue Feb 18th, 2020 at 07:51:50 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 1)
C-SPAN broadcast Subpoena for Don McGahn Testimony, 3 Jan 2020, AUDIO, transcript
2nd Circuit Court of Appeals (judges: Henderson, Rogers, Griffith) heard an oral argument on whether former White House Counsel Don McGahn must comply with a House subpoena to testify on Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. (attys: Hashim Mooppan, deputy assistant attorney general, Megan Barbero, U.S. House of Representatives associate counsel)
by Cat on Sun Jan 5th, 2020 at 07:56:53 AM EST
< wipes tears > (none / 0)
Schumer calls McConnell proposal on witnesses A 'TRAP'
(Tory trrst Soleimani ROLE developing ...)
by Cat on Sun Jan 5th, 2020 at 10:46:36 PM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 1)
US assassination of Qassem Soleimani figuratively shreds House speaker's "hold" on articles of impeachment.

House to debate Iran war powers as impeachment articles hold continues
"The House war powers resolution, which would likely be voted on after the congressional briefings, will mandate that the administration cease military hostilities with regard to Iran within 30 days if no further congressional action is taken during that time, Pelosi said in a "Dear Colleague" letter Sunday announcing the vote." This bill is not intended to repeal the AUMFs against trrrsts in the Greater Middle East or, heck, anywhere in the world.

Coincidentally, McConnell: Senate has votes to proceed without Democrats in impeachment trial
"We have the votes, once the impeachment trial has begun, to pass a resolution essentially the same, very similar to the 100-0 vote in the Clinton trial." The Trial of this decade will proceed as long as the majority party wants it to, through the 2020 GE primaries and perhaps into spring or summer.

This is good timing for the opposition party candidates up and down the ticket who have exhausted 2019 domestic talking-points to defeat and replace incumbent POTUS. Impeachment or ballot, Mike Pence or Anyone Buttrump, respectively?

You be the judge. War on the planet is a no brainer. But fear for the lives of American spies, trainers, and grunts in "harm's way" (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, etc) could consume the public interface with ambivalent middle-class eligible voters, suggesting that Anyone Buttrump can command a just, lest costly, humanitarian "process" to peace by century's end.

by Cat on Tue Jan 7th, 2020 at 08:59:38 PM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches DRAMA (none / 0)


Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.
by Cat on Wed Jan 8th, 2020 at 09:57:04 PM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches PHASE I ? (none / 0)
Democratic senators growing impatient with Pelosi on impeachment
"A growing number of Senate Democrats think it doesn't make much sense for Pelosi to keep holding on to the articles of impeachment because McConnell has already announced he has enough votes to pass an organizing resolution that would set up phase one [?] of the trial without witnesses."
by Cat on Thu Jan 9th, 2020 at 01:05:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]
SIDEBAR - S. Korea long arm of de law (none / 0)
Prosecutors request 23-year sentence for Lee Myung-bak for bribery, embezzlement
"The defendant compromised the values of the Constitution by abusing the authority entrusted to him by the people as a means of pursuing personal gain," the prosecutors said while explaining the reason for their sentencing request. "His borrowed-name possession of DAS was an act of utter deception of a public that wanted to know who DAS' real owner was."

"He abused the important status of the presidency to receive large sums as bribes and `tribute' in the form of taxpayer money that should have been used for national security," they added.

Lee Myung-bak - wikiwtf "hardliner"
by Cat on Thu Jan 9th, 2020 at 10:52:00 PM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)
Pelosi names 7 'managers' to prosecute Trump in Senate
deep freud

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.
by Cat on Wed Jan 15th, 2020 at 03:44:32 PM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)
New impeachment evidence: Lev Parnas, associate of Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, pressed for Ukraine investigation into Joe Biden, 14 Jan
The materials, provided to Congress by Parnas' lawyer on Monday, were released Tuesday by four House committees.

They include Parnas' handwritten notes on stationery from the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Vienna, the committees said. One page refers to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky: "get Zalensky to annouce that the Biden case will be Investigated."
[...]
The committees that led the Ukraine investigation subpoenaed Parnas on Oct. 10 for the evidence, a day after he was arrested. Parnas won approval from a federal judge in New York to share documents and evidence from devices seized by investigators, including two phones and an iPad.

The committee chairmen - Reps. Adam Schiff of California at the Intelligence Committee, Jerry Nadler of New York at Judiciary, Carolyn Maloney of New York at Oversight, and Eliot Engel of New York at Foreign Affairs - had said they would continue to investigate Trump after the Dec. 18 vote to impeach the president.
[...]
Messages translated by the committees showed communication between Parnas and top Ukrainian officials during the campaign to pressure that country to open investigations.

In May, Parnas communicated by instant message with Ivan Bakanov, the head of Ukraine's Security Service, and Serhiy Shefir, a top aide to Zelensky. Parnas tried to arrange meetings between the aides and Giuliani. He [Parnas?] sent them articles about Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden, as well as a New York Times story about Giuliani's investigative goals in Ukraine.
[...]
WhatsApp messages obtained by the Intelligence Committee show Parnas was in contact with Robert F. Hyde, a pro-Trump congressional candidate in Connecticut who claimed to have Yovanovitch under surveillance.

< pick teeth, suck vigorously >
auspicious family name

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.
by Cat on Wed Jan 15th, 2020 at 05:17:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]
SIDEBAR - auspicious family name (none / 0)
CHINA
Queen Mother Lu Ji [pre Qin and Han, lost Zhao]
Wu Zhao, Ruler of Tang Dynasty China
During Wu's life, overland trade routes brought massive entrepreneurial opportunities with the West and other parts of Eurasia, making the capital of the Tang Empire the most cosmopolitan of the world's cities.
Empress Wu Zetian 武则天 [624-705]
The only female Chinese Imperial ruler was Empress Wu Zetian of the early Tang dynasty. Only two other women nearly reached such a high[, ]Imperial position - Empress Lu of the Han dynasty and Dowager Empress Cixi of the last Qing dynasty.

anglophone translation: wu, fou, lin, shei, shei; Wu, Wuhou, Wu-hou, Wu Zhao; han, lou, lou, shou, shou, yao, yao; Wenshui now Shanxi
romanization (1912)
The [romanization] of Empress Wu (Zeitan)
--
cue christ Churchill

by Cat on Fri Jan 17th, 2020 at 04:55:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: SIDEBAR - auspicious family name (none / 1)
A delicious narrative of an era in 7th cen. CE imperial politics and indoctrination, translating diverse classical biographies and annals from classical "Chinese" characters (2nd - 9th cen. CE) to English diction; detailed footnotes (178), overweening attention to commentaries, given to compensate for "unknown" contemporaneous documentary artifacts:
Denis Twitchett, Chen gui and Other Works Attributed to Empress Wu Z[i]e[]tian, 77 pp
Readers surely will find many concepts of bureaucratic hygiene familiar to their modern relation to AUTHORITARIAN governance.
by Cat on Sun Jan 19th, 2020 at 02:59:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)
APsplainin | MSNBC's Maddow reaches record audience with Parnas interview, 4.5M recievers
"Parnas, who Maddow had frequently talked about on her show, spoke about his belief of Trump's knowledge about what Giuliani was doing in the Ukraine."

But did he cry?

by Cat on Fri Jan 17th, 2020 at 07:48:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 1)
Newly released TEXTS tie Nunes aide closer to Ukraine plot
Nunes initially denied knowing Parnas but has since been forced to admit the two had spoken. The messages released Friday show about 100 text messages traded over MONTHS between Parnas and the California Republican's staffer, Derek Harvey, a retired U.S. Army colonel. Harvey previously served at the White House on Trump's National Security Council.
[...]
Friday's document dump included dozens of texts exchanged between Parnas and Harvey last Spring over the encrypted messaging service WhatsApp. They show Parnas providing documents and helping set up meetings for Harvey with Ukrainians who have made unsubstantiated claims that as vice president Biden orchestrated the firing of a prosecutor who was investigating corruption allegations involving Burisma, a energy company where Hunter Biden served as a board member from 2014 to 2019.
BONUS!
The messages included screenshots of exchanges between Hyde and a Dutch man [!] named Anthony De Caluwe. Hyde denied he [WHO?] was actually tailing the ambassador. ...FBI agents were observed visiting Hyde's home and business on Thursday [16 Jan], while police in Ukraine have opened an investigation into whether the U.S. ambassador was illegally surveilled.

In a statement issued to The New York Times [!] on Saturday, De Caluwe denied having any contacts in Ukraine and dismissed his exchange with Hyde was just "ridiculous banter."

< wipes tears > If Trump were Wu, all them would be MIA yesterday.
by Cat on Sun Jan 19th, 2020 at 03:28:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Alias Anthony von Himmelreich (none / 1)

Anthony De Caluwé alias Hemelrijk, HeavenRich in German Himmelreich

Private banker

See e-mail address arheavenr@gmail.xxx

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Sun Jan 19th, 2020 at 05:18:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Robert Hyde for US Congress (none / 1)
A high flyer and fully qualified for running a MAGA campaign ...good luck sucker.



'Sapere aude'
by Oui (Oui) on Sun Jan 19th, 2020 at 06:17:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]
[INCONTINENCE ALERT] (none / 0)
Rule of Atty #2, yo



Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.
by Cat on Wed Jan 15th, 2020 at 05:21:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)

by Cat on Wed Jan 15th, 2020 at 09:10:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)
DICTION CORNER:
memento
or
fetish
by Cat on Thu Jan 16th, 2020 at 12:24:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]
O. SNAP. (none / 0)

deep, Deep, DEEP freud.

reference
"The disposition to obsessional neurosis, a contribution to the problem of choice neurosis" (19113) in Freud-Complete Works, pp 2623-2631

The problem of why and how a person may fall ill of a neurosis is certainly among those to which psycho-analysis should offer a solution. But it will probably be necessary to find a solution first to another and narrower problem - namely, why it is that this or that person must fall ill of a particular neurosis and of none other. This is the problem of 'choice nerurosis'. ...
by Cat on Thu Jan 16th, 2020 at 12:55:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]
[INCONTINENCE ALERT] (none / 0)
by Cat on Thu Jan 16th, 2020 at 12:57:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)
last-minute exhibits piling up

[GOA]: White House budget office [OMB] violated federal law by withholding Ukraine security funds

The Government Accountability Office said in a report released Thursday that the White House Office of Management and Budget did not have the authority to withhold the money under the federal Impoundment Control Act, which governs Congress' role in the budget process.

"Faithful execution of the law does not permit the president to substitute his own policy priorities for those that Congress has enacted into law,"  the report says. "OMB withheld funds for a policy [?] reason, which is not permitted" under the law.

archived
OMB: Ukraine aid delay was consistent with law, past practice, Dec 2019
Ukraine's leader: Trump didn't use US military aid as lever, Oct 2019
in
Impeachment: Key Witness Envoy Kurt Volker Resigns

by Cat on Thu Jan 16th, 2020 at 08:50:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]
deferral or rescission; impound, withold or delay (none / 0)
Whatevs: They got ["]OMB["] by short and curly procedures
... In its response to us, OMB described the withholding as necessary to ensure that the funds were not spent "in a manner that could conflict with the President's foreign policy." OMB Response, at 9. The ICA does not permit deferrals for policy reasons. See B-237297.3, Mar. 6, 1990; B-224882, Apr. 1, 1987. OMB's justification for the withholding falls squarely within the scope of an impermissible policy deferral. Thus, the deferral of USAI funds was improper under the ICA....

Mulvaney's got some splainin to do. Better bring a few dictionaries, diagrams, possibly weed.

by Cat on Thu Jan 16th, 2020 at 09:15:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Rule of Atty #2 - BUSTED! (none / 0)
OMB's assertions have no basis in law.  We recognize that, even where the President does not transmit a special message pursuant to the procedures established by the ICA, it is possible that a delay in obligation may not constitute a reportable [BWAH!] impoundment. See B-329092, Dec. 12, 2017; B-222215, Mar. 28, 1986.However, programmatic delays occur when an agency is taking necessary steps to implement a program, but because of factors external to the program, funds temporarily go unobligated. B-329739, Dec. 19, 2018; B-291241, Oct. 8, 2002; B-241514.5, May 7, 1991. This presumes, of course, that the agency is making reasonable efforts to obligate. B-241514.5, May 7, 1991.  Here, there was no external factor causing an unavoidable delay. Rather, OMB on its own volition explicitly barred DOD from obligating amounts.
by Cat on Thu Jan 16th, 2020 at 09:24:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]
[INCONTINENCE ALERT] (none / 0)
Always read the footnotes.
by Cat on Thu Jan 16th, 2020 at 09:29:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]
SIDEBAR - last minute FOIA (none / 0)
Surveillance, 16 Jan 2020
Judicial Watch [!] brought a federal complaint to obtain State Department records
- Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch
  • Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent
  • The Global Engagement Center
  • The U.S. Embassy Kyiv
  • The Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs
  • The Bureau of Public Affairs
  • The Bureau of International Information Programs
  • The Office of the Legal Advisor
The time frame of the request was identified as "January 1, 2019 to the present."
on its use of the CrowdTangle [!] social media monitoring program to surveil journalists and former Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch.
Plaintiff, Judicial Watch is a well-know politically conservative NGO. Plaintiff motion to compel production of docs requested October 23, 2019 is an auspicious contribution to fog of war, rumors, and just plain bullshit surrounding DJT's administration harassment of Yovanovitch. Yovanovitch submitted her diplomatic brief to "closed door" committees' hearings and maudlin press scrutiny since October. What expectation of privacy in either her personal, public, or professional capacities, Yovanovitch claims, remains to be seen, I could not imagine. I suppose, Judicial Watch is telegraphing a frivolous, or not, interrogatory strategy to sympathetic senate interlocutors.
by Cat on Fri Jan 17th, 2020 at 11:08:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: SIDEBAR - last minute FOIA (none / 0)
Pompeo breaks silence on alleged THREATS to [former U.S. ambassador] in Ukraine
Marie Yovanovitch was being watched
[...]
House Democrats on Friday evening released a new batch of messages from Parnas that added to the questions about the ambassador's security. In them, an unidentified individual with a Belgian [!] country code appears to describe Yovanovitch's movements.

"Nothing has changed she is still not moving checked today again," the individual wrote in one message, later adding, "it's confirmed we have a person inside." In another message the person wrote, "She had visitors."

Wu tan fu, chile
by Cat on Sat Jan 18th, 2020 at 08:19:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]
< wipes tears > (none / 1)
Politico | Trump's impeachment defense team to include Kenneth Starr, Alan Dershowitz
Pam Bondi (former Florida AG), Jane Raskin (DJT atty n), Kenneth Starr (former USSC), Alan Dershowitz (wtf), Robert Ray (JD), Pat Cipollone (WH counsel + N), and Jay Sekulow (DJT atty n)
--
Hell if I'm watching this. I will read transcripts after I complete my course, Modern Abnormal Cognitive Philosophy 101.
by Cat on Fri Jan 17th, 2020 at 06:26:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: &lt; wipes tears &gt; (none / 0)
by Cat on Sat Jan 18th, 2020 at 04:36:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]
For You Mr. President, A Practice Run (none / 1)
Trailer from a friend, Richard "Tricky" Nixon, Republican, who would have been the first and only U.S. President successfully impeached by Congress.

