Ken Burns and the ultimate shape of impeachment!

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2019

PBS examines the Others:
We were surprised by something we saw on the front page of this morning's Washington Post.

The Post was reporting on certain voters' attitude toward the possible impeachment of Donald J. Trump. Right out there on page A1, the opening paragraph of the report said this:
PORTNOY ET AL (12/28/19): They don’t ordinarily agree with each other. They watch different channels, hear different versions of the news and view neighbors across a gaping, painful political divide. But in swing districts across the country, the idea of impeaching the president has brought some Americans together: They’re wary of deploying the Constitution’s ultimate weapon—one that takes the decision about who is president out of voters’ hands.
Interesting! Does impeachment (and removal) "take the decision about who is president out of voters’ hands?"

Just as a matter of fact, it does! In the present circumstance, let's get clear on what that means.

In November 2016, 62.98 million people voted for Candidate Donald J. Trump. We weren't numbered among them, and a substantially larger number of people voted for Candidate Hillary Clinton (66.85 million).

By the rules of the game, those 62.98 million people got Trump elected to office—and they got him elected to serve for four years. Even where it may be fully justified, impeachment seeks to take that victory away from that very large number of people.

Even where it may be justified, this is an obvious downside to impeachment and removal. For this reason, we have a strong prejudice against impeachment, except where absolutely necessary. This is why we've occasionally stated the view that "our system runs on elections, not on impeachment."

This doesn't mean that Donald J. Trump shouldn't be impeached and removed. It merely identifies a major downside to the process—a downside we'd never seen mentioned in anti-Trump circles until this very day.

We'd seen this downside mentioned on Fox. It seemed that Nancy Pelosi might be citing this downside, if only obliquely, at various times during the past year.

But until this morning, we'd never seen this downside directly cited by anyone within our own tribe. In our view, this told us something—something perhaps a bit unattractive—about the way we in our self-impressed tribe tend to regard the Others, the lesser folk found Over There.

We often thought about this matter as we watched Ken Burns' PBS series, Country Music, over the past two weeks. Haltingly and cautiously, Burns was profiling the native culture of "red America"—the native culture of the deplorables, of the bad people found Over There.

In many ways, we thought Burns' caution undermined the potential value of the series. But there it was—the native music of the Trump voter, the people whose victory would be taken away, perhaps with reason, if he's removed from office before he serves his four years.

Until this very morning, we'd never seen the anti-Trump world acknowledge this obvious problem found within the impeachment process. But of course, it's only a problem if you're able to respect the lesser beings who are found Over There.

As a general matter, our liberal tribe doesn't aggressively do that. Nor are we typically able to see the ways our condescension toward Those People rhymes with the racism we performatively say we despise.

We're speaking here of the meta-politics of the current red/blue divide. We expect to explore this question next week, using parts of the Ken Burns series as points of departure.

As Burns describes in one of his series' many profiles, Dolly Parton emerged from the world of Those People starting, Burns said, at the age of 5. Is she a lesser too? Because once you let our tribe get started, pretty much everyone is!

Should Donald J. Trump be removed from office? On cable TV, our team is now pantingly eager to make that occur.

Are we able to see the downside to this constitutional process? When it comes to such tasks, our self-impressed team isn't always enormously sharp.

Also, this late arrival: We were struck by a letter the New York Times decided to publish this morning. The letter went exactly like this:
To the Editor:

Could it be the case that President Trump really does not understand that he did anything wrong in his conversation with the president of Ukraine? This may be just the way he’s always done business, by threatening, bullying and demanding something of value in exchange for doing what he is already obligated to do. Is it possible that Mr. Trump just lives in a different moral universe than the rest of us?

L— W—
Westport, Conn.
"Is it possible that Mr. Trump just lives in a different moral universe than the rest of us?"

So this letter asked, seeming to blame this possible problem on bad habits the fellow may have formed over the years.

As a general matter, we think that letter writer is asking a very good question. We think it's not unlike these other very good questions:

"Is it possible that Mr. Trump is a sociopath?" "Is it possible that Mr. Trump is in some way 'mentally ill?' "

That letter writer is asking a very good question. But even as Bandy Lee and dozens of others urged the press to consider the state of Trump's mental health, the giants of our upper-end press corps have refused to do that.

As a general matter, that letter writer is asking a very good question. It should have been explored in the upper-end press corps starting a long time ago.

Today, the New York Times treats it as a novel question. Our view?

When we fixate on the dumbness of Others, we might want to recall the possible dumbness routinely displayed Over Here. In fairness, anthropologists have told us that this is the best our floundering species can do.

118 comments:

  1. "Is it possible that Mr. Trump just lives in a different moral universe than the rest of us?"

    Why, sure, there is no doubts whatsoever that you liberal zombies do indeed live in a different universe. Zombie universe.

    In your zombie universe, perpetrating hoaxes to endlessly investigate your cult's opponents is perfectly normal, -- while asking the Kiev's chief clown to assist in a real investigation of a blatant abuse of power by your zombie cult's VIP - that's a super-high crime indeed. Oh well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hunter Biden was investigated and no wrongdoing was found.

      Delete
    2. If that's true, then, I guess, your zombie cult's panic is completely irrational.

      Delete
    3. Conservatives will wonder why an all-around "Fredo" like Hunter Biden was ever offered "a lucrative seat on the board of a company called Burisma, which is a major energy company in Ukraine."

      They'll wonder why he was ever offered that seat, and they won't be crazy to do so.

      They'll assume that some slippery motives were involved somewhere in the mix. It's hard to assume that such an assumption is wrong.

      Delete
    4. Actually, the story of Creepy Joe, Fredo, and Kiev's prosecutor is perfectly clear and unambiguous, to both conservatives and radicals.

      It's the story of Kiev and Crowdstrike, and the server (is it the miraculously disappearing Clinton's server?) that is really intriguing...

      Delete
    5. @2:29 is quoting Somerby.

      Mao, this is not Q-Anon. You should have turned right at the last intersection.