President Nixon's Farewell to the White House Staff

Even for crooks applause rings from the diehards.

What would a Nixon impeachment trial have looked like?

On July 28, 1974, the House Judiciary Committee passed the first of three impeachment articles against President Richard Nixon. Although a final House vote never took place along with a Senate trial, plans were being made for these events.

However,  President Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974 after a Supreme Court decision compelled Nixon to released unedited Watergate tape transcripts that included incriminating evidence.

The House committee had debated the impeachment articles for about seven months, and the group approved the first article by a 27-11 vote, on July 28, 1974. On the same day, the Washington Post reported some details about what would happen down the road if Nixon fought the charges.

The Judiciary Committee still needed to write a report for the full House about the charges and get the House Rules Committee to set debate rules. Two weeks of debate were expected under the rules, with the final impeachment vote expected near August 24, 1974. (The Post said that House member Tip O'Neill believed the Nixon impeachment articles would pass a full House vote by at least 50 votes.)

If the House approved any of the three articles, President Nixon would have been provided time to form a defense, with the Senate trial lasting about two months.

The Post also said the Senate leaders Mike Mansfield and Hugh Scott were set to meet the next day to start planning for a possible trial.

But on August 2, the House Rules committee said that the start of the floor debate would be later, on August 19, with the full report due to all House members on August 8, 1974 - the day that Nixon would later announce his resignation to a national audience.

○ Sam Ervin

○ Sam Ervin took down Nixon. We're still waiting for his heir | Roll Call |

'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Thu Jan 16th, 2020 at 12:15:49 AM EST
archived first principles (none / 0)
US American Rhetoric
Barbara Jordan, Sam Ervin (A/V)
by Cat on Thu Jan 16th, 2020 at 12:29:21 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)

Senate swearing-in of Chief Justice and Senators for Impeachment Trial, 16 Jan 2020

by Cat on Thu Jan 16th, 2020 at 07:54:59 PM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)
One pen for all. That's just gross. ewwww.
by Cat on Thu Jan 16th, 2020 at 08:23:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)
gah blessings journal entry
by Cat on Thu Jan 16th, 2020 at 08:51:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)
U.S. House of Representatives Files Brief in Impeachment
This afternoon, the House Managers, on behalf of the U.S. House of Representatives, filed with the Secretary of the Senate a Trial Memorandum and Statement of Material Facts in the impeachment trial of the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump [111 pp]. The Managers' brief sets forth the compelling case against the President that the Managers will present to the U.S. Senate during the impeachment trial.

reference
House Judiciary Committee Report on the Impeachment of Donald J. Trump (658 pp), 13 Dec 2019
H.Res.755--Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.
articles | Roll Call No. 696
H.Res.798--Appointing and authorizing managers for the impeachment trial of Donald John Trump, President of the United States.
S.Res.471--A resolution authorizing the taking of a photograph in the Chamber of the United States Senate.

archived
H. Res__, Impeaching Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, 10 Dec 2019

by Cat on Sun Jan 19th, 2020 at 12:57:16 AM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)
Trump's lawyers urge dismissal of 'flimsy' impeachment case
The brief from Trump's lawyers, filed as senators prepare to return to Washington for opening arguments, offers the most detailed look at the lines of defense they intend to use against Democratic efforts to convict the president and oust him from office over his dealings with Ukraine. It is meant as a counter to a filing two days ago from House Democrats that summarized weeks of testimony from more than a dozen witnesses in laying out the impeachment case.
by Cat on Mon Jan 20th, 2020 at 10:47:42 PM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)
White House appoints GOP House members to Trump's impeachment team, front row, peanut gallery
In a statement Monday evening it was announced that Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), Mike Johnson (R-La.), Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Jim Jordan (R-N.C.), Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.), John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) and Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) would join Trump's impeachment team.
[...]
Trump's move to appoint the lawmakers comes as some key Republican allies in the Senate had warned against such appointments, warning that the addition of Republican House members would cast the Senate trial in a partisan light.
Impeachment resolution shortens trial's opening arguments to two days per side -- Generous: SCOTUS allows 1 hr., in one day.
The timeline laid out in the Kentucky Republican's Senate organizing resolution for Trump's impeachment trial , which was obtained by CNN, is a break from the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton, when the 24 hours were split over a four-day period.
Democrats oppose McConnell's schedule, which House Democratic aides said Monday was an effort to "conceal the President's misconduct in the dark of night."
"It's clear Sen. McConnell is hell-bent on making it much more difficult to get witnesses and documents and intent on rushing the trial through," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said in a statement. "On something as important as impeachment, Senator McConnell's resolution is nothing short of a national disgrace."

incidentally
S.Res.474 - A resolution to authorize representation by the Senate Legal Counsel in the case of Martin F. McMahon v. Senator Ted Cruz, et al. ...introduced by Chuckie Son of D'Amato, 16 Jan 2020.
(no jury trial)

by Cat on Tue Jan 21st, 2020 at 02:42:54 AM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D1 (none / 0)
Democrats decry McConnell's impeachment rules as 'cover-up'
  • Trump in Davos
  • Pelosi touring Poland and Israel
"The McConnell rules seem to be designed by President Trump for President Trump," said the Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer.
[...]
Rep. Jerry Nadler, the Judiciary Committee Chairman also leading the House team, said: "There's no trial in this country where you wouldn't admit relative [sic] witnesses."
[...]
The first several days of the trial are expected to be tangled in procedural motions playing out on the Senate floor and behind closed doors. Senators must refrain from speaking during the trial proceedings.
by Cat on Tue Jan 21st, 2020 at 07:44:28 PM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D1 (none / 0)
McConnell drops two-day limit on opening arguments
McConnell amended his organizing resolution for President Trump's impeachment trial at the last minute to give each side three days to make their opening arguments, which can last for up to 24 hours, the same amount of time given to the prosecution and defense during the 1999 impeachment trial of President Clinton.

The GOP leader made another significant amendment to his resolution by allowing the House impeachment inquiry to be entered into the Senate's official trial record - subject to hearsay objections - something McConnell declined to greenlight in his initial proposal. The resolution also allows each side to choose how many people may make those arguments.

reference
House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, The Trump-Ukraine Impeachment Inquiry Report (pdf 298 pp), Dec 2019; HTML; no witness transcripts enclosed
House Committee on Oversight and Reform, (unclassified) Transcripts as Part of Impeachment Inquiry, witnesses, subpoenas, statements listing, Oct 2019-present

by Cat on Tue Jan 21st, 2020 at 08:23:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]
< wipes tears > : D1 (none / 1)
Impeachment comes with its own rules - or lack thereof - on standard of proof
"My INTUITION is that this is likely to be even more true with regard to politicians," said Louis Michael Seidman, the Carmack Waterhouse Professor of Constitutional Law at Georgetown University Law Center. "Either you think that Trump should be impeached or you don't. In the real world, people just don't focus on abstract questions like the standard of proof," Seidman said.

supra
"There are no standards of proof. There are no rules of evidence."

by Cat on Tue Jan 21st, 2020 at 08:40:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D1 (none / 1)
Round Up
Democrats blocked three times from subpoenaing documents in Trump trial
Members of the public packed the balcony overlooking the chamber, including actress and activist Alyssa Milano, who sat in the front row, listening intently.
evidence: Excluding press clippings, EU database records, and POTUS prepared remarks for public events from my footnote count, "Material Facts" attached to the House "Trial Memorandum" are 70 unique items, of which complete H. Rep. (reports), witnesses' transcripts, or depositions, video recordings, and correspondence, Apr-Dec 2019. I might have missed some. These are cited by House server URL for review. If the Trial Memorandum, summarizing indisputable evidence for impeachment, does not obviate display of each exhibit, again, I shudder to think what more could.
by Cat on Wed Jan 22nd, 2020 at 02:48:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Democrats for Pence! : D1 (none / 0)
How many senators want to be remembered as having convicted beloved POTUS #44 or 45 for "impermissible policy" impoundment?
by Cat on Wed Jan 22nd, 2020 at 04:18:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D1 (4.00 / 2)
So I skimmed footnotes in House Trial Memorandum. This is where Schiff et al. itemize "evidence." The evidence seems to stored in digital facsimile in a House server (ea URL address) for sentators' review. My first pass found 70 unique exhibits on which the managers' argument for conviction rely (excluding sundry NYT press reports and DJT's prepared remark at public events). A gargantuan number of pages. Note that collection this material appears to ascertain motive and establish alleged Art. I, abuse of office ("bribery" conduct) by the POTUS, of which OMB/GAO/HPSCI correspondence.
Lt. Col. A. Vindman, HPSCI deposition
Amb Wm. Taylor & G. Kent, HPSCI deposition (Nov 2019)
  • Taylor, HPSCI deposition (Oct 2019)
  • Taylor-Kent, HPSCI deposition
Amb. K. Volker, HPSCI deposition (Oct 2019)
- Volker-T. Morrison, deposition (Nov 2019)
Amb. F. Hill, HPSCI deposition (Oct 2019)
- Hill-Holmes
Amb. G. Sondland, HPSCI deposition (Oct 2019)
- Sondland, Opening Statement, HPSCI (Nov 2019)
D. Holmes, HPSCI deposition (Nov 2019)
J. Williams, HPSCI deposition (Nov 2019)
  • Williams & Vindman, HPSCI deposition (Nov 2019)
  • William, classified supp'l. Pence-Zelensky call (Sep 2019)
Amb. M. Yovanovitch, HPSCI deposition (Nov 2019)
- Yovanovitch, HPSCI deposition (Oct 2019)
D. Holmes & M. Yovanovitch, HPSCI deposition (Nov 2019)
L. K. Cooper, HPSCI deposition (Oct 2019)
- Cooper-D. Hale, HPSCI deposition (Nov 2019)
M. Sandy, HPSCI deposition
Hale, HPSCI deposition
Croft, HPSCI deposition
Morrison, HPSCI deposition
J. Maguire, HPSCI deposition (Sep 2019)
WH, Memorandum of Telephone Conversation (Apr 2019)
WH, Memorandum of Telephone Conversation (July 2019)
Mulvaney, press briefing transcript (Oct 2019)
Associate Press, DJT interview transcript (Apr 2017)
ABC, DJT interview transcript (June 2019)
DNI, ICA "Assessing Russian Activities..." (Jan 2017)
SSCI, "Russian Active Measures ..." (May 2018)
CRS, "Ukraine: Background ..." (Sepp 2019)
Comptroller Gen. (GAO), "Matter of Office of Mgmt..." (Jan 2020)
OLC, agency counsel exclusion determination (Nov 2019)
Pub. L. 115-245
Pub. L. 226-6
Pub. L. 116-59
H. Rep. No. 116-9
H. Rep. No. 116-335 witnesses: R. Blair, M. Ellis,P. Griffith, R. Vought, B. McCormack
H. Rep. No. 116-346
H. Rep. No. 116-105 in re: Wm. Barr
H. Rep. No. 116-266
R. Mueller, "Report on the Investigation..." (Jan 2019)
L. Pernas, R. Giuliani-V. Zelensky letter (May 2019)
J. Shaheen et al, letter to Mulvaney (Sep 2019)
C. Murphy letter to A. Schiff, HPSCI (Nov 2019)
E. Engle, letter to P. Cipollone (Sep 2019)
  • Engle et al, letter to P. Cipollone (Sep 2019)
  • Engle et al, letter to M. Pence (Oct 20119)
  • Engle, letter to M. Pompeo (Sep 2019)
E. Cummings, letter to J. Mulvaney (Oct 2019)
P. Cipollone, letter to N. Pelosi et al. (Oct 2019)
  • Cipollone, letter to W. Pittard (Nov 2019)
  • Cipollone, letter to W. Burck (Nov 2019)
M. Duffey, email to D. Norquist etl (July 2019)
D. Noble, email to M. Mulvaney (Nov 2019)
M. Atkinson (IGIC) to A. Schiff, D. Nunes (Sep 2019)
A. Schiff, letter to J. Maguire (Sep 2019)
  • Schiff et al, letter to OMB R. Vought (Oct 2019)
  • A. Schiff, letter to M. Duffey (Oct 2019)
M. Morgan, letter to E. Cummings et al (Oct 2019)
J. Yaworske, letter to A. Schiff (Oct 2019)
- Yaworske, letter to A. Schiff (Nov 2019)
R. Hood, letter to A. Schiff et al (Oct 2019)
B. Bulatao, letter to L. Robbins (Oct 2019)
D. Norquist, letter to D. Levin (Oct 2019)
DJT, letter to N. Pelosi (Dec 2019)
K. Volker, SMS (Oct 2019)
R. Giuliani, Twitter post (Dec 2019)
DJT, Twitter post (Oct 2019)
by Cat on Wed Jan 22nd, 2020 at 04:34:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D1 (none / 0)

O. SNAP


Schiff may have ["]mischaracterized["] Parnas evidence, documents show
In one section of the letter, Schiff claims that Parnas "continued to try to arrange a meeting with President Zelensky," citing a specific text message exchange where Parnas tells Giuliani: "trying to get us mr Z." The remainder of the exchange -- which was attached to Schiff's letter -- was redacted.
[...]
But an unredacted version of the exchange shows that several days later, Parnas sent Giuliani a word document that appears to show notes from an interview with Mykola Zlochevsky, the founder of Burisma, followed by a text message to Giuliani that states: "mr Z answers my brother." That suggests Parnas was referring to Zlochevsky not Zelensky.

supra
Les Crises | Plan du dossier "UkraineGate" - Des faits qui dérangent (EN, RU)
Zlochevsky - Shokin (bump), Lushenko (bump)- all the way down

by Cat on Wed Jan 22nd, 2020 at 06:53:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D1 (none / 0)
The apparent ["]mischaracterization{"], however, does not undercut Democrats' argument that Trump withheld critical military aid to Ukraine as a way to pressure Zelenksy into opening up investigations into the Bidens, including Joe Biden's son Hunter, who was once a board member on Burisma, a Ukrainian natural gas company.
Schiff's misrepresenation of fact, however, sure af demonstrates corrupt detailing, a "cover-up" of, suspect business between US federal officials and that specific, internationally reknowned, criminal firm in Ukraine, ergo The Call.

What else have this latter-day HUAC "mischaracterized" in their collection of evidence? We shall learn perhaps from x-examination of the "evidence".

archived
Worldwide Organized Crime

by Cat on Wed Jan 22nd, 2020 at 07:28:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D1 (none / 0)
archived
by Cat on Thu Jan 23rd, 2020 at 03:24:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D1 (none / 0)
Plan du dossier "UkraineGate" - Des faits qui dérangent (EN, RU), Pt. 3
NARRATOR: It sounds great to hear Joe Biden condemn the "cancer of corruption" here, there, and everwhere, but it would be better if he were not the origin of the metastases. More generally, it is not logical to claim to be fighting corruption in Ukraine by just asking for the replacement of Shokin, supposedly the number one problem of the country, a few months after his appointment. If you have a corrupt prosecutor general, you have a prosecutor general problem. But if you have three prosecutors general, one after the other, who are problematic, you have a president problem!
by Cat on Sun Feb 2nd, 2020 at 12:44:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D2 (none / 1)
01:00 AM
wut: Roberts drops 'pettifogging' bomb while reprimanding both sides in impeachment trial
wut: "to deny certain witnesses in the trial, as many GOP senators had, was a 'treacherous vote'"

## Misplaced precision

by Cat on Wed Jan 22nd, 2020 at 06:22:00 PM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D2 (none / 1)
by Cat on Wed Jan 22nd, 2020 at 06:27:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D2 (none / 1)
Roll Call | Impeachment news roundup: Jan. 22
The Senate voted along party lines to approve the rules for the trial, after a long night of debate that stretched to nearly 2 a.m. Wednesday [22 Jan].
Senators adopted the updated resolution, 53-47, shortly before 2 a.m. Wednesday morning.
[...]
The change means the trial days, which start at 1 p.m., will likely now conclude around 9 p.m. and could extend the trial by two days.
[...]
Schumer offered a series of amendments -- all rejected on roll call votes, mostly along party lines -- that would have instructed Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. to subpoena acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, former National Security Adviser John Bolton and other administration officials, as well as certain White House, State Department, Defense Department and Office of Management and Budget* documents pertaining to the impeachment charges.
2 p.m. | Flooded phone lines: Thousands of constituents called into the offices of GOP senators in swing states Tuesday imploring them to vote to allow witnesses at the Senate impeachment trial, according to analytics provided to Roll Call by Stand Up America, a political advocacy group that opposes Trump.
Roberets' "subpoena" (power) is basically meaningless in this context. First, Roberts does not preside at senate proceedings in his capacity as a court officer. Second, judges don't hand out subpoenas like tic-tacs or ... commemorative pens; orders are predicated by, yes, separate trial of fact and law.
--
* doc exhibits already provided with House Trial Memorandum

supra
the twitterverse of Lindsey Graham Cracker acolytes would be delighted ...

by Cat on Wed Jan 22nd, 2020 at 08:06:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D2 (none / 0)
twitterverse simple survey result @TIME-STAMP: the UID who understands that House "managers" have submitted evidence for senators' consideration is ... unavailable.
by Cat on Wed Jan 22nd, 2020 at 09:16:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D2 (none / 0)
twitterverse simple survey result @TIME-STAMP: the UID who understands that House "managers" submitted unredacted agency docs for senators' consideration is ... unavailable.
by Cat on Wed Jan 22nd, 2020 at 09:19:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D2 (none / 0)
Senators allow classified evidence from Pence aide for impeachment trial
The one-page document relates to a phone call that took place between Pence and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a week before Zelensky met with President Trump at the United Nations.

This latest development is a win for House Democrats who have unsuccessfully pressed the White House to declassify the document, which Pence aide Jennifer Williams submitted to the House in late November to supplement her public testimony earlier that month.

supra
William, classified supp'l. Pence-Zelensky call (Sep 2019)

by Cat on Thu Jan 23rd, 2020 at 05:21:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D2 (none / 1)

Now, here's the bad news.

No one has updated the Congressional Record (transcripts of floor proceedings, daily, in both chambers) in the senate since 17 Jan 2020. Consequently, there's no means to verify that report accurately records HUAC Rev. Chairman Mr. Schiff's remarks either today or yesterday.

The Senate is broadcasting floor proceedings of the impeachment trial in real-time. Evidently, technical support for floor "managers" does not include fixed chron identification by name (eg. Rep. Jason "Mr Smith Filibuster" Crow, reciting text of 'Material Facts'). BUT it does include editing facilities, such as simulcast of stock/file VoD, to illustrate a "talking point" to the chamber (not shown in frame is one or more monitors in situ displaying said illustration).

The senate's Floor Activity digest, however, is updated daily. Find here precisely how many procedures, amendments for exampled, introduced and disposed.

At this rate, it was please me to learn that the senators will not adjourn for the weekend, forthcoming.

by Cat on Wed Jan 22nd, 2020 at 10:16:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]
errata (none / 0)
s/b At this rate, it would please me to learn that the senators will not adjourn for the weekend, forthcoming.
by Cat on Thu Jan 23rd, 2020 at 04:16:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]
AHA! (none / 0)
CNN: "President Trump's legal team will also have 24 hours over three days for its opening arguments (likely Saturday, Monday and Tuesday). Senators will then get to ask questions."
by Cat on Thu Jan 23rd, 2020 at 08:02:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]
hmm (none / 0)
Will the senators pass a mic around the chamber to House managers? Or will elves construct a ginormous round table with dais or lectern for House managers to approach for Q&A?
by Cat on Fri Jan 24th, 2020 at 07:59:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D2 (none / 0)
o. look. a Congressional Record entry for ... 22 Jan
ORDER OF PROCEDURE, Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 13, Opening Statement
Mr. Manager [!] SCHIFF. Mr. Chief Justice, Senators, counsel for the
President, and my fellow House managers: I want to begin by thanking
you, Chief Justice, for a very long day, for the way you have presided
over these proceedings. I want to thank the Senators also. We went well
into the morning, as you know, until I believe around 2 in the morning.
You paid attention to every word and argument you heard from both sides
in this impeachment trial, and I know we are both deeply grateful for
that.
  It was an exhausting day for us, certainly, but we have adrenaline
going through our veins. ....
by Cat on Thu Jan 23rd, 2020 at 05:12:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D2 (none / 0)
Mr Manager Jeffries, pp 8
He told President Zelensky:

I heard you had a prosecutor who was very good and he was shut down and that's really unfair. A lot of people are talking about that, the way they shut your very good prosecutor down and you had some very bad people involved.
Think about this contrast. The President bashed a career American diplomat [YOVANOVITCH] and an anti-corruption champion whom he unceremoniously removed because she was viewed as an obstacle to his efforts to solicit foreign interference in the 2020 election and then at the same time praised someone who he thought could be an asset--a former Ukrainian prosecutor whom the free world views as an obstacle to the rule of law. The idea that President Trump cares about corruption is laughable. It is laughable.
< wipes tears >
Top Ukrainian justice official says US ambassador gave him a do not prosecute list, 20 Mar 2019
The State Department called Lutsenko's claim of receiving a do not prosecute list, "an outright fabrication."
[...]
Lutsenko also said that he has not received funds amounting to nearly $4 million that the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine was supposed to allocate to his office, saying that "the situation was actually rather strange" and pointing to the fact that the funds were designated, but "never received."
Prosecutor General admits U.S. Ambassador didn't give him a do not prosecute list 18 Apr 2019
by Cat on Thu Jan 23rd, 2020 at 06:45:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D2 (none / 0)
The Ukrainian Prosecutor Behind Trump's Impeachment, Dec 2019
On October 3rd, Kurt Volker, Trump's former special envoy to Ukraine, said in a closed-door deposition, "My opinion of Prosecutor General Lutsenko was that he was acting in a self-serving manner, frankly making things up, in order to appear important to the United States, because he wanted to save his job." In a closed-door deposition on October 11th, Yovanovitch described Lutsenko as an "opportunist" who "will ally himself, sometimes simultaneously . . . with whatever political or economic forces he believes will suit his interests best at the time." On the first day of public testimony, Kent accused Lutsenko of "peddling false information in order to exact revenge" against Yovanovitch and his domestic rivals. Lutsenko told me they were all liars. In our conversations, which took place in the course of several weeks, he veered between self-pity and defiance. "I gave my country so many years," he told me one night, after his third or fourth Scotch. "I had a good story and good results, but I became a bad person. I can't understand it."
by Cat on Thu Jan 23rd, 2020 at 06:58:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D2 (none / 0)
birth of a twitter "meme", p 8
Mrs. Manager DEMINGS. After the meeting, Dr. Hill followed up with Ambassador Bolton and relayed what transpired. Bolton was alarmed. In other words, Ambassador Bolton didn't want any part of it. He directed Dr. Hill to brief the NSC's top attorney, John Eisenberg, as she explained during her hearing.
  (Text of Videotape presentation:)
GOLDMAN. What was that specific instruction?
Dr. HILL. The specific instruction was that I have to go to the lawyers, to John Eisenberg, our senior counsel for the National Security Council, to basically say, you tell Eisenberg, Ambassador Bolton told me, that I am not part of this whatever drug deal that Mulvaney and Sondland are cooking up.
GOLDMAN. What did you understand him to mean by the drug deal that Mulvaney and Sondland were cooking up? Dr. HILL. I took it to mean investigations for a meeting.
GOLDMAN. Did you go speak to the lawyers?
Dr. HILL. I certainly did.
Mrs. Manager DEMINGS. As a former chief of police, I think it is quite interesting that Ambassador Bolton categorized the corrupt scheme--the pressure campaign--as a "drug deal."
by Cat on Thu Jan 23rd, 2020 at 07:50:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]
archived (none / 0)
Tue Oct 15th, 2019 at 08:03:12 PM EST
by Cat on Sat Feb 1st, 2020 at 06:29:32 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D2 (none / 0)

In this image from video, House impeachment manager Rep, Adam Schiff, D-Calif., holds redacted documents as he speaks during the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020. [Senate Television via AP]

The team led by Rep. Adam Schiff, the chairman of House Intelligence Committee, constructed a gripping account of Trump's political pressure on Ukraine and attempt to cover up the "corrupt scheme" central to the charges. But the limits are apparent. Prosecutors must rely on the same loops of videotaped testimony -- ambassadors, national security officials and even the president himself -- after Trump's GOP Senate allies blocked new witnesses.
supra
OMB released 192 pages of Ukraine-related records to American Oversight ...
by Cat on Thu Jan 23rd, 2020 at 02:02:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D2 (none / 0)

1 - 7 October 2019
What do papers obtained by Labour say about NHS and drug pricing?
by Cat on Fri Feb 7th, 2020 at 02:05:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D3 (none / 0)

wut: "The North Carolina Republican is providing an assortment of fidget spinners and other gizmos to his GOP colleagues at this week's Thursday lunch."

by Cat on Thu Jan 23rd, 2020 at 05:36:23 PM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D3 (none / 0)
Unexpected lede observed in REUTERS twitter live feed --believe or not--*ppt bullet point slide fly-in (RTL) in middle of HUAC Rev. Chairman Mr Manager Schiff's opening argument.

I surmise, F. Hill assert (at some time) that Trump's foreign policy diverged (boldface, underscore) from US national security policy.

But I did not linger for the rest. I suspect though, House managers intend to elaborate that bullet in order to elaborate "impermissible policy" reasons for withholding obligated "aid" ($) for Ukraine, which is fighting Russia. Despite Zelensky's peace project.

by Cat on Thu Jan 23rd, 2020 at 09:20:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D3 (none / 0)
*.ppt presentation appears (not illustrated) in USAToday digest. Select bullet point text gets editorial massage. Other newspapers also noting novelty of (D) management of multi-media aids.
Democrats take impeachment back to 1999 and other moments from the Senate trial
Democrats also used the testimony of Fiona Hill, a Russia expert and former National Security Council official, to debunk the notion that Ukraine, rather than Russia, interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
I idly wonder when (R) "managers" will revive Crowdstrike investigation of DNC-Clinton servers "hack" in 2016. Then, scribblers rebut with senate schedule, preventing "fresh" witnesses such as Comey.
Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, and Schiff went through the reasons Democrats allege Trump was seeking personal gain, citing the following claims, which they displayed for senators in the chamber:

  • President Cared Only About Announcement Of Investigations
  • President Cared Only About "Big Stuff": Investigating Biden
  • President Used Personal Attorney: This Isn't "Foreign Policy"
  • Investigations Never Part Of U.S. Official Policy
  • Investigations Outside Official Channels
  • Multiple Administration Officials Reported Concerns
  • Ukraine Expressed Concerns: Investigations Political
  • The White House Attempted To Bury The Call
  • President Told Us In His Own Statements
  • President Did Not Care About Anti-Corruption Efforts In Ukraine
by Cat on Fri Jan 24th, 2020 at 05:48:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]
SIDEBAR - graphic design (none / 0)
by Cat on Sun Feb 2nd, 2020 at 05:21:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]
SIDEBAR - graphic design (none / 0)
by Cat on Sun Feb 2nd, 2020 at 05:22:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D3 (none / 0)
HUAC Rev. Chairman Mr Manager is going to regret this that this isn't a tweet.

"The president's misconduct cannot be decided at the ballot box. We cannot be assured that the vote will be fairly won."

by Cat on Thu Jan 23rd, 2020 at 10:21:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D3 (none / 0)
Buzzfeed Re-Cap, 23 Jan (because the situation is here is pretty psychotic, eg. 22 Jan, Politico ventured, "Trump's trial may hinge on Lamar Alexander," while McClatchy speculated, "Democrats fighting Trump for impeachment witnesses may have to ask the Supreme Court)

"You Can't Trust This President": Democrats Accuse Trump Of Betraying The Country In Impeachment Trial

"You know you can't trust this president to do what's right for this country. You can trust he will do what's right for Donald Trump. He'll do it now. He's done it before. He'll do it for the next several months. He'll do it in the election if he is allowed to," HUAC Rev. Chairman Mr. Manager Schiff, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, told senators. "This is why if you find him guilty, you must find he should be removed. Because right matters. And the truth matters. Otherwise, we are lost."
That's some savvy jawboning, while Team Trump executes NDAA "policies" enacted by the US Congress, of which $738B Defence Spending for 2019-2020 alone. $400M tendered to Ukraine for incidental mayhem might be a knick to some, but it is surely a principled affront to Article I of the US Constitution. Convict or acquit? What say ye, embalmed representatives of the people?


Many in US support Trump decision to kill Iran general: 41% fer, 30% agin, 30% undecided?


Headline betrayal reminds Trump doves (if such a person exists) that their candidate has not withdrawn US boots from the "over there."

US general says troop surge in Middle East may not end soon: its case for troops in the Middle East


"Right matters" reminds homeland hearth-minders that their nemesis perverts US foreign policy in aid of democracy "over here".

Was US America cheated by Trump or not?

by Cat on Fri Jan 24th, 2020 at 07:31:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]
< wipes tears > (none / 0)

[intone with Viola Davis inflection]: trifling as HELL.

by Cat on Fri Jan 24th, 2020 at 10:44:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D3 (none / 0)

archived
I was waiting for that. Apr 2019
You all remember the 2006 House Rules, dontcha. oct 2019
by Cat on Sat Jan 25th, 2020 at 07:03:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]
< wipes tears > (none / 0)
Trump impeachment prosecutor, Adam Schiff, is becoming Exhibit A in president's defense
House managers broke the three golden Rules of Atty, repeatedly, over 2.5 years and three days. I've mentioned #1 and #2 many times. And #3 is "keep it simple, stupid" (KISS)--prosecution or defense storytelling--or else you will confuse the jury.

To confuse the jury IOW is to introduce "reasonable doubt"--definitively not the desired outcome for either advocate.

by Cat on Sat Jan 25th, 2020 at 07:30:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: &lt; wipes tears &gt; (none / 0)
Well, Lamar Alexander admitted that the House Managers had proven their case. But the Senate was no impartial jury.