      Delete
    6. Hello everyone i Am williams pater and i am from USA i am here to give my testimony about an herbal doctor called Dr,olu I was heartbroken because i had very small penis,not nice to satisfy a woman, i have been in so many relationship, but cut off because of my situation, i have used so many product which doctors prescribe for me, but could not offer me the help i searched for. i saw some few comments on the internet about this specialist called Dr,OLU and decided to email him on his email i saw on the internet,(drolusolutionhome@gmail.com ) so I decided to give his herbal product a try. i emailed him and he got back to me, he gave me some comforting words with his herbal product for Penis Enlargement, Within three weeks of me use it, i began to feel the enlargement, " and now it just 4 weeks of using his products my penis is about 8 inches longer, and i had to settle thing out with my ex girlfriend , i was surprised when she said that she is satisfied with my performance in bed and i now have a large penis.thanks to DR OLU for is herbal product. you can also reach him with emsil  drolusolutionhome@gmail.com though is..number WHATASPP him today on this number [ +2348140654426 ]   


































      Hello everyone i Am williams pater and i am from USA i am here to give my testimony about an herbal doctor called Dr,olu I was heartbroken because i had very small penis,not nice to satisfy a woman, i have been in so many relationship, but cut off because of my situation, i have used so many product which doctors prescribe for me, but could not offer me the help i searched for. i saw some few comments on the internet about this specialist called Dr,OLU and decided to email him on his email i saw on the internet,(drolusolutionhome@gmail.com ) so I decided to give his herbal product a try. i emailed him and he got back to me, he gave me some comforting words with his herbal product for Penis Enlargement, Within three weeks of me use it, i began to feel the enlargement, " and now it just 4 weeks of using his products my penis is about 8 inches longer, and i had to settle thing out with my ex girlfriend , i was surprised when she said that she is satisfied with my performance in bed and i now have a large penis.thanks to DR OLU for is herbal product. you can also reach him with emsil  drolusolutionhome@gmail.com though is..number WHATASPP him today on this number [ +2348140654426 ]   































      Delete
  2. Where does Somerby come up with this stuff? Does he read his posts out loud to himself? You can often catch problems that way.

    He watches a documentary about country music and immediately labels it “the native music of the Trump voter.” This stereotype comes in a post that urges liberals not to stereotype The Other!

    Need it be said that not all Trump supporters like country music, that not all country musicians are conservative, and not all country music fans are conservative? Dolly Parton is an extremely talented singer songwriter. I love her.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I also love the Dixie Chicks and Willie Nelson. I'll bet Robert Johnson wouldn't have voted for Trump, or any of the Carter family.

      Delete
    2. Trump couldn't get any big acts, including country singers, to perform at his inaugural parties.

      Delete
    3. Do you all rehearse this stuff? Such choreography!

      Delete
    4. @cecelia
      Yes. There’s no other explanation, really. We all get together, Chinchilla and two anonymous commenters, to gang up on an obscure contrarian blog that nobody reads. Just for your entertainment, Cecelia.

      Delete
  3. 1. Country music isn't red America music. Many areas where country music originated and remains popular are Democratic, blue.

    2. Donald Trump was not a legitimately elected President because of his collusion with Russia and Comey's interference. That illegitimacy continues throughout his term and is a major reason he is now being investigated for impeachment. The will of the people was Hillary Clinton.

    3. Somerby says he didn't vote for Trump. Notice how he implies that he therefore voted for Clinton, but he never says so. I suspect he wrote in Bernie or Jill Stein or abstained. Hence his defensiveness about the election and his continuing disparagement of Hillary and Democrats.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Somerby is likely lying. He voted for Trump, as befits a Trumptard.

      Delete
  4. “By the rules of the game, those 62.98 million people got Trump elected to office—and they got him elected to serve for four years. Even where it may be fully justified, impeachment seeks to take that victory away from that very large number of people.”

    They voted for him. Is that supposed to imply that they tacitly approve of any subsequent crimes or abuses he might commit?

    Also, the “rules of the game” are laid out in the Constitution, where impeachment is a legitimate tool given to Congress. Somerby is arguing that impeachment should never be used, regardless of how bad the president is. One could argue that that is a dangerous idea. It essentially ratifies corruption and violations of the constitution. If the president is found to have violated the emoluments clause, or to have committed bribery or treason, Somerby is saying it is more important to allow the voters who elected such a president to have their victory, law or constitution be damned.

    ReplyDelete
  5. We were all wondering how Somerby would support Trump after this week's turmoil. Now we know. Despite the inclusion of both impeachment and other oversight responsibilities in the Constitution, and despite the fact that our representatives in Congress are also voted upon and serve their constituents, and despite the overwhelming popular vote for Hillary, Somerby thinks that the common folk will be upset because the intent of the Electoral College might be overturned by impeachment!

    Then he has the nerve to call Trump crazy. Somerby might as well be arguing that Trump should be given a second term because voting for someone else would set aside the will of the people in 2016.

    And then he invokes Ken Burns and all of country music to support his silly position.

    Somerby needs to fold up his tent and slink back into the desert. He is transparently pro-conservative and needs to stop pretending that he is a liberal or has anything to say to liberals.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Does Somerby think that the media talking about Trump’s “mental illness” will suppress Trump’s base? The opposite is more likely.

    And, if it doesn’t serve to get rid of Trump in 2020, what’s the freaking point of talking about it?

    And yet, Somerby wants no impeachment, no inquiry, no discussion of Trump’s abuses...because that robs The Others of their victory.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Many criminals convicted and sent to prison have mental illness of one type or another. It is generally not a defense for charges of corruption, treason or obstruction of justice, especially not when the perpetrator has shown consciousness of guilt by covering up the crimes, as Trump has.

      Delete
    2. The only reason Somerby occasionally mentions Trump's mental illness is because it gives him cover to claim that he is a liberal. Of course, he is really a Trumptard.

      Delete
  7. "...the native music of the Trump voter..."

    I may send Somerby some PayPal for this remark.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Also, PBR is the native beer of the Trump voter. The cheaper the better, and not that liberal “wine.”

      Also, pickup trucks are the native vehicles of the Trump voter. No SUV’s or Mercedes-Benz. No siree.

      The confederate flag is the native flag of the Trump voter. Sho ‘nuf.

      Grits are the native breakfast food for the Trump voter.

      I can provide more examples, but you catch my drift.

      Why such statements, including Somerby’s, aren’t considered insulting to Trump voters is beyond me.

      Delete
    2. Perhaps because even we Red State types know parody when we see it.

      Delete
    3. "I may send Somerby some PayPal for this remark."

      Why, it appears to be merely a sarcastic quip aimed at the Ken Burns fella, his 'cautiousness' in approaching the (apparently) awkward subject of country music...