"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Sun Feb 2nd, 2020 at 05:49:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D3 (none / 0)
Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 14
by Cat on Fri Jan 24th, 2020 at 08:31:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D4 (none / 0)
uh oh. In his zeal to reconstruct a WH "cover-up" (Art. II, obstruction of congress) of phone conversations ("telcons") with Pres. Zelensky, Mr Manager Jeffries (millioniare NY trial atty) evoked the dread whistleblower-who-must-be-guarded-from-WH-retaliation.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries asks: 'Who ordered the cover-up?' - Trump impeachment trial latest

[access to transcripts] strongly suggests, Jeffries continued, that senior officials attempted to conceal, rather than address, Trump's misconduct. The cover-up continued, he said, after a whistleblower filed a complaint about the call. That prompted a two-part strategy to block Congress and the public from learning about the call while trying to convince Trump to lift his hold on military assistance to Ukraine before anyone could find out what was happening, Jeffries argued.
22 Jan - REALCLEAR franchise material
"Whistleblower Was Overheard in '17 Discussing With Ally How to Remove Trump
"Eric Ciaramella, right. He and a colleague, Sean Misko, below -- both now central to impeachment -- were Obama administration holdovers (whitehouse.gov)."
by Cat on Fri Jan 24th, 2020 at 08:19:31 PM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D4 (none / 0)
EXPLOSIVE "Trump tape" FINALE.

'Take her out': Tape seems to have Trump calling for ambassador's ouster - ABC News

The recording features a voice that sounds like Trump's speaking at a small dinner in April 2018 with guests including Lev Parnas, a former associate of Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, ABC reported, citing sources familiar with the recording.
[...]
Reuters was not immediately able to verify the report of the recording.
[...]
Parnas had recounted the conversation in media appearances last week.

"Get rid of her!" the voice says, according to ABC. "Get her out tomorrow. I don't care. Get her out tomorrow. Take her out. Okay? Do it."
[...]
Parnas attorney Joe Bondy said his client had not released the recording but that he was glad it came to light.

The Trump Tape? 'Take Her Out,' President Reportedly Said of Ambassador
by Cat on Fri Jan 24th, 2020 at 09:21:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D4 (none / 0)
ABC News | House Intelligence Committee in possession of video, audio recordings from Giuliani associate Lev Parnas
Sources tell ABC News the tapes were provided as part of that congressional subpoena issued to Parnas, and the former Giuliani ally also provided a number of documents both in English and Ukrainian to the committee in two separate productions, sources told ABC News.

However, some of the material sought by congressional investigators is already in possession of federal investigators within the Southern District of New York and thus held up from being turned over, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Parnas' associate, Fruman, has not cooperated with the committee.

hold on ...
Giuliani's relationship with Parnas and Fruman is the subject of a criminal investigation in the Southern District of New York, according to sources. That case will have its next court date early next month.
< wipes tears >
by Cat on Fri Jan 24th, 2020 at 09:30:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]
SIDEBAR - pleasure of the president (none / 0)
WaPo archive | Obama Gives Political Ambassadors Their Pink Slips, 3 Dec 2008
"The incoming Obama administration has notified all politically-appointed ambassadors that they must vacate their posts as of Jan. 20, the day President-elect Barack Obama takes the oath of office, a State Department official said."

reference
US case law, The Removal Power (1926), "with the exception of federal judges"
USOGE, Political Appointees, "any employee who is appointed by the President, the Vice President, or agency head"
National Archives, The Nomination Papers of the United States Senate, 1789-1946

by Cat on Fri Jan 24th, 2020 at 10:15:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: SIDEBAR - pleasure of the president (none / 0)
So Is This U.S. Attorney Purge Unprecedented Or Not?
G.W. Bush - 2006, W.J. Clinton - 1993, etc.

unprecedented. egregious. inconceivable. preposterous.

by Cat on Sat Jan 25th, 2020 at 07:43:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: SIDEBAR - pleasure of the president (none / 0)
Twin Lts. Colonel Vindmans involuntarily separated from their ahh jobs today. I was unaware that a copy existed. I wouldn't have expected both to have attained identical rank and prestigious duties in the White House either--What are the odds of twin meritocracy in a bureaucracy favored by nepotists?

Anyway, twitterverse vanguard of ignorant, most litigious nation on planet objects, suspects most foul play by commander-in-chief, because ... idk ... "abuse of power"? Civil servant immunity clause in the US Uniform Code of Military Justice? A Title VII infraction masquerading as a legit business need?

Hours later cold water appears to extinguish suspicions of retaliation, adverse career trajectories.
No mentions of salary degradation or GoFundMe legal fee solicitations yet.
by Cat on Sat Feb 8th, 2020 at 05:48:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Not Fired? (none / 1)

Sure Dad retaliated and got rid of key witnesses Sonderland and Lt. Col. Vindman. The Apprentice Man: "You're fired." 😡



'Sapere aude'
by Oui (Oui) on Sat Feb 8th, 2020 at 08:30:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Not Fired? (none / 0)



'Sapere aude'
by Oui (Oui) on Sat Feb 8th, 2020 at 08:56:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]
LURKER!! (none / 0)
Nancy Pelosi: Trump impeachment witness Vindman's 'shameful' firing a 'brazen act of retaliation'
"President Trump is impeached forever," Pelosi said in a statement on Friday. "The shameful firing of Colonel Vindman was a clear and brazen act of retaliation that showcases the President's fear of the truth." She added, "History will remember Lieutenant Colonel Vindman as an American hero."
ahem
Vindman's attorney David Pressman said Trump made "obviously false statements" in his tweets, and added that his client will continue his career in the military.
by Cat on Sat Feb 8th, 2020 at 08:00:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: SIDEBAR - pleasure of the president (none / 0)
<wipes tears>
by Cat on Sat Feb 8th, 2020 at 11:33:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: SIDEBAR - pleasure of the president (none / 0)
Twitterverse announces that Sondland is a canned tomato, too. The more interesting disclosure of Little Data analysis among replies is a self-promo by one, Adrienne Cobb, editor of Forensic News, "tracking turnover in the Trump administration: Year three".
Last Tuesday marked the start of the fourth year of Donald Trump's presidency. In these past 1,095 days, 489 top officials have left their positions in the Trump administration. That's an average of one person leaving the administration every 2.2 days. As we'll see later, this daily average is slightly skewed by the committees and boards that either quit en masse or were disbanded by the president in one fell swoop. [...] The Trump Gov Tracker contains departures across 53 departments and agencies.
< wipes tears > Rather elaborate statistical significance derived from press reporting alone; evidently no pipe into OPM to "track" involuntary or voluntary GS 9-14 and SE ahh turnover in the period.
by Cat on Sat Feb 8th, 2020 at 06:08:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: SIDEBAR - pleasure of the president (none / 0)
What's this?
Johnson details effort to shield Sondland from Trump's retaliation [!]
[Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis.] did note that since Sondland was a political appointee who served at the pleasure of the president, firing him was ultimately Trump's call.
Corporate America's inside-guys, "deep-state," feeling the ropes. (cf. BERNAYS)
by Cat on Mon Feb 10th, 2020 at 08:47:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D4 (none / 0)
Congressional Record Issue: Vol. 166, No. 15
by Cat on Sat Jan 25th, 2020 at 05:09:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D5 (none / 0)
Adjournment: Senate convened at 1:05 p.m. and adjourned at 8:54 p.m., until 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2020. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S566.)
Checks watch. No broadcast from senate floor now. hmm. That's some lunch break.

I suppose, I will peruse the Encyclopedia of American Race Riots, Vol. II, while I wait for video to begin "when floor proceedings resume." The Encyclopedia might contain footnotes on property damages accounted at the times of the incidents. Assembling this old, abstruse information would be instructive for common wisdom, since Most Americans oppose reparations for American descendants of slaves. 71% of respondents, I'm told.

by Cat on Sat Jan 25th, 2020 at 08:10:47 PM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D5 (none / 0)

C-SPAN Senate Impeachment Trial, Day 6, 25 Jan 2020, running time 2:02:31
opening arguments by the President's defense team
by Cat on Sat Jan 25th, 2020 at 08:27:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D5 (none / 0)
Money quote @ 1:21:00 where Hill, Taylor, Morrison, and Volker testimonies admit, in their experience, " 'stops and starts are sometimes common with foreign assistance. The Office of Management and Budget hold up dollars all the time, included in the past were dollars to Ukraine.' ..."

< wipes tears >

"... Manager Jeffries said that '[t]he idea that President Trump cares about corruption is laughable.' This is what Dr. Hill said--they didn't play this--'eliminating corruption in Ukraine was one of if not the central goal of US foreign policy in the Ukraine.'"

supra
Day 1
Day 2

by Cat on Sat Jan 25th, 2020 at 10:20:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D5 (none / 0)
There goes Art. I, abuse of power.
m'k. I'm calling it.
Nothing left to preen except Art. II, obstruction of congress (yes, both chambers).

Rule of Atty #4. Truth is agreement.

For all intents and purposes, the chamber majority (R) is looking for a plausible, pseudo-legal standard of review for their verdict (ie. reasonable doubt)--acquittal, predicted a year ago as a practical, "political" matter.

Rule of Atty #5. Truth is an affirmative defense.

Time for senate Q&A will not exceed one business day (8-10 hrs), excluding floor debate/cloture, pushed by (D) senators for House managers, for vote to admit new evidence (witness, docs). McConnell will allow no more than 1/2 day, I'd bet.

by Cat on Sat Jan 25th, 2020 at 10:51:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D5 (none / 0)
low blow Cipollone @ 1:55:00
You know who else didn't show up in the Judiciary Committee to answer questions about his report in the way Ken Starr did in the Clinton impeachment? Ken Starr was subjected to cross-examination by the president's counsel. Do you know who didn't show up in the Judiciary Committee? Chairman Schiff. He did not show up. He did not give Chairman Nadler the respect of appearing before his committee and answering questions from his committee. He did send his staff.
berry, berry Kamala?!
But why didn't he show up? Another very good question you should think about.
by Cat on Sat Jan 25th, 2020 at 11:04:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D5 (none / 0)
(R) House managers conclude oral arguments @ 2:02:00
Justice ROBERTS. The majority leader is recognized.
Sen. MCCONNELL. [mumbling] Mr Chief Justice I ask unanimous consent the trial adjourn until 1:00 PM, Monday, January 27th, and that this order also constitute the adjournment of the senate.
Justice ROBERTS. Without objection, so ordered. The senate is adjourned. [BAM!]

Until then, mes amis, on to televised ballgames and church sermons!

by Cat on Sat Jan 25th, 2020 at 11:25:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]
< wipes tears > (none / 0)
"they didn't play this"
by Cat on Sun Jan 26th, 2020 at 05:31:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: < wipes tears > (none / 0)
elsewhere titled, "Trump's intimate dinner with super PAC donors in April 2018". ewwwww
alt src, SoundCloud, running time 1:23:15
by Cat on Sun Jan 26th, 2020 at 05:38:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D5 (none / 0)
Congressional Record, Issue: Vol. 166, No. 16, 25 Jan 2020
by Cat on Mon Jan 27th, 2020 at 02:26:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]
< wipes tears > (none / 0)
D6 Eve broadcast: pitchforks and bankers, pikes, and prices

'He has not paid the price, yet': Trump tweet about Schiff crossed the line, Democrats say

"I don't think there's any doubt about it. And if you think there is, look at the president's tweets about me today, saying that I should pay a price," Schiff said.
"Do you take that as a threat?" host Chuck Todd asked.
"I think it's intended to be," HUAC Rev. Chairman Mr Manager Schiff replied.
by Cat on Mon Jan 27th, 2020 at 01:51:07 AM EST
Re: &lt; wipes tears &gt; (none / 0)
HUAC Rev. Chairman Mr Manager Schiff replied.

!!???

I suppose Schiff could have come off as someone of whom you  might approve, if there is such a person. But then he would appeal to exactly no one. Perhaps you take exception to his insistence that there are actual facts. Even Mary Poovy would agree with that.

 Pepto Bismo now comes in capsule form. I would recommend it for your chronic dyspepsia.  

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Mon Jan 27th, 2020 at 07:44:58 AM EST
[ Parent ]
< wipes tears > (none / 0)
RUSSIA!
by Cat on Mon Jan 27th, 2020 at 02:01:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: 6 (none / 0)
morning bulletin: Democrats demand Bolton testify after NYT report Trump directly told him Ukraine aid tied to investigations
(R) managers' argument (against impeachment) presumably ends Tues, 28 Jan. Press speculation last week advanced House managers' plans to trade subpoenas, "fresh" witnesses, eg. Biden for Mulvaney, Bolton.

Bolton account of Ukraine aid could reignite call for impeachment witnesses

Pump primed. However, the "Moscow Mitch" calendar of proceedings remains FOGGY.

supra
Mrs. Manager DEMINGS. D2
Time for senate Q&A will not exceed one business day ... I'd bet

by Cat on Mon Jan 27th, 2020 at 02:19:58 PM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self: 6 (none / 0)
OMFG. Made the mistake of tuning into senate broadcast at 3:22 PM to hear some (R) manager extolling the qualities of Giuliani.

"national hero", "America's mayor."

WORST TIMING EVER. buh bye.

by Cat on Mon Jan 27th, 2020 at 08:24:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: 6 (none / 0)
AP Why It Matters: Bolton revelations complicate Trump defense
A Senate vote on whether to call witnesses is expected as soon as Thursday [30 Jan]. Four Republican senators would need to join Senate Democrats for the proposal to be approved [simple majority]. Utah Republican Mitt Romney has previously indicated he would likely be in favor of hearing from witnesses. Maine's Susan Collins said Monday that news about the Bolton book "strengthens the case for witnesses and have prompted a number of conversations among my colleagues."

Even if witnesses are called, it remains unlikely that the GOP-controlled Senate would vote to remove Trump from office. But witness testimony could extend the trial for a week or two, pushing it past next week's State of the Union address [Tue., 4 Feb] and increasing political risk for the president.

by Cat on Mon Jan 27th, 2020 at 09:03:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: 6 (none / 0)
USAToday afternoon edition
Maine Independent Sen. Angus King told NPR [National Public Radio] on Monday he expects up to 10 of his GOP Senate colleagues to vote in favor of witnesses following a report in The New York Times that Trump told Bolton, the president's former national security adviser, to withhold military aid to pressure Ukraine into helping with politically motivated investigations.
In a lobby, Lindsey Graham Crackers admits that he wants to know what is in Bolton's manuscript.
But Graham also tweeted Monday that if Democrats get to call witnesses, then Trump should get the witnesses he wants.
by Cat on Tue Jan 28th, 2020 at 12:20:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: 6 (none / 0)
Sen. Graham backs plan to make Bolton manuscript available to senators, 28 Jan
"Graham had earlier said he would back a subpoena for the manuscript." A subpoena --not a copyright releas-- from an author who couldn't wait until 1 March release date to flog sales? hmm, are all the GPO's copy machines out-of-order?
by Cat on Tue Jan 28th, 2020 at 11:48:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: 6 (none / 0)
Politico tortures plot twist of the day

Bolton Bombshell sets off a whodunit frenzy

News of the former national security adviser's manuscript has everyone blaming everyone else for leaking.
an unfortunate turn of phrase
Understanding the sourcing behind the story could shine light on whether those who shared information with the Times were motivated to influence the Senate impeachment trial, or -- as Republicans suggested on Monday, they were merely trying to juice Bolton's book sales. And it could clarify whether top White House officials were aware of Bolton's allegations, with several GOP senators telling reporters they felt blindsided by the story.
not really
by Cat on Tue Jan 28th, 2020 at 12:28:03 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: 6 (none / 0)
by Cat on Tue Jan 28th, 2020 at 12:43:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: 6 (none / 0)
U.S. Senate Republicans to discuss Trump impeachment trial witnesses: NBC
"citing four unnamed Republican aides"
by Cat on Tue Jan 28th, 2020 at 11:50:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: 6 (none / 0)
7:00 PM.(R) manager beating another rented mule -- the Watergate hearings in '74.
by Cat on Tue Jan 28th, 2020 at 12:04:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: 6 (none / 0)
I listened for a bit in the car this aftenoon about 3PM CST and heard 'Hunter Biden', $81K/month, etc. switched to our local news and easy listening format - back to the '80s.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Tue Jan 28th, 2020 at 07:10:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: 6 (none / 0)
Congressional Record Issue: Vol. 166, No. 17, 27 Jan 2020

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.
by Cat on Tue Jan 28th, 2020 at 04:26:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D7 (none / 0)
Following Dershowitz's "hoe-on-
the-other-foot rule" lecture into the CHINA VIRUS-KOBE MOURNING-WITNESS VORTEX, senate proceedings to resume at 1:00 PM today.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.
by Cat on Tue Jan 28th, 2020 at 04:35:14 PM EST
errata (none / 0)
Issue: Vol. 166, No. 17, p 1

Mr. Counsel DERSHOWITZ. Mr. Chief Justice, distinguished Members of the Senate, our friends, lawyers, fellow lawyers, it is a great honor for me to stand before you today to present a constitutional argument against the impeachment and removal not only of this President but of all and any future Presidents who may be charged with the unconstitutional grounds of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. ...

[US-Eng. boomer convention on capitalization of proper nouns is going to hell in a hand basket - ed.]

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Tue Jan 28th, 2020 at 04:48:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: errata (none / 0)


Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.
by Cat on Tue Jan 28th, 2020 at 06:37:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]
SIDEBAR - errata (none / 0)
pertaining to conventions (not those, the other ones)

CHIAFALO, GUERRA, AND JOHN [electors] vs STATE OF WASHINGTON, consolidated with Colorado Dept. of State vs Baca, petition for cert granted 17 Jan 2020

What was the question?

A Washington State law threatens a fine for presidential electors who vote contrary to how the law directs. RCW 29A.56.340(2016). Petitioners are three 2016presidential electors who were fined under this provision solely because they failed to vote as the law directs, namely for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates who won a majority of the popular vote in the State. The question presented is whether enforcement of this law is unconstitutional because:
(1) a State has no power to legally enforce how a presidential elector casts his or her ballot;and

(2) a State penalizing an elector for exercising his or her constitutional discretion to vote violates the First Amendment.



Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.
by Cat on Tue Jan 28th, 2020 at 05:03:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D7 (none / 0)
Off to the races (not those races, the other ones)!
"Urgent Concern" definitions with the meaning of teh statute .... waitwut "statute"?

uh oh
searching transcript 24 hr  from now for "whistleblower" or "whistle blower" or "whistle-blower"

har

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Tue Jan 28th, 2020 at 06:33:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D7 (none / 0)
Congressional Record, Issue: Vol. 166, No. 18, 28 Jan 2020

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.
by Cat on Wed Jan 29th, 2020 at 02:42:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D7 (none / 0)
4:03 PM check up. oopsies. Looks like they folded their tent for the day.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.
by Cat on Tue Jan 28th, 2020 at 09:04:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]
< wipes tears >: D7 (none / 0)
C-SPAN, Senate Impeachment Trial, Day 8, Part 1, 28 Jan 2020
C-SPAN, Senate Impeachment Trial, Day 8, Part 2, 28 Jan 2020

(R) Mr Manager Counsel Cipollone rests @ 00:7:41

Mr Chief Justice ROBERTS. Majority leader is recognized.
Mr MCCONNELL. Mr Chief Justice, I have reached an agreement with the Democratic [Pary] leader on how to proceed during the question period. Therefore I ask you unanimous consent that the question period for senators start when the senate reconvenes on Wednesday, further that the questions alternate between majority and minority sides for up to eight hours during that session of the senate. Finally, on Thursday that the senate resume time for senators' questions alternating between sides up to eight hours during that session of the senate.
Mr Chief Justice ROBERTS. Objection? Without objection so ordered.
Mr MCCONNELL. So we will complete the question period over the next two days. I remind senators that their questions must be in writing will be submitted to the chief justice. During question period of the Clinton trial senators were thoughtful and brief with their questions, and the managers and counsel were succinct in their answers. I hope that we can follow both of these examples during this time.
Mr Chief Justice ROBERTS. During the impeachment trial of President Clinton, Chief Justice Rhenquist advised counsel, quote, Counsel on both sides, that the chair will operate on the rebuttable assumption each question can be fully and fairly answered in five minutes or less, end-quote. The transcript indicates that the statement was met with, quote, laughter, end-quote. [LAUGHTER] Nonetheless, managers and counsel generally limited their responses accordingly. I think, the late chief's time limit was a good one and would ask both sides to abide by it.
Mr MCCONNELL. So Mr Chief Justice I ask unanimous consent that the trial adjourn until 1:00 PM, Wednesday, January 29th, and that this order also constitute the adjournment of the senate.
Mr Chief Justice ROBERTS. Without objection we're adjourned. [BAM!]
and that's why I am not Solomon of the world.
by Cat on Tue Jan 28th, 2020 at 09:47:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D8 (none / 0)
Preppers' lede into the first day of senate Q&A echoes yesterday evening's WSJ, WaPo headline--behind the paywalls. Expect robust interpretations of Q's by reports over next two days to divine leading nominees.

McConnell: Republicans don't have the votes to block witnesses in impeachment trial, reports say

McConnell told Republicans in a closed-door meeting Tuesday that they did not have the votes to block additional witnesses from being called in the president's impeachment trial, according to multiple media reports.

The revelation, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, means that A HOST OF WITNESSES could be considered as part of the trial, potentially lengthening the proceedings significantly.

Allowing witnesses would give Democrats a major win.

simple majority, cattle call for actors
If there are 51 votes, senators could propose hearing from a VARIETY OF WITNESSES and asking for A HOST OF DOCUMENTS. It could open the door for both Democrats and Republicans to call those at the top of their list, including John Bolton, the president's former national security adviser, Mick Mulvaney, Trump's acting chief of staff, along with GOP-witnesses, such as the whistleblower whose complaint helped launch the impeachment inquiry and Hunter Biden, the former vice president's son.
cold water
A senior Republican aide noted the headlines and pointed out that a lot could change in the days before the vote on witnesses, which currently is planned for Friday.
yep, majority and minority leaders' "deal" on procedure--case-by-case vote to admit each witness, for example, would dramatically deflate the draft calendar, if Bolton and his Mystery Date sit for x-examination by managers as expected.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.
by Cat on Wed Jan 29th, 2020 at 03:12:37 PM EST
< wipes tears > (none / 0)
by Cat on Wed Jan 29th, 2020 at 03:44:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]
< wipes tears > (none / 0)
One Q&A "phase", two stories

Politico | 12 questions to expect at Trump's impeachment trial
Conclusion seems to rely on private agreement between minority and majority leaders or an interpretation of Clinton trial procedures, which is not cited.

NPR | Impeachment Trial Moves To Question Phase, While Witness Vote Looms
Does not corroborate Politico procedural assumptions.
--
Neither mentions 5-min. time limit for managers' responses.

Neither contemplates rebuttal by "managers" to each response to alternating questions by senators.

Neither expects the purported "clearing house" (Politico) to order questions submitted by senators dynamically, ie. as pertinent to response immediately preceding the alternate question.

supra
amateur transcript
Congressional Record (pdf, p 9)

Mr. MCCONNELL.  Mr. Chief Justice, I have reached an agreement with the Democratic leader on how to proceed during the question period. Therefore, I ask unanimous consent that the question period for Senators start when the Senate reconvenes on Wednesday; further, that the questions alternate between the majority and minority sides for up to 8 hours during that session of the Senate; and finally, that on Thursday, the Senate resume time for Senators' questions, alternating between sides for up to 8 hours during that session of the Senate.
[...]
The CHIEF JUSTICE. During the impeachment trial of  President Clinton,The CHIEF JUSTICE. During the impeachment trial of President Clinton, Chief Justice Rehnquist advised "counsel on both sides that the Chair will operate on a rebuttable presumption that each question  can be fully and fairly answered in 5 minutes or less." The transcript indicates that the statement was met with "laughter." Chief Justice Rehnquist advised "counsel on both sides that the Chair will operate on a rebuttable presumption that each question can be fully and fairly answered in 5 minutes or  less." The transcript indicates that the statement was met with "laughter."
by Cat on Wed Jan 29th, 2020 at 06:11:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D8 (none / 0)
Prayer, pledge, proclamation buried ... annnnnd Q&A is off!

McConnell recaps. Majority leads with a collective Q submitted by 4 (R) senators (There's a twist!), addressed to (R) managers by COLLINS, concerning MOTIVE

< wipes tears >

by Cat on Wed Jan 29th, 2020 at 06:20:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D8 (none / 0)
Democratic leader silently passes Q, which is read aloud by CJ. Roberts, to House manager for response.

Recaps amount and value of aid to Ukraine. Flogs necessity to call BOLTON "a subpoena away" testimony.

< wipes tears >

by Cat on Wed Jan 29th, 2020 at 06:26:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D8 (none / 0)
replies SCHIFF "Don't wait until MARCH 17TH."
(another NS advisor might publish a memoir?)
with two (2) video clips to illustrate
by Cat on Wed Jan 29th, 2020 at 06:29:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]
O SNAP: D8 (none / 0)
(R) senator Q addressed specifically to (R) Mr Counsel to rebut Schiff's response.

< wipes tears >

My work is done here. Checks watch. Returning at lunch. Buh bye.

by Cat on Wed Jan 29th, 2020 at 06:32:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D8 (none / 1)
White House tells Bolton his manuscript contains classified material, cannot be published
The letter from the White House National Security Council to Bolton's attorney, Charles Cooper, and seen by Reuters, said the manuscript contained some material that was considered "TOP SECRET" that could reasonably be expected to cause "exceptionally grave harm" to U.S. national security if disclosed without authorization.
uh oh. Bolton's atty and Bolton's publisher got some splainin to do.
The letter, which was sent via email to Cooper, was dated Jan. 23.
[...]
The letter, signed by Ellen Knight, the senior director for records, access and information security management, said Bolton's manuscript was still being studied.

"The manuscript remains under review in order for us to do our best to assist your client by identifying the classified information within the manuscript," it said. "We will do our best to work with you to ensure your client's ability to tell his story in a manner that protects U.S. national security."

hmm, I'd had the impression from press reporting on the whistleblower-who-must-not-be-named's expert counsel that IC, NSC, NSA had a veritable mill running out clean manuscripts for ret'd officers.
by Cat on Wed Jan 29th, 2020 at 08:45:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)
I swear, I was not thinking of Federalist Paper #66, nor had I any intention to invoke that conniving cracker Hamilton, when I chose the title for this eurotrib entry more than one month ago.

... How, in fact, could a majority in the House of Representatives impeach themselves? Not better, it is evident, than two thirds of the Senate might try themselves. And yet what reason is there, that a majority of the House of Representatives, sacrificing the interests of the society by an unjust and tyrannical act of legislation, should escape with impunity, more than two thirds of the Senate, sacrificing the same interests in an injurious treaty with a foreign power? ...
< wipes tears >

on a stack of bibbles

by Cat on Thu Jan 30th, 2020 at 02:16:07 AM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)
hmm, I belatedly gather, the Dershowitz has been making guest star appearances throughout the day. He just ran through another scene--I missed the question.

In addition to yesterday's lecture, the Dersh elaborates tests of MOTIVE, MIXED MOTIVE, and INTENT to qualify any impeachable offense against the US Constitution or whathaveyou. That right there is crazy-criminal-trial-lawyer talk in a venue where advocates for "both sides" have alternately rejected statutory provisions, whether or not misdemeanor, as the standard of review in this trial.

< wipes tears >

His contributions are moot.

by Cat on Thu Jan 30th, 2020 at 02:49:17 AM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D8 (none / 0)
Thar she figuratively blows!
Congressional Record, Issue: Vol. 166, No. 19, 29 January 2020
--
This morning, before Q&A proceedings resume presumably at 1:00 PM, I shall skim the transcript to count total questions (quant data). Then, skim to select my "Top 5 Favorite Qs"  (qual data) without personal commentary, identification by party affiliation, or "balance", possibly prejudice (MIXED MOTIVE).
by Cat on Thu Jan 30th, 2020 at 01:37:12 PM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)
Total Q: 93

Casual observation: Number of Qs representing senators' concurring, or joined requests, is significant by comparison to a tally of sole-custody interlocutor. < wipes tears > The result indicates that some, if not all, Qs circulated within party caucuses for signatures, before and possibly during proceedings. (This sub rosa, in vivo processing could certainly have impeded senate pages retrieval of will-call slips which resulted in conspicuous delays between readings of Qs.) The total number of Qs collected and Qs discarded or embargoed by party leaders is unknown. And since (R) caucus exercised this prerogative more frequently than (D), I suspect, its principle purpose was to canvass support for or against admission of particular evidence (doc, oral) omitted from H.Reports and Trial brief Material Fact lists. I also note with interest (R) senators' alignments by group to particular subject matter examinations and re-directions. OTOH, (D) senators were not so organized.

by Cat on Thu Jan 30th, 2020 at 06:48:32 PM EST
addenum (none / 0)
Another curious characteristic of senate "lines" of questions is the incidence of addressee alignment by party. 11/93 Qs were dual-use, ie. one Q addressed to both (D) and (R) House+ POTUS managers. Respondents  received 5-min. each in sequence; alternating order of "side" leading response for this Q type assigned by C.J.

Accordingly, the remainder were exchanged between senator and managers along party line, ie. D-D, R-R/POTUS.