      Delete
    4. I am anonymous 1:53. I live in a Red State myself. It isn’t parody. Somerby thinks in stereotypes, or hadn’t you noticed?

      Or perhaps you can explain why, if you consider that statement parody, why his urging against impeachment shouldn’t also be viewed as parody?

      Delete
    5. Oh, the entire blog is parody, 2:18 pm.

      Bob has been putting folks on for decades.

      Didn't you know?

      Delete
    6. @Cecelia

      Why didn’t you tell me this before now??

      Delete
    7. Next you'll be asking me why I haven't told you something even more obvious, such as mm being a Russian agent.

      Delete
    8. That one is news to me. But, tell me, what exactly is TDH a parody of?

      Delete
    9. The first rule of satire and/or parody is that you signal that you are not to be taken at face value. Somerby has never done that. As a standup comedian, he can be expected to know the rules about such things.

      The problem with no signal to readers is that some will take the blog seriously, at face value, as meaning what it says. That makes this blog dangerous because day-in and day-out it does nothing except tear down liberals and their values, beliefs, attitudes and accomplishments. It is a bad blog, either inept because it doesn't signal its intention, or evil because it contributes to the wrongdoing of the Trump crime family and its accomplices, giving support to awful people such as Roy Moore.

      Delete
    10. The problem with no signal to readers is that some will take the blog seriously, at face value, as meaning what it says.

      Assuming we take your blogger profile seriously, as a Professor of Psychology and someone interested in “[n]onverbal behavior (especially facial expressions),” wouldn’t you say that the best course when confronted by text is to take it at face value? I’m not talking about literal-mindedness. When TDH reports his discussion with “future anthropologists huddled in caves,” we don’t have to believe he’s had actual conversations with real anthropologists underground. But when he says he wants to chastise liberals (especially those in the media) who exhibit what he calls ill-advised “tribal behavior,” why wouldn’t we take him at his word?

      As it happens TDH is talking about me. I loathe Republicans. I’m only half-joking when I say they only walk amongst us as human. @1:26P asks whether TDH is implying that Trump voters “tacitly approve of any subsequent crimes or abuses he might commit.” The answer is that when they voted to hand the government over to someone they knew to be a liar, a conman, and a grifter, they out-loud pre-approved of his “subsequent crimes.” Crimes are what liars, conmen, and grifters do. I don’t give a shit for any of their current regret, of which I see very little: Trump’s approval rating remains at its usual approximately 40%.

      Yet somehow I’m able to keep myself from losing my mind when I read TDH.

      Let me pick an important element from among the liberal let of “values, beliefs, attitudes”: a proper role of government to intervene on behalf of the disenfranchised. Has TDH ever “torn down” this belief? I don’t think so. Go ahead; pick for yourself.

      Somehow I can read TDH’s ruminations and his conclusion that they don’t mean that Trump shouldn’t be impeached. @1:26P can’t do that, saying Somerby is arguing that impeachment should never be used….”

      Somehow I can read TDH’s criticism of the media’s coverage of Roy Moore and understand that it doesn’t amount to “support” for Roy Moore. You apparently can’t do that. Go ahead: I look forward to your citing quotes of TDH’s giving “support” to the Gadsden Mall Creeper.

      (I’ll save you the time. TDH decried the media fascination with the age gap between Moore and the young but adult women he dated, all the while downplaying the “credible” (TDH’s word) accusation from someone who says Moore assaulted her when she was under age.)

      Somehow, I can read TDH and still understand that the only people who “contribute to the wrong doing of the Trump crime family” are the Trumps and the chumps who agreed to act as co-conspirators. Why can’t you?

      Even when I disagree with TDH’s advice and assessments, I can do so without labeling the blog “dangerous,” “bad,” and “evil.” You should be able to do the same, Professor.

      Delete
    11. TDH is not dangerous or evil. he might be dangerous if he had an audience, but as it is, he's just a 'useless idiot' for Trump. Defense of the disenfranchised is a correct description of TDH if Trump and Moore were the 'disenfranchised'

      Delete
    12. @deadrat
      Somerby says:
      “we have a strong prejudice against impeachment, except where absolutely necessary. This is why we've occasionally stated the view that "our system runs on elections, not on impeachment."

      That looks like a clearly stated belief of Somerby’s. He apparently doesn’t feel that the present case meets his standard of “absolutely necessary”, whatever that is. His opining about how it robs the voters of their candidate is just...the definition of impeachment. He has said nothing by saying that. Unless you think no criticism of Somerby is warranted, this seems to be a case where an honest disagreement can be stated.

      He is clearly saying that trump should not be impeached.

      Delete
    13. For all I know, TDH thinks Trump shouldn’t be impeached, but he doesn’t actually say that. In fact, what he states so clearly that I can put his words in quotes is “This doesn't mean that Donald J. Trump shouldn't be impeached and removed.”

      Please try to distinguish between your own prejudices and TDH’s. The latter in general doesn’t much like impeachment. But in this specific case, he says this belief doesn’t preclude the propriety of impeaching Trump.

      Did the two negatives confuse you?

      Delete
    14. "This doesn't mean that Donald J. Trump shouldn't be impeached and removed.”

      Finally I agree with Somerby. Trump should absolutely, 100% be impeached and removed.

      Thanks for coming back to sanity, Bob.

      Delete
    15. Somerby nearly always inserts a sentence like that, but then goes on to argue the opposite.

      He says no one should be raped while unconscious then supports light sentencing and opposes the judge's recall.

      He says no one should molest underage girls, then goes on to excuse Roy Moore's interest in barely legal girls, as part of Southern culture.

      He says Trump is crazy, then goes on to defend whatever is the current Republican talking point.

      He has never acknowledged that the election was lost because of a combination of reasons, none of which include liberals disrespecting "The Other" and making them feel inferior by behaving like "elites."

      Somerby is a conservative pretending to be liberal in order to get liberals to listen to conservative bullshit.

      Delete
    16. Trump is a standard issue Reagan Republican.

      Delete
    17. The sweet, sweet sound of Trump"s bigotry is the native music of the Trump voter.

      Delete
    18. He says no one should be raped while unconscious then supports light sentencing and opposes the judge's recall.

      You’re lying. In 2016, TDH wrote about reporting on the case. Quote him opposing the judge’s recall. You won’t because you can’t.

      He says no one should molest underage girls, then goes on to excuse Roy Moore's interest in barely legal girls, as part of Southern culture.