(All of my Top 5 are dual-use Qs, not coincidentally.)

by Cat on Thu Jan 30th, 2020 at 08:21:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D8 (none / 0)
Top 5

Why did the House of Representatives not challenge President Trump's claims of executive privilege and/or immunity during the House impeachment proceedings?
President Trump's former chief of staff, General John Kelly has reportedly said, "I believe John Bolton" and suggests Bolton should testify, saying, "If there are people that could contribute to this, either innocence or guilt, I think they should be heard." Do you agree with General Kelly that they should be heard?
The Constitution does not specify the standard of proof to be used in trials of impeachment, and the Senate has not adopted a uniform standard by rule, thus, the standard of proof is arguably a question for each individual Senator. In the Clinton trial and now with President Trump, it appears that Republicans and Democrats apply different standards depending on whether the President is a member of their party. What standard of proof should be used in trials of impeachment--preponderance of the evidence, clear and convincing, beyond a reasonable doubt--and why?
Is it true that in these proceedings that the Chief Justice can rule on the issue of productions of exhibits and the testimony of witnesses over the objection of either the managers or the President's counsel? Would a determination by the Chief Justice be subject to judicial review?
The House managers have argued aggressively that the President's actions contravened U.S. foreign policy. Isn't it the President's place--certainly more than the place for career civil servants--to conduct foreign policy?
by Cat on Thu Jan 30th, 2020 at 07:08:00 PM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D9 (none / 0)
Schiff runs into "dollar diplomacy" wall again.
by Cat on Thu Jan 30th, 2020 at 07:24:52 PM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D9 (none / 1)
Justice Roberts refuses to read question from Sen. Rand Paul
Paul walked out of the chamber after Roberts declined the question. He told reporters his question didn't name the alleged whistleblower - although his question, which he wrote in a tweet, mentioned the name of an official some Republicans have speculated is the whistleblower.
< wipes tears >
Paul, who neither joined any (R) Q group nor submitted a Q yesterday, is not the only one dangling subpoena service to the whistle-blower-who-must-be-protected. Sorry. None of those touched to my Top 50.

supra
22 Jan - REALCLEAR franchise material

by Cat on Thu Jan 30th, 2020 at 08:01:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D9 (none / 1)

No, son, a HIGHER POWER commands the US federal gov in all its guises and emanations including SCOTUS C.J. UNITED STATES CODE (USC). The whistle-blower-who-cannot-be-named is not only a state witness, but party to a complaint against the state, specifically the POTUS. The C.J. would impeach himself were he to violate USC voluntarily or involuntarily.

1. "(09.30.2019)'60 Minutes' has obtained a letter that indicates the government whistleblower who set off the impeachment inquiry of President Trump is under federal protection, because he or she fears for their safety."
2. 15 U.S. Code § 2087. Whistleblower protection until such time the complaint is adjudicated and remedied. Any disclosure of information, including complainant's identity, is prohibited until declassified by OSC or relevant OIG. Furthermore, the WPA expressly provides that the statute is "not to be construed to authorize ... the taking of any personnel action against  an  employee who discloses information to the  Congress."

summary controversy
Unpacking the Intelligence Community Whistleblower Complaint

supra
Congressional Record, Issue: Vol. 166, No. 19, 29 January 2020, @ S. Whitehouse et al., adverse inference applied by the "missing-witness" rule

by Cat on Fri Jan 31st, 2020 at 12:07:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D9 (none / 0)
Can you talk about what has happened to whistleblowers when they have been outed against their will? What are the consequences of revealing their identity, particularly when we have a President who has tried to bully and threaten impeachment witnesses?
oops.
HUAC Rev. Chairmand Mr Manager SCHIFF. Senator, I don't know that we can give you examples of whistleblowers who were the subject of retaliation, although I have no doubt that there are many. We can seek by the latter part of this evening to get a list of some of the whistleblowers that have confronted retaliation. ...
by Cat on Fri Jan 31st, 2020 at 05:20:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D9 (none / 0)

archived

by Cat on Thu Jan 30th, 2020 at 10:10:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D9 (none / 0)
So yeah. I drop in after the first recess. Cipollone is responding.

Some wiseguy shot a Q to The Desk, asking if receipt of information from a foreign person by a candidate is a thing of value whose USD value should be reported under according to FEC campaign donation rules.

hOLyMArymutTEraGOTT

buh-bye.

archived
DICTION CORNER
commercial sex act

by Cat on Thu Jan 30th, 2020 at 10:31:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D9 (none / 0)
Walked back through Q&A notes to find the source of this line of questioning a thing of value. Why? For one, Art. I (abuse of power) asserts president's personal gain by some exchange (quid pro quo); House shall demonstrate not only illicit transaction and "things" exchange by the parties, but assert the non-trivial purpose, or "value," of a hypothetical proposition-- Javelin missiles:Zelensk(i)y's info:Election2020 outcome. To wax academic about extrinsic values and depreciation schedules (GAAP) of information or knowledge was fun 20 years ago. Second, money--not mass weight (pounds)--is the only unit of measurement in the USA (price of everything, value of nothing) commonly employed to express both "gain" and "profit"--and, above all--litigation of equity.

29 Jan, ~10:30-11:00 PM, session end. Blumental, sole-use (Warren, Heinrich, Harris concurring)

Before the break, the President's Counsel stated that accepting "mere information" from a foreign source is not something that would violate campaign finance law, and that it is not campaign interference to accept "credible information" from a foreign source about someone who is running for office. Under this view, acceptance of the kinds of propaganda disseminated by Russia in 2016--on Facebook and other social media platforms, using bots, fake accounts and other techniques to spread disinformation--would be perfectly legal and appropriate. Isn't it true that accepting such a thing of value is, in fact, a violation of law? And isn't it true that it is one of the highest priorities of our Intelligence Community, including the CIA, NSA, DNI, and FBI, to do everything possible to prevent such foreign interference or intervention in our elections?
Collins, sole-use.
The House Judiciary Committee report accompanying the Articles of Impeachment asserted the President committed criminal bribery as defined in 18 U.S.C., section 201, and Honest Services Fraud as defined in 18 U.S.C., section 1346, but these offenses are not cited in the Articles of Impeachment. Did the President's actions as alleged in the Articles of Impeachment constitute violations of these Federal criminal laws, and if so, why were they not included in the Articles?

30 Jan, ~1:30-2:30 PM, re-direct. Brown, sole-use (Wyden concurring)
During yesterday's proceedings, the President's counsel failed to give an adequate response to a question related to whether acceptance of information provided by a foreign country to a political campaign or candidate would constitute a violation of the law and whether offers of such information should be reported to the FBI. FBI Director Christopher Wray, who was appointed by President Trump, has said "if any public official or member of any campaign is contacted by any nation-state about influencing or interfering with our election, then that [is] something that the FBI would want to know about," and "we'd like to make sure people tell us information promptly so that we can take appropriate steps to protect the American people." If President Trump remains in office, what signal does that send to other countries intent on interfering in our elections in the future, and what might we expect from those countries and the President?
Stabenow, dual-use (Cortez-Masto, Rosen concurring)
In June 2019, Ellen Weintraub, then-chair of the Federal Election Commission, wrote in a statement that "It is illegal for any person to solicit, accept, or receive anything of value from a foreign national in connection with a U.S. election. This is not a novel concept. Electoral intervention from foreign governments has been considered unacceptable since the beginnings of our nation." In a 2007 advisory opinion, the FEC found that campaign contributions from foreign nationals are prohibited in federal elections, even if "the value of these materials may be nominal or difficult to ascertain." How valuable would a public announcement of an investigation into the Bidens be for President Trump's reelection campaign?
Responses by House and R/WH managers inadvertently proved just how "difficult to ascertain" an unrealized value is in practice and this line of questioning died so that senate inquiry into  personal and national "interest" might live.
by Cat on Mon Feb 3rd, 2020 at 04:59:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D9 (none / 0)

Thank goodness that "online" US election gambling legal? Note to self: research SEC and FEC regulatory guidance.

by Cat on Mon Feb 3rd, 2020 at 05:09:50 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)
Another recess until 7:25 PM. Swapping recipes, I reckon, and scribbling storyboards for production and release.
by Cat on Fri Jan 31st, 2020 at 12:20:28 AM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)
Proceedings resume. Q1 from Grassley et al. to Cipolloni:(para) POTUS compares narrow margin between votes in Clinton trial to unprincipled partisan division in the current trial, T/F?
--
Relevance?
by Cat on Fri Jan 31st, 2020 at 12:48:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]
< wipes tears > (none / 1)
Politico changed its tune this afternoon.

Republicans grow confident they can defeat witness vote FFS who's wagging this dog?

The two Republican senators were still undecided as of Thursday evening and met privately, according to a person familiar with the GOP conference's dynamics. Alexander will announce his position on Thursday night, a Republican aide said.
walp, does "Moscow Mitch" has debate/cloture on Friday calendar after all?
[Lamar] Alexander, joined by Republican Sens. Steve Daines of Montana and Ted Cruz of Texas, pressed House impeachment managers to explain how much bipartisanship factored into the Trump, Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon impeachment proceedings.
This tid bit partly explain the first two bizarre Qs this evening. The rest of the article is kind of trashy. Politico picks for equivocating (R) are off, to judge by their Qs yesterday--although I paid no attention to Q&A today. Positions were pretty firm by close of business. I don't think Murkowski, Collins, or even King (I-Maine) will vote for Schumer 11 Amd. list unless radically altered.
by Cat on Fri Jan 31st, 2020 at 01:09:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]
< wipes tears > (none / 0)
twitterreconn

by Cat on Fri Jan 31st, 2020 at 02:28:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: &lt; wipes tears &gt; (none / 0)
summary of adversarial arguments, TL posts 1-15, by Alexander (79) is concise yet legible. Take or leave his personal conclusions, extrapolation to ballot on any and all admissible evidence.
by Cat on Fri Jan 31st, 2020 at 02:40:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D9 (none / 0)
Missed Q2.

Schiff replies: (para) Biden testimony is irrelevant to these proceedings something smear something When the vice-president sought the dismissal of the Ukrainian prosecutor, it had nothing to do with protecting his son ...

m'k. (R) being callous, determined to mess with his head for another three hours.

tffn.

by Cat on Fri Jan 31st, 2020 at 12:54:25 AM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D9 (none / 0)
Congressional Record, Issue: Vol. 166, No. 20 , 30 January 2020

End of Q&A "phase" and on to something rather peculiar.
Famous last words (pdf, p 47) read by the Chief Justice.

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SUSPEND THE RULESIn accordance with rule V of the Standing Rules of the Senate, Mr. Blumenthal (for himself, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Durbin) hereby gives notice in writing of his intention to move to suspend the following portions of the Rules of Procedure and  Practice in the Senate When Sitting on Impeachment Trials during consideration of the question of whether it shall be in order to consider and debate under the impeachment rules any motion to  subpoena witnesses or documents in connection with the impeachment trial of Donald John Trump:
(1) The phrase "without debate" in Rule VII.
(2) The following portion of Rule XX: ", unless the  Senate shall direct the doors to be closed while  deliberating upon its decisions. A motion to close the doors may be acted upon without objection, or, if objection is heard, the motion shall be voted on without debate by the yeas and nays, which be entered on the record".
(3) In Rule XXIV, the phrases "without debate", "except when the doors shall be closed for deliberation, and in that case", and ", to be had without debate".
Read again by Mr. Brown for the named parties, then adjourned without objection by "Moscow Mitch" and The Desk until 1:00 PM 31 Jan.
by Cat on Fri Jan 31st, 2020 at 01:55:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]
errata (none / 0)
Rather, C.J. read the same notice submitted by Brown for the parties (himself, Blumenthal, Durbin) immediately after: a procedural "second" to the motion of intent.
by Cat on Fri Jan 31st, 2020 at 02:33:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D9 (none / 0)
Incidentally, Q&A invocation by MCCONNELL, 30 Jan.
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. Chief Justice, the Senate will conduct another question and answer period today. We were able to get through nearly
100 questions yesterday. Senators posed constructive questions, and the parties were succinct and responsive. I would like to compliment all
who participated yesterday.
  We will again break every 2 to 3 hours and look to take a break for dinner around 6:30.
That right there was a license to lobby, relieving the senators of the trouble of passing notes behind Teacher's back like 13-year-old school students.
by Cat on Fri Jan 31st, 2020 at 03:17:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D9 (none / 0)
Award for Low Blow in Rule of Atty #7* Category
Would it be permissible for a President to inform the Prime Minister of Israel that he was holding congressional appropriated military aid unless the Prime Minister promised to come to the United States and publicly charge his opponent with antisemitism in the midst of an election campaign?

--
* Ignore hypothetical propositions.
by Cat on Fri Jan 31st, 2020 at 05:35:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D9 (none / 0)
Total Qs: 85
Total concurring Qs: 53
Total dual-use Qs: 21
of which one (1) bi-partisan (at face value), Peters + Cornyn

What was the question?

How would the verdict in this trial alter the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches in the future?

by Cat on Fri Jan 31st, 2020 at 06:25:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D9 (none / 0)
Top 5

In the House Managers' opening statement, they argue that it is necessary to pursue impeachment because "The President's misconduct cannot be decided at the ballot box. For we cannot be assured that the vote would be fairly won." How would acquitting the President prevent voters from making an informed decision in the 2020 presidential election?
Would you agree that almost any action a President takes, or indeed any action the vast majority of politicians take, is, to one degree or another, inherently political? Where is the line between permissible political actions and impeachable political actions?
In June 2019, Ellen Weintraub, then-chair of the Federal Election Commission, wrote in a statement that "It is illegal for any person to solicit, accept, or receive anything of value from a foreign national in connection with a U.S. election. This is not a novel concept. Electoral intervention from foreign governments has been considered unacceptable since the beginnings of our nation." In a 2007 advisory opinion, the FEC found that campaign contributions from foreign nationals are prohibited in federal elections, even if "the value of these materials may be nominal or difficult to ascertain." How valuable would a public announcement of an investigation into the Bidens be for President Trump's reelection campaign?
Can you assure us that the Jennifer Williams document submitted to the House was not classified SECRET for any reasons prohibited by Executive Order 13526, such as preventing embarrassment to a person? If yes, please describe or identify the serious damage to national security that would be caused by declassifying this document, pursuant to the same Executive Order.
In his response to an earlier question this evening, Mr. Sekulow cited individuals like the Bidens as being "not irrelevant to our case." Are you opposed to having the Chief Justice make the initial determinations regarding the relevance of documents and witnesses, particularly as the Senate could disagree with the Chief Justice's ruling by a majority vote?
by Cat on Fri Jan 31st, 2020 at 07:03:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D10 (none / 0)
m'k. Missed opening instructions and crucial motion to suspend rules. So. Listening to Mrs Manager Demings, at the moment, I presume public debate to subpoena Bolton, specifically, has commenced.
by Cat on Fri Jan 31st, 2020 at 06:32:41 PM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D10 (none / 0)
hmm, so far no senators have addressed the chamber. So I suppose that impeach managers are first, to argue admissiblity of "new evidence" from the (D) list. Whether this list is a copy of Schumer's 11 Amd. list I could not say. Perhaps someone "leaked" a (D) list to press?

Is an (R) list circulating in private or public?

The roster is not not alternating. So far House managers have the floor and are still abusing video clips* to demonstrate indisputable and disputed testimony. Which is problematic in defense of House witnesses corroborate each other's hearsay testimony and Art. II, obstruction a/k/a "cover-up". Jeffries nominates Mulvaney, Duffy, and Blair (OMB)--but his contribution may be incomplete. Jeffries (third spkr?) is followed by Gomez--who just resurrected Bolton's "forthcoming book" in lieu of redacted docs--followed by HUAC Rev. Chairman Mr Manager Schiff's concealment-fair trial monologue.
--
* House evidence admitted to the senate for consideration: yesterday Crapo et al. solicited an accounting by R/WH managers.