      Roy Moore, the Gadsden Mall Creeper, is a repellent human being, but if he’s involved in consensual relationships with adults, that’s none of anybody else’s business. In other words, there’s nothing to excuse.

      He says Trump is crazy, then goes on to defend whatever is the current Republican talking point.

      You’re lying. Quote him defending a Republican talking point. You won’t because you can’t.

      He has never acknowledged that the election was lost because of a combination of reasons, none of which include liberals disrespecting "The Other" and making them feel inferior by behaving like "elites.”

      Dear me. An on-point criticism of TDH’s point of view. Now that didn’t hurt a bit, now did it?

      Delete
    19. Note that "liberals disrespecting 'The Other' and making them feel inferior by behaving like 'elites'" are Right-wing memes, Somerby supposedly doesn't repeat.

      Delete
    20. What right-wingers say isn’t wrong because right-wingers say it; it’s wrong because the evidence contradicts it.

      Do liberals disrespect “The Other”? I’d say so. As TDH notes, it’s a very human tendency. Do I disrespect anybody who voted for Trump and not for Hillary? You betcha. I loathe these people. Does it make me “elite” because I can spot a liar, a conman, and a grifter? So be it.

      TDH says that’s a bad way to think, and politically self-defeating to boot. OK, it’s a point of view I can understand without casting TDH into the outer darkness.

      Delete
    21. So deadrat is a liberal who disrespects "The Other", therefore TDH is correct about liberals disrespecting "The Other".
      Just as Stephen Miller is "The Other" who is a bigot. What does TDH think that says that says about"The Other?

      Delete
    22. "TDH says that’s a bad way to think, and politically self-defeating to boot..."

      What does that have to do with media criticism?

      Delete
    23. Do you even bother to read the blog?

      Delete
    24. @7:12A, I use myself as an counter-example to those here who claim that TDH can't be properly describing liberals, so he must be a right-winger. I can only guess that TDH would say that Miller is a bigot, but that not everybody who voted for or now supports Trump is a bigot. I think he's wrong.

      Delete
  8. If the only remedy is the ballot box, and our elections are covertly manipulated and hijacked to install a corrupt person, how is the ballot box a remedy then?

    ReplyDelete
  9. Robert Somerby is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.

    ReplyDelete
  10. BS: you are all over the place in this. Writing requires effort and not just one random thought. Of course removing the president subverts the will of the people (in a flawed electoral system but I digress)- so the real question is why are we here then.

    ReplyDelete
  11. That's going to be Trump's defense -- he was just joking about everything. But people didn't get his jokes so they had to lock them up in a secret cabinet.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Two dual explanations of Trump's request are possible, it seems to me:

    1. Trump asked a foreign leader for dirt on an opponent -- something of value personally to Trump. This is possibly a corrupt act.

    2. Trump asked for help investigating a possible crime possibly committed by Biden and his son. This was appropriate. Enforcing the law is the President's job, even if the (possible) law-breaker happens to be a political adversary.

    IMHO both ways of looking at Trump's request are plausible. I watched the presentation on the PBS Newshour a few days ago. They offered only #1. I wonder how other stations reported both interpretations.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. David, Hunter Biden was investigated by the Ukraine (after Biden was already out of office) and given a clean bill of health. There is no reason for Trump to be investigating "a possible crime" after that had already been done. Further investigation amounts to political persecution in order to make it appear there was a scandal when there wasn't, which would personally benefit Trump (as in your #1).

      What makes #2 not plausible is the fact that it had already been pursued and nothing was found. That's why PBS didn't hypothesize that there was a legitimate reason for Trump to ask the Ukraine for another investigation.

      The person who conducted that investigation was not the same person who was removed at the US (and the EU 's) demand. The investigation took place after Biden was already out of office, so he could not have influenced it.

      Delete
    2. "David, Hunter Biden was investigated by the Ukraine (after Biden was already out of office) and given a clean bill of health."

      Is that what happened on the dembot planet? Interesting.

      However, if it was true, then what exactly is the issue? No dirt to find. Move along, nothing to see here, eh?

      Delete
    3. There's one small flaw in your neat little list, David, you treasonous bastard.

      There is no fucking investigation of Biden and his son. Donald J Chickenshit, Acting President, has no authority over the Ukrainian government.

      Delete
    4. There is this:

      https://www.congress.gov/treaty-document/106th-congress/16/document-text

      What generally happens in these discussions is that once the arguments about possible criminal behavior get exhausted then things come round to criminal behavior not being necessary as regards impeachment.

      Delete
    5. From Kevin Drum:

      https://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2019/09/the-hunter-biden-timeline/

      Delete
    6. That's a good one, Cec.

      Can you write us a country music song all about it?

      Delete
    7. That's quite the defense of Hunter Biden. Nothing to see here but the VP's son taking a big paycheck from a gas company in what Drums casts as a very corrupt country. So corrupt that the VP goes there and demands dismissals.

      Too bad the Foxbots are so brainwashed as to never fathom this.

      Delete
    8. "You picked a fine time to leave me, Vladimir. Three hungry kulaks..."

      Delete
    9. Cecelia, how do you think the treaty you cite is relevant?

      Delete
    10. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    11. I'd be less inclined to think it was relevant if the Executive Branch was not involved.

      Delete
    12. When it comes to Rudy G, the executive branch was not involved. But I don't think the treaty gives executive-branch players any cover. Do you?

      Delete
    13. Yes, I think that both do.

      I don't buy the notion that encouragement from a president to investigate what he feels is a troubling scenario is grounds for impeachment because it involves the son of a political opponent.

      The circumstances around Hunter Biden and the conclusion of that probe don't render such a request unreasonable. Add the treaty and the authority of the Executive Branch and yes, there is an argument to be made.


      Delete
    14. Well you're wrong, Cec. You really are stretching, and you know it. You're argument is completely disingenuous.

      The treaty formalizes an agreement between the two countries to cooperate with each other -

      The Treaty covers mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

      The point of contact under the Treaty is defined as the Central Authority and is defined in the Treaty, Article 2, Central Authority SHALL be the Attorney General. Not the president's fucking private hack lawyer.

      And Billy the Bull Barrvano ain't knows nothin' about this.

      Delete
    15. Thanks, I just wanted to make sure I understood you. (However, I’m not sure what “both do” means.)

      The treaty provides no grounds for Trump’s extorting Ukraine.

      The treaty is about reciprocal cooperation between the two countries in the case that the one country is conducting a criminal investigation (the Requesting Party) and needs documents, testimony of witnesses, etc. from the other country (the Requested Party). The treaty requires that all requests from the Requesting Party come from a designated person or organization. For the US, that’s the Attorney General. The treaty provides mechanisms for resolving disputes about which requests are proper. Needless to say, withholding military aid is not contemplated within the treaty’s provisions.

      There has never been a criminal investigation in this country of Hunter Biden, and the request for incriminating evidence came from the President and from the President’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act does impute liability for bribing foreign officials to both corporations and individuals doing business in the US. I’m not a lawyer, but it seems a stretch for this act to cover Hunter Biden for charges (unsubstantiated, as yet) that as an agent of a Ukrainian company he engaged in corrupt acts (unspecified, as yet) with Ukrainians (unidentified, as yet) in the Ukraine.

      You may be able to enter “encouragement from a president” in this year’s Euphemism Sweepstakes. In fact, I think you’ve got a winner. The President of the United States withheld military aid from a country to get that country to bring criminal charges against a private US citizen for the purpose of embarrassing one of the President’s political opponents. In doing so, he enlisted his personal lawyer and asked the President of the Ukraine to cooperate with that lawyer.

      Delete
    16. The designated authority does not “trump” the constitutionally vested authority of the executive.

      Pres. Zelensky has not characterized the phone call as you’ve described.

      Delete
    17. Cecelia,

      Generally speaking, the powers of the federal government are enumerated, which means that the chief executive doesn’t get to expand the powers of the office of the executive beyond what he finds in Article II of the Constitution.

      The only authority that seems in way relevant to your concerns is the one that empowers the President to take care that US law is faithfully executed. At the time of Trump’s extortion, Hunter Biden had not been suspected of, investigated for, or charged with breaking any laws by anyone in the US government. I haven’t seen anyone provide a cite to the United States Code under which HB could have been prosecuted, assuming he was malfeasant in some way, which no one else has detailed either.

      It would have been bad enough had Trump made his own “criminal referral” to some United States Attorney. But he sought to extort Ukraine into finding violations of Ukrainian law. I can’t find the authority to do that in the Constitution. Maybe you can point me to article and clause.

      As for the “designated authority” (the treaty calls it the Central Authority), let me remind you that Article VI makes treaties part of the supreme law of the land. Trump acts as though he’s not bound by any such consideration, but that’s as may be.

      Pres. Zelensky has not characterized the phone call as you’ve described.

      The extorted doesn’t want to anger his extortionist. Color me unsurprised.

      I’ve read the “transcript” Trump released. It was in English (of which I happen to be a native speaker), not Ukrainian, so I don’t need Zelensky to “characterize” anything for me.

      Delete
    18. …the constitutionally vested authority of the executive.

      We know, Cec, the Acting President has Article 2 which means he can do anything he wants. Just ask him.

      Delete
    19. The problem with proving extortion is the ambiguity.

      Person A threatening Person B may begin by reminding B how much A does for B.

      OTOH Person A asking a favor of Person B may begin by reminding B how much A does for B.

      One may believe that Trump was implicitly making a threat, but he never explicitly did so. IMHO it's ridiculous to impeach a President for what he didn't say, buy which you think he implicitly meant.

      P.S. Biden DID make an implicit threat and then boasted about its effectiveness. Thank goodness this scandal destroyed Biden's candidacy. He is too dumb to be a good President.

      And so I got Ukraine. And I remember going over, convincing our team, our leaders to—convincing that we should be providing for loan guarantees. And I went over, I guess, the 12th, 13th time to Kiev. And I was supposed to announce that there was another billion-dollar loan guarantee. And I had gotten a commitment from Poroshenko and from Yatsenyuk that they would take action against the state prosecutor. And they didn’t.

      So they said they had—they were walking out to a press conference. I said, nah, I’m not going to—or, we’re not going to give you the billion dollars. They said, you have no authority. You’re not the president. The president said—I said, call him.

      (Laughter.)

      I said, I’m telling you, you’re not getting the billion dollars. I said, you’re not getting the billion. I’m going to be leaving here in, I think it was about six hours. I looked at them and said: I’m leaving in six hours. If the prosecutor is not fired, you’re not getting the money. Well, son of a bitch. (Laughter.) He got fired. And they put in place someone who was solid at the time.


      Listen for yourself at https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2019/09/27/flashback_2018_joe_biden_brags_at_cfr_meeting_about_withholding_aid_to_ukraine_to_force_firing_of_prosecutor.html

      Delete
    20. I'm with David. Who cares what Trump was implying when he explicitly asked Russia to hack DNC servers. (Russia, if you're listening...).
      Impeach the mothetfucker already

      Delete
  13. Somerby demonstrates once again that he is a Trumptard and that his tribe is the tribe of Trumptards. The Others he refers to are liberals.

    Note that Somerby doesn't even pretend to be a media critic, he goes right into his full blooded defense of Trump. He is truly a 'useless idiot' for Trump

    ReplyDelete
  14. I continue to read Somerby because of the excellent fact-checking (and logic-checking) that he too infrequently does of BOTH parties.  But good GOD is it difficult to wade through his many other not-so-excellent posts.

    Impeachment does not "take the decision about who is president out of voters' hands." Even if the House votes in favor of impeachment (which they clearly should), it is a near certainty that the Republicans in the Senate will prevent Trump's removal.
      
    But even IF trump were removed after impeachment, to say that this process takes things "out of voters' hands" is a metaphorical, oversimplified, somewhat demagogic, and in one sense inaccurate way of wording things. For one thing, the people who would be removing trump from office were elected by the voters!  They are OUR representatives.  Were they to remove trump, they would likely be following the will of just as many (probably more) voters as the roughly 63 million people who voted for trump.  Secondly, those 63 million voters only represent about 27% of eligible voters! So if trump's removal takes the presidency out of anyone's hands, we're talking about the hands of only 27% of eligible voters. Third, as Somerby points out, trump got nearly 3 million FEWER votes than his rival. So the "decision about who is president" was ALREADY taken out of voters' hands -- by the electoral college. Fourth, if it weren't for illegal interference by a hostile foreign power, voter suppression, and James Comey's wrongful, unprecedented interference in the election, trump would never have become president. He is an illegitimate president. Fifth, if impeachment is ever going to be warranted, it is warranted in the case of trump. I would guess that on average, since trump's presidency began, there has been at least one new news story a week that has reported conduct that is arguably impeachable. The following column lists just a fraction of the arguably impeachable offenses trump has committed:  https://wapo.st/2lEbq1k

    Somerby has said over and over and over (and over and over and over) that trump might be mentally ill, and that this should be a central focus of our national discourse. But to what end? The only reason to make this a central focus of the national discourse would be to find out whether trump actually IS mentally ill.  Well, what happens if it's determined that he is?  He would presumably (and hopefully) be removed from office in a way that "takes the decision about who is president out of the voters' hands" -- the very thing that Somerby laments in today's post!!