PHILBIN....There were 17 witnesses who were deposed and testified--12 in public, 17 who were in closed hearings below. So far you have seen in these presentations 192 video clips from 13 different witnesses. ... I think the more official number is 28,578 pages. So you have got over 28,000 pages of documents submitted into the record provisionally in evidence in this trial, subject later to potential objections for hearsay and other evidentiary objections.
Johnson et al. resurrected the credibility of witnesses Misko, Vindman, and the whistle-blower-he-cannot-be-named.
by Cat on Fri Jan 31st, 2020 at 07:44:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]
errata (none / 0)
s/b GARCIA, she's frontpage USAToday as I type.
Garcia: Trump doesn't get exoneration without witnesses - impeachment updates
"An acquittal on an incomplete record after a trial lacking witnesses and evidence will be no exoneration. It will be no vindication, not for the president, not for this chamber and not for the American people."

yanno, all of them are having troubles transforming the ahh meet-up which should not be "politicized" into a trial-above-teh-law, ie. USC, including but not limited to federal rules of evidence and procedure.

by Cat on Fri Jan 31st, 2020 at 07:58:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]
AHA! (none / 0)
APsplainin Senate to vote on Trump trial witnesses with end in sight
"The timing of a final vote on Trump was still uncertain. The Senate gaveled [sic] opened with four hours set for arguments on the question of calling more witnesses."

supra
Sat Jan 25th, 2020 at 10:51:07 PM EST

by Cat on Fri Jan 31st, 2020 at 08:07:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D10 (none / 0)
Politico swinging for the fences
Trump's impeachment trial could extend into next week
White House officials wanted more time to prepare their closing arguments in the case, said several sources.
[...]
Republicans suggest the trial could extend into next week due to scheduling concerns over the Iowa caucuses on Monday and Trump's State of the Union address on Tuesday.
waitwut. Did I miss the silent vote before recess?
Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), the No. 4 Senate Republican, said that the GOP may convene again later Friday after defeating a vote on whether to hear from more witnesses.
[...]
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) did not respond to a question about timing. He may ultimately offer a motion on Friday that would set the parameters of the end of Trump's trial and determine whether senators [?!] will make final statements [?!] about their verdicts [?!] on Trump and how much time to give House managers and the White House counsel time to finish their arguments.
"The Senate stands in recess subject to the call of the Chair" rather than The Desk.(senate.gov)
by Cat on Fri Jan 31st, 2020 at 08:36:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D10 (none / 0)
R/WH manager opens on judiciability and defects in Articles of Impeachment. < wipes tears > "subjective abuse of powers."
by Cat on Fri Jan 31st, 2020 at 08:45:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D10 (none / 0)
RECESS!
by Cat on Fri Jan 31st, 2020 at 07:51:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D10 (none / 0)
HUAC Rev. Chairman Mr Manager Schiff returns with a proposal: one (1) week to depose witnesses called by "both sides"; (2) senate agreement to depute the C.J. in disputes on the admissibility of witnesses, according to existing senate rules; (3) senate agreement on deposition time limits; and a long digression into the obligations and responsibilities of the senate to TRY and DELIBERATE probative evidence of the POTUS impeachable conduct, to follow the NORMS of trial by jury ...

< wipes tears >

C.J. recognizes majority leader. Quorum call begins.
alrighty then.

by Cat on Fri Jan 31st, 2020 at 09:35:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]
< wipes tears > (none / 0)
Hello? Normal American justice --for criminal of either the corporate or natural person pesuasion--is dispensed by plea bargain.
by Cat on Fri Jan 31st, 2020 at 09:39:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D10 (none / 0)
hmm, Quorum call continues. That's slightly alarming. Who was in the chamber while the managers were speaking?
by Cat on Fri Jan 31st, 2020 at 10:10:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D10 (none / 0)
FINALLY. (5:35 PM)
Call ends. Agreed with the minority leader: Vote on witness "question" (shall it be in order to debate and order ...") followed by another recess subject to the call of The Chair.

ROLL CALL - AYE/NAYE by voice, simple majority suspense ...

RESULT: 49-51 NAYE

buh-bye

by Cat on Fri Jan 31st, 2020 at 10:43:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)
R/WH managers take the floor. Sorry, Politico.
by Cat on Fri Jan 31st, 2020 at 08:42:42 PM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)
speaking of "unforced errors", or "own goal"

yeah, that was a dubious exercise of paper for Anyone Buttrump 2020.
At a time when large majorities of Americans have lost faith in government, does the fact that the Chief Justice is presiding over an impeachment trial in which Republican senators have thus far refused to allow witnesses or evidence contribute to the loss of legitimacy of the Chief Justice, the Supreme Court, and the Constitution?
The Candidates
Warren: 1 (self), 2 (concurring), 0 (dual-use)
Klobuchar: 0 (self), 2 (concurring), 2 (dual-use)
by Cat on Fri Jan 31st, 2020 at 09:06:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)
CNN | Why Elizabeth Warren's question on impugning John Roberts may have backfired
Because she's ... dyspeptic? Why, no, Ms de Vogue. Merely a self-servin sumbitch.

CNN | John Roberts, as Senate trial nears end, finally says he won't break ties

"If the members of this body elected by the people and accountable to them divide equally on a motion, the normal rule is that the motion fails. I think it would be inappropriate for me, an unelected official from a different branch of government, to assert the power to change that result so that the motion would succeed."
rocket surgery averted

supra
D2
D9
Van Hollen + Klobuchar Q
D10

by Cat on Sat Feb 1st, 2020 at 04:44:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]
hOLYmARYMUTteraGOTT (none / 0)
Nancy Pelosi: It was 'sad' for Mitch McConnell to 'humiliate' Chief Justice John Roberts with witness vote
"It is a sad day for America to see Senator McConnell humiliate the Chief Justice of the United States into presiding over a vote which rejected our nation's judicial NORMS, precedents and institutions which uphold the Constitution and the rule of law," Pelosi said Saturday on Twitter.
That thar is some Polish- or Ukranian-style judicial independent-ism, yassah. And there's more!
Contrary to claims by Trump and some Republican allies, House Democrats did seek testimony from Bolton, but he declined to appear for his deposition under White House orders.
Former Trump adviser Bolton threatened to sue if subpoenaed to testify in impeachment probe: committee (7 Nov 2019)
The House did not issue a subpoena because, Democrats said, it would only prolong the process.

Schumer, Amd. 1296

Mr. SCHUMER proposed an amendment to the resolution  S.Res. 488
[...]
Notwithstanding any other provision of this resolution, pursuant to rules V and VI of the Rules of Procedure and Practice in the Senate When Sitting on Impeachment Trials, the Chief Justice of the United States, through the  Secretary of the Senate, shall issue a subpoena for the taking of testimony of John Robert Bolton, and the Sergeant at Arms is authorized to utilize the services of the Deputy Sergeant at Arms or any other employee of the Senate in serving the subpoena authorized to be issued by this section.
Schumer, Amd. 1297
Mr. SCHUMER proposed an amendment to the resolution  S.Res. 488
[...]
Notwithstanding any other provision of this resolution, pursuant to rules V and VI of the Rules of Procedure and Practice in the Senate When Sitting on Impeachment Trials, the Chief Justice of the United States, through the Secretary of the Senate, shall issue a subpoena for the taking of testimony on oral deposition and subsequent testimony before the Senate of John Robert Bolton, and the Sergeant at Arms is authorized to utilize the services of the Deputy Sergeant at Arms or any other employee of the Senate in serving the subpoena authorized to be issued by this paragraph.
Van Hollen, Amd. 1298
Mr. VAN HOLLEN proposed an amendment to the resolution S.Res. 488, to provide for related procedures
[...]
Notwithstanding any other provision of this  resolution, the Presiding Officer shall issue a subpoena for any witness or any document that a  Senator or a party moves to subpoena if the Presiding Officer determines that the witness or document is likely to have probative evidence relevant to either article of impeachment before the Senate, and, consistent with the authority of the Presiding Officer to rule on all questions of evidence, shall rule on any assertion of privilege.
by Cat on Sat Feb 1st, 2020 at 10:51:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: hOLYmARYMUTteraGOTT (none / 0)
She, directing her "surrogates," did it again: erroneously ascribe unlawful conduct to lawful conduct, in this case, an original, derivative art work protected by US copyright statute.

Trump celebrates, Pelosi fumes as Facebook and Twitter refuse to take down altered video

Facebook and Twitter have refused to take down a video posted by President Donald Trump that was edited to make it appear that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ripped up his speech when the president was saluting a Tuskegee airman during the State of the Union rather than at the end of his address. ... The spat became public Friday when Pelosi's deputy chief of staff Drew Hammill tweeted: "The latest fake video of Speaker Pelosi is deliberately designed to mislead and lie to the American people, and every day that these platforms refuse to take it down is another reminder that they care more about their shareholders' interests than the public's interests."
Also headlined "the edited Pelosi video", the "misleading video of Nancy Pelosi" by other sympathetic publishers. Trump's 5-minute self-promo titled "Powerful American Stories Ripped to Shreds by Nancy Pelosi" is here. Pelosi's video recorded gesture was not altered; it was duplicated thirteen (13) times and inserted between each dubious achievement proclaimed by Trump in his video recorded SOTU speech. As for blaxploitation features attending regalia and reportage ...

File with "The narcissism of minor differences"

by Cat on Sat Feb 8th, 2020 at 06:58:16 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: hOLYmARYMUTteraGOTT (none / 0)
archived My mom will 'cut your head off and you won't even know you're bleeding' archived Is Ro Khanna "progressive"?
by Cat on Sat Feb 8th, 2020 at 11:12:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: hOLYmARYMUTteraGOTT (none / 0)
Video of Pelosi brings renewed attention to 'cheapfakes', formerly-known-as instant replay to sportsfans worldwide
Pelosi did tear the pages of her copy of the speech -- but only after it was finished, and not throughout the address, as the video depicts.
stop. the. presses.
Researchers worry the video's "selective editing" could mislead people if social media companies don't step in and properly label or regulate similar videos.
Wakanda is real.
by Cat on Mon Feb 10th, 2020 at 08:20:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)
28 Jan
Joe Biden to Iowa Democrats: Ruin Joni Ernst's night by caucusing for me
"By the way, did anyone see what your senator, Joni Ernst, did yesterday? She spilled the beans," [Biden] said at a campaign stop in Muscatine on Tuesday [28 Jan] morning. "She just came out and flat said it. You know, the whole impeachment trial for Trump is just a political hit job to try to smear me, because he is scared to death to run against me and he has good reason to be concerned." Then he read out loud the comments Ernst made to reporters in Washington, D.C. Monday [27 Jan].
2 Feb
The Latest: Ernst says Biden himself could face impeachment
GOP senator warns Republicans could impeach Biden if he wins White House
3 Feb, IA Democratic Party Caucus
It's complicated
--
29-30 Jan, Impeachment trial Q&A
Ernst 0 (sole), 9 (concurring), 1 (dual-use)
If the president asks for an investigation of possible corruption by a political rival under circumstances that objectively are in the national interest, should the president be impeached if a majority of the House believes the president is in it for the wrong reason?
by Cat on Mon Feb 3rd, 2020 at 12:15:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)
+
src: The Hill, 27 Jan
+
src: Newsweek, 29 Jan
=
src: Bloomberg News, 2 Feb
Joe Biden Could Be Impeached by GOP Over Ukraine if He Wins, Iowa Senator Says
"I think this door of impeachable whatever has been opened," Ernst said in an interview with Bloomberg News. "Joe Biden should be very careful what he's asking for because, you know, we can have a situation where if it should ever be President Biden, that immediately, people, right the day after he would be elected would be saying, 'Well, we're going to impeach him.'"
[...]
The grounds for impeachment, the first-term Republican said, would be "for being assigned to take on Ukrainian corruption yet turning a blind eye to Burisma because his son was on the board making over a million dollars a year."
[...]
Biden has been sure to mention Ernst's comments during every stump speech he's made this week, drawing applause as he suggests that Ernst had "spilled the beans" about Republicans' real intention in raising the Burisma issue to damage Biden's candidacy. "You can ruin Donald Trump's night by caucusing with me and ruin Joni Ernst's night as well," he's told Iowa crowds this week.
Federalist Papers #66, rumors, and just plain bullshit: US House impeachment power
by Cat on Mon Feb 3rd, 2020 at 02:13:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]
errata (none / 0)
Warren: 2 (self), 3 (concurring), 1 (dual-use)
If Ukrainian President Zelensky called President Trump and offered dirt on President Trump's political rivals in exchange for President Trump handing over hundreds of millions in military aid, that would clearly be bribery and an impeachable offense. So why would it be more acceptable--and somehow not impeachable--for the reverse, that is, for President Trump to propose the same corrupt bargain?
by Cat on Mon Feb 3rd, 2020 at 12:33:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D10 (none / 0)
(7:15 PM) They aaarrrrre baaaaaack.
  • report of clerk, leaders agreed in conference somewhere, sometime
  • proceeding to debate to vote on impeachment, rules announced, including but not limited to 4 hrs combined manager arguments beginning 11 AM?
  • final/verdict vote Wed, 5 Feb 2020, IA Caucus delay
  • clerk reporting, Schumer Amd. 1295.  Tabled by McConnell for a  vote; RESULT: 53 AYE - 47, Bolton subpoena?
  • resolving clause, Schumer Amd. 1296 tabled for vote. RESULT: 51 AYE-49
  • Schumer Amd. 1297, 1 day deposition and 1 day testimony from Bolton; tabled for vote. RESULT: 51 AYE-49
  • Van Hollen Amd. 1298, move for C.J. to rule on motion or issue subpoena if witness likely to have probative evidence; tabled for vote. RESULT: 53 AYE-47  (Schumer, McConnell, Klobuchar, Sanders, Van Ho, Warren, Wyden--NOes!)
  • Adoption of S. Res 488; vote, RESULT: 53 AYES-47
  • McConnell asks unanimous consent for senators' filing explanations for their votes with secretary 3-5 Feb. to document reasoning, also adjournment until 11 AM, Mon., 3 Feb.

One hour of high-speed housekeeping. Each Roll Call wandered all over "both sides" and concurring Qs. Looks like Lindsey G. Cracker whipped a new perspective on bi-partisan consensus into his fan boiz, yo (definitely needs a CR print check in the a.m.) Wouldn't call it a coup though, Politico.
by Cat on Sat Feb 1st, 2020 at 01:05:31 AM EST
errata (none / 0)
ahhh, wrong "table". The senate conclusively buried (US-Eng) Schumer's and Van Ho's amendments.

Keep calm. Carry on. SOTU 2/4 will change everything.

by Cat on Sat Feb 1st, 2020 at 01:43:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D10 (none / 0)
S.Res. 488
The Senate shall proceed to final arguments as provided in the impeachment rules, waiving the two person rule contained in Rule XXII of the Rules of Procedure and Practice in the Senate When Sitting on Impeachment Trials. Such arguments shall begin at 11:00am on Monday, February 3, 2020, and not exceed four hours, and be equally divided between the House and the President to be used as under the Rules of Impeachment.
    At the conclusion of the final arguments by the House and the President, the court of impeachment shall stand adjourned until 4:00pm on Wednesday, February 5, 2020, at which time the Senate, without intervening action or debate shall vote on the Articles of Impeachment.

Roll calls for S. Amd. 1295-1298 recorded here

by Cat on Sat Feb 1st, 2020 at 06:01:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D10 (none / 0)
low-grade coup
Politico
In conversations on the sidelines of a DNC executive committee meeting and in telephone calls and texts in recent days, about a half-dozen members have discussed the possibility of a policy reversal to ensure that so-called superdelegates can vote on the first ballot at the party's national convention.

retro-grade clique
NY Daily News

Russia is going to invade the mainland United States? Really? Schiff and Morrison represent two sides of the same hawkish coin, and that they found this point of agreement illustrates how impeachment has been fueled by a confluence of retrograde, Cold War-obsessed bipartisan consensus opinion.

by Cat on Sat Feb 1st, 2020 at 06:47:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D10 (none / 0)
Congressional Record, Issue: Vol. 166, No. 21, January 31, 2020

The transcript of proceedings can read in whole (oral arguments and votes, "Trial") and in six parts (each record of senate rules voted). The voting record on measures name senators by roll call; and, for example, 7. TEXT OF AMENDMENTS, p S769, pertain to instructions  delivered by McConnell from the floor to senators.

The CHIEF  JUSTICE. The majority leader is recognized.
Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. Chief Justice, I ask unanimous consent that the Secretary be authorized to include statements of Senators explaining their votes, either given or submitted during the legislative sessions of the Senate on Monday, February 3; Tuesday, February 4; and Wednesday, February 5; along with the full record of the  Senate's proceedings and the filings by the parties in a Senate document printed under the supervision of the Secretary of the Senate that will complete the documentation of Senate's handling of these impeachment proceedings.
The CHIEF JUSTICE. Without objection, it is so ordered.
and
Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. Chief  Justice, I further ask unanimous consent that when the Senate resumes legislative session on Monday, February 3; Tuesday, February 4; and  Wednesday, February 5; the Senate be in a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each for debate only.
The CHIEF JUSTICE. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Following managers' closing arguments Monday, I would expect senators to spend "debate" minutes on reading aloud their vote "statements" for broadcast.
by Cat on Sat Feb 1st, 2020 at 04:57:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D10 (none / 0)
6. AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED AND PROPOSED alias "Schumer's 11 Amendments" (colloquial title) is a fascinating read. First of all, there are only four (4). Schumer introduced them the first day of the trial, as was noted by this writer D2 in press and senate.gov Floor Activity. They were rejected. These are the same amendments numbers and witnesses resurrected for consideration D10.

The Congressional Record illustrates why these four amendments (which were not read aloud from the floor) earned the erstwhile "11 Amendments" title; the requisitions of material from the WH and National Security Council are novella-length--in the manner of Office of Special Counsel R. Mueller. The effect demanded from senators compels a pre-trial discovery process during the impeachment trial. Amd 1295, in particular, is no simple "witness" list but a compendium of unspecified documents, a fishing license, if you will. The other two proposed by Schumer appropriate Art. III authorities and instrumentality for senate purposes, incidentally, rendering Van Ho's contribution redundant.

Regardless of credibility vested in proposed witnesses testimony, one might reasonably be alarmed by this attempt at dismantling beloved doctrine, separation of powers among the branches of federal gov. Oh, the irony of urgency.

by Cat on Sat Feb 1st, 2020 at 05:58:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)
drops mic
by Cat on Sun Feb 2nd, 2020 at 07:22:21 PM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D11 (none / 0)
Resumed at 11 AM. I slept through most of it but had the tab open. Occasionally, I recognized the voice of a manager, delivering a closing argument, I presume, to an empty hall.

After they finished the camera POV opened. The chamber was empty,and iirc the secretary? pro temp? was in the chair, pages were squatting around the dais waiting.

Quorum was called around 5. Sen BDS Mr Cardin is  not the first to read. He is reading his statement into the record, reasoning that he will vote to convict ("guilty") because the senate trial proceedings were unfair. Senators did not cross-examine the House inquiry's witnessed.

That decision makes perfect sense in the BDS universe.

by Cat on Mon Feb 3rd, 2020 at 10:43:26 PM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D11 (none / 0)
Every speech has a 10 min limit.

Sen Loeffler is reading her statement. She will not vote to convict, because she favors election to decide Trump's misconduct.

Udall is in the convict camp, because unfair trial and WH cover-up.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Mon Feb 3rd, 2020 at 10:46:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D11 (none / 0)
Congressional Record, Issue: Vol. 166, No. 22, February 3, 200

Closing arguments of "both sides" by trial managers were alternately delivered in four hours, excluding the 30-minute lunch break. (errata: No one but the C.J. presided all day!) Mssrs CROW, JEFFRIES, and HUAC Rev. Chairman SCHIFF spoke for the house before counsel CIPPOLONE introduced Mssrs STARR, PURPURA, PHILBIN, and SEKULOW. Video clips punctuated their speech. House managers returned to the balance of time marshaled by LOFGREN, GARCIA, CROW, and JEFFRIES, then finished by HUAC Rev. Chairman SCHIFF's "Midnight in Washington" eulogy.

All said and done, the Chair moved to adjourn the nearly empty chamber.

Mr. McCONNELL. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The CHIEF JUSTICE. The clerk will call the role.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
Quorum being rescinded, a parade of senators led by MURKOWSKI presented "statements," or opinions, about impeachment articles, trial proceedings, arguments (recorded in sections 6 and 10 of HTML index; entirety in PDF issue).

My understanding, from a tweet by MADDOW which circulated sundry sympathetic and antagonistic innerboob timelines is, he demonstrated unprecedented, of course, oratorical skill--though no comparison to the presumptive master of that discipline, Mr Obama, has yet risen to my attention.

I did ask my left-coast correspondent, the California 'fugee emerita of Hobo House, her sage opinion. It was good, she said. Did he repeat himself? I asked. I don't know, she said, I didn't listen to much of the trial.

some off-side business
UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENT--PRINTING OF STATEMENTS IN THE RECORD AND PRINTING OF SENATE DOCUMENT OF IMPEACHIMENT PROCEEDINGS--MODIFIED, deadline for printed submissions postponed to 26 Feb 2020

by Cat on Tue Feb 4th, 2020 at 05:18:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: RECAP (none / 1)

Notes from Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., during the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.

'What a hot mess!': Read 7 senators' handwritten impeachment trial notes, 8 Feb

Prohibited from using phones or computers, members could only record their thoughts on one of the most consequential votes of their careers using the same technology they used in grade school: pen and paper. And by doing so, senators instantly created HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS.


Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., scribbles on closing statements

Some filled multiple notebooks, LEGAL PADS, or small, bound journals at their mahogany desks as they sipped from glasses of milk or water. Others jotted just a few thoughts while others copied verbatim arguments from House impeachment managers and members of Trump's defense team. In black and blue ink, they underlined, starred, circled and bullet-ed what stood out to them.


Notes used by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) during the impeachment trial of US President Donald J. Trump.

Murkowski's thoughts on the proceedings were PIVOTAL. A key SWING VOTE, both sides sought to persuade her on the question that lingered over the trial, whether additional witnesses should be called. Two days before she would ultimately vote against the idea on Jan. 31 -- Murkowski penned questions she and fellow senators asked.

supra
D10 debate 49-51 NAYE
D10 Schumer amdts.
by Cat on Sat Feb 8th, 2020 at 09:00:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D12 (none / 0)
My understanding is (from yesterday's record), proceedings resumed at 9:30 AM. So the senators' statements are on parade now, and I've no idea about the order by which the C.J. is suppose to recognize speakers.
by Cat on Tue Feb 4th, 2020 at 05:22:11 PM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D12 (none / 0)
Camera POV from the ceiling. The chamber shure looks empty to me, and as gah is my witness, the presiding officer suspiciously appears to be CRUZ. Who else wears a paunch and 5 o'clock shadow so distinctively?
by Cat on Tue Feb 4th, 2020 at 05:27:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D12 (none / 0)
Listening to CAPITO for a Bal'more minute. She won't vote to convict, because repetitive House arguments, the House did present 17 witnesses to the senate, and she won't take Trump of the ballot.

Going out on a nub of a limb here: every (R) statement is a version of this reasoning. Rule of Atty #3 all the way down.

by Cat on Tue Feb 4th, 2020 at 05:35:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D12 (none / 0)
GUESS WHO?
"... when we use our military assistance as a political pawn ..."
by Cat on Tue Feb 4th, 2020 at 06:07:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D12 (none / 0)
Portman, founder of Ukrain Caucus and Revolution of Dignity advocate in the senate, data point: 65 hours of "detailed" arguments
by Cat on Tue Feb 4th, 2020 at 09:44:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D12 (none / 0)
Case invokes Federalist Paper #65, jaws duties of "public trust" sammich: "I will vote guilty."
by Cat on Tue Feb 4th, 2020 at 09:53:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D12 (none / 0)
I think, that's Angus K. boiling separation of powers into essence of "elected monarch"
by Cat on Tue Feb 4th, 2020 at 10:34:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)
m'k. I've had my fill of founder/framer anecdotes for the day. Also, it seems that teh Chair behind "Angus" is filled with "Madame President".

RECESS for joint session (SOTU) until 8:25 PM?

by Cat on Tue Feb 4th, 2020 at 10:40:18 PM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D12 (none / 0)
well, That was one big wtf with a greek chorus in white.
SOTU curtain falls, 10:30 PM EST.
Senate adjourned until 9:30 AM. ROLL CALL on the trial, y'all, ends dese days.
by Cat on Wed Feb 5th, 2020 at 03:38:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D12 (none / 0)
Congressional Record, Issue: Vol. 166, No. 23 , 4 Feb 2020

alrighty, This one is a piece of work. The proceedings were far more irregular than I credited to my own dereliction of duty. I suppose, I must read the pdf for a comprehensive narrative. I surmise from the indexed HTML sections (agenda) that presidents pro tempore shuffled the senators' deck so to speak between "regular" business in one venue and impeachment trial rituals in another. Behold "highlights"
[...]

  1. APPOINTMENT OF ACTING PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE
  2. RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME
  3. MORNING BUSINESS
  4. IMPEACHMENT
[...]
  1. UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENT--READING OF WASHINGTON'S FAREWELL ADDRESS
  2. ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
  3. TRIBUTE TO MATTIE FLORENCE JONES
[...]
  1. RECESS
  2. ADJOURNMENT UNTIL 9:30 A.M. TOMORROW
  3. NOMINATIONS
by Cat on Thu Feb 6th, 2020 at 05:10:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)

Right Wing Watch. screenshots of the old poll (2019) were repeatedly circulated Wednesday [5 Feb 2020]"

CBS | State of the Union 2020: How to stream online and watch on TV, 4 Feb 2020

It will be only the second time a State of the Union address will be delivered while the Senate is holding an impeachment trial. In 1999, President Clinton made no mention of the impeachment trial during his second-to-last State of the Union on January 19. Mr. Clinton was ultimately acquitted on charges of obstruction of justice and perjury by the Senate.
YouGov | State of the Union 2020: Republicans will be watching, but not Democrats, 3 Feb 2020
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump will give a State of the Union message to Congress and the American public. The latest Economist/YouGov Poll finds that his public audience will likely be supporters - as most Democrats claim they will not be watching and don't want to watch (58%).

reference
Most viewers approved of Trump's second State of the Union address, 6 Feb 2019
Viewers approve of Trump's first State of the Union address - CBS News poll, 30 Jan 2018

by Cat on Wed Feb 5th, 2020 at 11:53:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)

archived
Does Pelosi need Trump's help?

by Cat on Thu Feb 6th, 2020 at 08:45:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self (none / 0)
by Cat on Thu Feb 6th, 2020 at 09:55:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D13 (none / 0)
I do another drive-by: Bennet is "killing it" now, it being conceptualization of a fair trial in the USA. Without witnesses.

I must have missed the part about plea bargaining in hall ways by public defenders.

They're still at it, reading statements to "cover-up" the moral ambiguity inherent in US legislation and warfare, also known as rationales to convict or not to convict the current "leader of the free world" mounted on that "city on the hill".

Next.

by Cat on Wed Feb 5th, 2020 at 06:39:24 PM EST
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D13 (none / 0)
btw, camera POV from ceiling: the chamber is empty. The Desk ("C.J. Roberts") appears to be wearing a wig of very long, light brown hair.

Senator from Wisconsin (not that one, the other one) seizes the podium to lecture on impartial judgment, full fair and honest trial, and defense of the US Constitution.

buh-bye.

by Cat on Wed Feb 5th, 2020 at 06:43:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D13 (none / 0)
So yeah. I took a long coffee break with my PPC buddy, and while I was gone, the trial of the century ended, temporarily. (Note to self: Act II, 1 Mar-3 Nov 2020) I first perceived the verdict through the lenses of twitterverse retweets alternately! portraying Mitt Romney as an object "high character" < wipes tears > or  cold  opprobrium.< wipes tears > I'm thinking, wahthafu...so I hit USAToday.

I'm wondering, to hell wit dat. 52-48 (Art. I), 53-47 (Art. II). From under which floorboard did the 'new' acquittal votes come?! Shadow app?? < wipes tears > Rather than read USAToday's version, I'll read the Congressional Record tomorrow a.m. -- That way I can cue the senators' "statements" in their own words, in their entirety to the dismal deeds. woo boy howdy, that's got to be some rationale.

by Cat on Wed Feb 5th, 2020 at 11:10:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D13 (none / 0)
The roll calls are not balanced "along party lines", because a few senators split their votes by article. DOH. Be that a provocative symptom of political ambivalence as it may, any urgency to investigate the particulars escapes me.
by Cat on Thu Feb 6th, 2020 at 05:35:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D13 (none / 0)
The day will come, when senators do not convict a POTUS of all charges, perhaps 1/2 or 2/8. Then what? The twitterverse quantum explosion of rancorous senate rules versus norms "analyses" and recommended sentencing procedure.
by Cat on Thu Feb 6th, 2020 at 05:40:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D13 (none / 0)
Suppliants will rush the Chief Justice and fall to their knees. "What shall we do? Oh, how do you decide?" Then, and only then, will The Desk pull out one of Gödel's flaming incompleteness theorems from a voluminous sleeve. "The normal rule is that all the votes fail."
by Cat on Thu Feb 6th, 2020 at 05:52:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D13 (none / 0)
m'k. No Congressional Record, Congressional Record, Issue: Vol. 166, No. 24 printed as yet. I suppose, I ought attribute the delay to postponement of senators' statements until 26 Feb; 100% receipts needed "officially" to close the trial record.

OTOH, the secretary of the senate turfed a copy of the verdict to Secretary of State Pompeo for his officious autograph, 5 Feb 2020.

by Cat on Thu Feb 6th, 2020 at 05:28:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: US Congress impeaches self: D13 (none / 0)
Congressional Record, Issue: Vol. 166, No. 24, February 5, 2020

Duly noted sections:
[...]
4. RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME
[...]

  1. IMPEACHMENT
  2. RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER
  3. STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS
  4. IMPEACHMENT
  5. RECESS SUBJECT TO THE CALL OF THE CHAIR
  6. TRIAL OF DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
  7. ADJOURNMENT SINE DIE OF THE COURT OF IMPEACHMENT
[...]

DICTION CORNER
adjournment sine die
discursion
Duhaime's Law Dictionary
Project Gutenberg
practices
Glosbe.com | translation memory
The Hindu | Parliament adjourned sine die (2018)

by Cat on Fri Feb 7th, 2020 at 09:17:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]
US Congress impeaches self | 254 comments (254 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)


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