    Also, it amazes me how someone with Somerby's background in analytical philosophy and careful analysis of language so readily and repeatedly throws around a term like "downside." He says multiple times that a "downside" of impeachment is that it takes the decision of who's president out of the hands of the voters. But "downside" is a completely subjective term. Whether a given thing is a "downside" is wholly a matter of an individual's preferences.

    Also, as Somerby does nearly every day, in today's post he engages in the very thing he constantly accuses liberals of doing:  he expresses moral condemnation/disgust about an entire group of people (liberals), painting them all with the same brush. And yet he condemns liberals when they do this same thing towards Trump supporters.  And when he does this, isn't Somerby assuming his own moral superiority over other liberals?  Isn't he "virtue signaling"?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mike L,

      A couplea things:

      1. You missed one on the misleading nature of the “out-of-voters hands” argument. If Trump is removed from office on conviction upon impeachment, and Pence thereby becomes President, then exactly the same set of voters who voted for the impeached President would have voted for his successor, and on the understanding that he might have to pinch hit.

      2. “Downside” isn’t strictly individual preference. We can infer there’s a downside to impeachment from the Constitution (which restricts its grounds and makes conviction difficult) and from political practice, including opinion on the last two impeachments of Presidents.

      3. TDH is against demonizing “the Other,” i.e., those in the opposing political camp. TDH is ostensibly a jeremiah, castigating his own. Perhaps this is a clue as to why some here are so eager to label him a right-winger and Trump supporter.

      4. Given your cogent and well-argued comment, I think your efforts are wasted here. Welcome, but wasted nevertheless.

      Delete
    2. Deadrat: I agree with most of that.
      Anon: If you've been a careful reader of TDH for long enough, you know that Somerby is most certainly no "Trumptard." He's just trying too hard in his self-appointed role of bridge builder.

      Delete
    3. I did read him (occasionally) as far back as 2004. Whatever he was then, he's clearly a Trumptard now.

      Delete
    4. Or perhaps the better term is a would-be 'useful idiot for Trump'. Fortunately, he lacks the audience to be useful to Trump, so he is actually a 'useless idiot for Trump'

      Delete
    5. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    6. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    7. Third try.

      Agree with deadrat about ML's analysis: Cogent and well-argued, and most welcome.

      There are other underlying problems, however, not necessarily confined to the Presidency. And Bob’s focus on disenfranchising voters should an impeachment be achieved, with the President being removed from office by the Senate (a dubious proposition if ever there were one), is dubious in itself. Not sure why he took that tack.

      Maybe he thinks like the doomsayer Chris Hedges, who believes impeachment won’t change a damn thing. I read his stuff and embrace it, at the same time wanting to push it away.

      The Problem with Impeachment

      Who can tell the future? It’s not impossible if the telling is based on probabilities, I suppose, but if we are a nation of laws (ha ha!) then the President has met the standards required for impeachment in my view. Let the chips fall where they may. Otherwise, the law is meaningless. QED.

      Leroy

      Delete
  15. What we learned from TDH defenders:

    Nobody reads this blog. (Apparently Somerby likes pointlessly writing and publishing a blog. i.e. He is vain and narcissistic).

    Somerby offers no educational solutions, or discusses articles about educational solutions, because he doesn’t have the expertise. (He is an ignoramus, in other words).

    Somerby’s blog is a parody. (Of what, is entirely unclear. But it implies that his whole blog is a fraud).

    Liberals should be able to read TDH without stating any disagreement, because, even though his blog is a daily listing of purported liberal failures and a minimizing or disappearing of GOP perfidy, and even though he clearly dislikes liberals, liberals must pass over it in silence, because, unlike those right wing blogs that attack liberals daily, liberals shouldn’t push back against Somerby because he claims to be a liberal. (When he makes that claim, should he be taken seriously? Or is it like his analysts, fake, a joke? Why must liberals accept being trashed simply because a liberal is doing the trashing?)

    These “defenses” make this blog seem like a joke, not worthy of engaging with if you disagree with it. What kind of defender defends their guy this way?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What we learned from TDH defenders:

      We? Another commenter with a hamster in his pocket. The last one named his hamster and talks to him about political issues of the day. How about you?

      Nobody reads this blog.

      That’s my somewhat-hyperbolic guess from the number of links to TDH from other sources.

      (Apparently Somerby likes pointlessly writing and publishing a blog. i.e. He is vain and narcissistic).

      Apparently, we both like pointlessly writing and publishing comments on a blog nobody reads. Does that make us vain and narcissistic? (Well, to be fair, I am. How about you?)

      Somerby offers no educational solutions, or discusses articles about educational solutions, because he doesn’t have the expertise. (He is an ignoramus, in other words).

      TDH has never offered any credentials for offering educational solutions. If he’s ignorant about the field, is that some disgrace? I expect most people are that kind of ignoramus. If he is that ignorant, isn’t better that he not offer uninformed solutions?

      Somerby’s blog is a parody. (Of what, is entirely unclear. But it implies that his whole blog is a fraud).

      I’m not sure that was a serious charge.

      Liberals should be able to read TDH without stating any disagreement

      Who says this? I certainly don’t mind criticizing TDH when I don’t agree with him.

      because, even though his blog is a daily listing of purported liberal failures and a minimizing or disappearing of GOP perfidy, and even though he clearly dislikes liberals, liberals must pass over it in silence, because, unlike those right wing blogs that attack liberals daily, liberals shouldn’t push back against Somerby

      Can you quote a “defender” of TDH who insists that critics remain silent? I can’t think of anyone on this commentariat who’s made such a claim.

      because he claims to be a liberal. (When he makes that claim, should he be taken seriously? Or is it like his analysts, fake, a joke? Why must liberals accept being trashed simply because a liberal is doing the trashing?)

      Right-wingers criticize liberals. TDH criticizes liberals. So TDH is a right-winger? Pretty much makes TDH’s point about tribalism, dontchathink?

      These “defenses” make this blog seem like a joke, not worthy of engaging with if you disagree with it. What kind of defender defends their guy this way?

      Thanks for putting the word defenses in scare quotes. Because they’re defenses not deployed, just straw men for you to knock down.

      But if this blog isn’t worthy of engaging with disagreement, why are you here?

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    3. "But if this blog isn’t worthy of engaging with disagreement, why are you here? "

      For the same reason I read "Red State" and watch Fox News.

      Delete
    4. Sorry, but I can't think of any good reason to read Red State or watch Fox News.

      Delete
    5. 'Right-wingers criticize liberals. TDH criticizes liberals. So TDH is a right-winger? Pretty much makes TDH’s point about tribalism, dontchathink?'

      When TDH spends 99% of his bandwidth criticizing liberals and defending the likes of Trump and Roy Moore, then it's not tribalism to claim he is a right-winger. It's just common sense to say that he is a Trumptard.

      Certainly makes far more sense then saying that TDH is a liberal because he uses phrases like 'we liberals' (almost always to bash liberals).

      Delete
    6. "we liberals"
      Another blogger with a hamster in his pocket.

      Delete
    7. Today's reading is from the Book of Jeremiah, Chapter 26, Verse 12 (MDV*)

      Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, “The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard. Therefore now amend your ways and your doings.”

      Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets, “Fuck this guy who spends all his time criticizing Israelites. It’s just common sense to say that he’s an Amalekite.”


      *Modern Day Version

      Delete
    8. Another blogger with a hamster in his pocket.

      Gave me a laugh. Thanks.

      But you get that when commenters use the first person plural, they're just pompously referring to themselves, but when TDH uses it, he can name other people in the group, right?

      Delete
    9. It's just common sense to say that he is a Trumptard.

      Of course it is. But common sense doesn’t always make much real sense. Pretty much the point of this blog: people are quick to turn to group narrative and draw the line between Us and the Other. Woe unto him that crosses the line by criticizing Us.

      TDH spends 99% of his time criticizing liberals because that’s what this blog is about. His topics are the laziness of the liberal press, their delight in scandal, their addiction to narrative-driven group think, and so on. If you think that’s what feral Trumpers talk about, guess again.

      There’s plenty to criticize TDH for without going tribal. His reading rarely strays beyond the same few media outlets he hates; his assumption that we can deduce mental states from actions is overly broad; his ignorance of science is both wide and deep and often leads him astray. And so on. Who cares whether TDH is “really” a liberal? He’s either got valid points or he doesn’t. If the latter, you should be able to point that out without throwing him into the void of the Other.

      But you can’t seem to do that. Thus making TDH’s point for him.

      You can’t name a single thing that TDH has written to defend Trump. TDH thinks Trump is insane and likely to start a war that will end the world as we know it.

      You can’t name a single thing that TDH has written to defend Roy Moore. TDH was disgusted by reporters who couldn’t stop talking about the age gap between Moore and the women he dated, women who were too young in the reporters’ judgment, but who were nevertheless adults. TDH pointed out that these same reporters didn’t talk so much about the “credible” (TDH’s word) accusation of assault made by a woman against Moore, an assault that happened when the woman was an underage girl.

      Delete
    10. Occam's Razor. Somerby spends his time criticizing liberals and gallantly defending Moore and Trump (an occasional comment about Trump's mental illness notwithstanding) because he is a Trumptard.

      That is the simpler explanation and the most likely one.

      Delete
    11. deadrat,
      Somerby never names other liberals in his group. He names mainstream media members from Right-wing rags like the NY Times.

      Delete
    12. Occam's Razor

      Don't cut yourself on it, Sparky.

      TDH has never once "defended" either Trump or Moore. If he had, you would be able to quote him to that effect. Go ahead and prove me wrong. You won't, of course, because you can't.

      That is the simpler explanation and the most likely one.

      You don't even understand Occam. Imagine my surprise.

      Delete
    13. Somerby never names other liberals in his group.

      Our Own Rhodes Scholar comes to mind.

      Delete
    14. Somerby gallantly defended Moore dozens of times during the Oct 2017 period.

      October 2017: I've read 'em all. Multiple times. Back up your claim with direct quotes or stop lying about this. Time to put up or shut up. Of course, you won't quote TDH on this because you can't.

      he was nitpickng [sic] about the Turnbery [sic] airpot [sic] with some wrong info

      He misread a claim and got his Scottish geography mixed up. Big deal. In my opinion, TDH missed the salient point in his criticism of the airport reporting, but it didn't involve road distances. You can't even figure that much out.

      You keep calling TDH "useless"; I keep waiting for the irony and self-awareness fairies to show up at your place at the same time.

      Delete
    15. Somerby causally mentioned the illegal part of Moore's conduct and then spent numerous columns defending Moore gallantly. Somerby clearly wanted Moore to win, but was unable to do so.Even his defence of Trump is flawed. Hence, he is a useless idiot for Trump :)

      Delete
    16. The major reason I post here from time to time is since some people seem to be under the delusion that Somerby is some kind of liberal because he uses the phrase 'we liberals' from time to time. I consider it important to point out that while Somerby may have been a liberal at one point, now all his postings should be seen as an attempt to lie concern Troll Dems, defend Trump and Moore.

      In short, he is a Trumptard, and his tribe is the tribe of Trumptards.

      Delete
    17. So no quotes from TDH "gallantly defending" Moore? That's because you're lying and there aren't any. Numerous columns? Then it shouldn't be that hard to quote TDH to the effect that you claim. My challenge remains as long as you keep lying about this.

      Odd that you think it a "casual" matter that TDH criticized the media for not paying enough attention to a credible accusation against Moore of sexual assault, an accusation made by a woman who was underage at the time. I think the Gadsden Mall Creeper is a repellent human being, but his consensual relationships with adult women are none of my business, your business, or anybody else’s.

      I don't know for sure what TDH “clearly” wanted, but here’s TDH on 12/5/17:

      There's a great deal to criticize in the realm of Roy Moore's public conduct. Routinely, Moore's public conduct has proven too extreme even for Alabama conservative elites, as well as for substantial numbers of Alabama Republican voters.

      Not much of an endorsement, eh?

      Delete
    18. 'I think the Gadsden Mall Creeper is a repellent human being, but his consensual relationships with adult women are none of my business, your business, or anybody else’s.'

      Uhh, he was running for public office under the banner of being a God Fearing, Upright Christian who wanted to bring the Ten Commandments back to Government. His hypocrisy is most definitely public business.

      An occasional paragraph criticizing Moore doesn't make up for Somerby's continual defense of Moore. Even Many Republicans didn't defend Moore. Only those loyal to the tribe of Trump (i.e. Trumptards) did so. Hence, Somerby is a Trumptard who wants Trump to win so he can spend the rest of his life bitching about the 2000 elections.

      Delete
    19. Uhh, he was running for public office under the banner of being a God Fearing, Upright Christian who wanted to bring the Ten Commandments back to Government. His hypocrisy is most definitely
      public business.


      Where does it say in the Bible that men shouldn’t date 19-year old women? The problems with Roy Moore in public office are wide and deep, starting with the fact that he’s a theocrat who wants to “bring the Ten Commandments back to Government.” But his legal, consensual relationships with adult women are of interest only to blue-nosed snoops. Would you have been in favor of impeaching Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas back in the day?

      Somerby's continual defense of Moore.

      You're lying.

      Quote him defending Moore. Put up or shut up. (PU|SU, from now on.)

      Delete
    20. Somerby gallantly defended Moore’s sleazy actions. Note that his Moore actions chasing barely legal women are very definitely relevant in evaluating Moore as a candidate and in assessing the credibility of his underage accusers

      But Somerby expended lots of bandwidth about relationships with young women while brushing off Moore’s actions with the underaged


      So yes, he fervently defended Moore, just as his continual nitpicking (has often falsely) about anti-Trump stories is a defense. Somerby is a Trumptard, whose sole goal is to attack liberals. And those who claim he is a liberal are delusional

      Delete
    21. Still can't find those quotes, eh? Quit lying.

      PU|SU

      Delete
    22. Moore is your standard Rightwing hypocrite, standing at his pulpit to condemn the the sinners, only to shrug and note "we are all sinners" when his own sins are pointed out.

      Delete
    23. deadrodent, you clearly don't see 'Somerby expended lots of bandwidth about relationships with young women while brushing off Moore’s actions with the underaged' as a defense of Moore. Just as you don't see his nitpicking (often inaccurately) about Trump scandals a defense of Trump. I see it as the actions of
      1) a Moore-on
      2) A Trumptard
      3) Somerby
      4) All of the above

      Delete
    24. I agreed with the Jeremiah comparison,deadrat, until you mentioned the Amalekites.

      I thought your tribe was the Amalekites.

      Delete
    25. while brushing off Moore’s actions with the underaged

      Liar. TDH criticized the media for not paying attention to the "credible" (his word) accusation of assault by a woman who was underage at the time.

      PU|SU

      nitpicking (often inaccurately)

      Liar. Quote him. And it will take more than his getting the distance between an airport and Glasgow wrong.

      PU|SU

      Delete
    26. TDH casually mentions the underage accusations in passing, but then focuses on behavior with barely of age women as if it was the only issue.

      Most of Somerby's posts are nitpicking. I only mention the airport story because it's very recent.
      Somerby is a Trumptard

      Somerby is a useless idiot for Trump, and his defenders are also water carriers for Trump.

      Delete
    27. Just before 2017 elections, Somerby went off concern trolling about the VA elections. And when Dems did very well, he bitched about how turnout didn't reach 2016 levels (of course it wouldn't in a gubernatorial election).

      Somerby wants liberals to lose elections.

      Delete
    28. Cecelia,

      No, no. I'm Jebusite on my mother's side and mostly Girgashite from my father's.

      Delete
  16. At Daily Kos, a diary quotes Jim Sciutto at CNN:

    "A person directly involved in the discussions said that the removal of the Russian was driven, in part, by concerns that President Donald Trump and his administration repeatedly mishandled classified intelligence and could contribute to exposing the covert source as a spy."

    The problem here isn't that Trump, in his stupidity, might say the wrong thing, or believing himself to be the arbiter of what is classified and what is not, might brag about his knowledge -- the problem is that Trump has no loyalty to the US and would, at Putin's request, tell him who the asset was. Putin has wanted to track down his enemies and there is no evidence that if he pressured Trump, that Trump would resist. Trump is Putin's lapdog (now I finally understand Somerby's repeated references to "The Lady with the Lapdog").

    I do not understand why Trump wasn't removed from office a long time ago, but now that things are moving along, the sonner he goes, the better.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. (The story is about the extraction from Russia of a high-level source who was spying for us.)

      WaPo is more circumspect, noting that the CIA made the first offer to get the spy out of Russia in 2016 before Trump was elected.

      the problem is that Trump has no loyalty to the US and would, at Putin's request, tell him who the asset was.

      I’d phrase is a bit differently. Trump has no concept of loyalty beyond his immediate family. That combined with his enormous ego would lead him to disclose classified information to impress Putin.

      Trump is Putin's lapdog (now I finally understand Somerby's repeated references to "The Lady with the Lapdog”).

      Trump’s groveling before dictators is disgusting, but I’d be careful with your literary interpretation. In English, we use lapdog to describe a weak and easily-controlled person. Is that the case for Russian? I don’t know; I don’t speak Russian.

      TDH quotes TLWTL to make his point that people are often convinced that their imaginary and simple solutions to complicated problems could actually obtain. In spite of repeated experience to the contrary. I think the lapdog is incidental to TDH’s point.

      Delete
    2. Trump would push his family off the highest building in town to protect himself. Ivanka doesn't count, because he doesn't look at her ash daughter, but rather as a piece of ass he wants to grab by the pu**y.

      Delete
  17. Am so happy to share this testimony thank you Dr Oduku i never believed i will be herpes negative again despite all i passed through Dr Oduku you are truly sent by God and you can also place your order for Dr Oduku roots and herbs medicine email odukuherbalremediess@gmail.com or what-app number +2347067706774.

    ReplyDelete
  18. if I were Democrats, I would stop worrying about Donald Trump and start talking to the American people about jobs and health care.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You mean like "Pocahontas" does, 6:24 pm?

      Delete
    2. Well, we can do better than her but kind of like Pocahontas. But I'm talking about talking about healthcare and and jobs consistently and en masse. Not lip service when you need a vote.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous @6:24P has a point. The Dems need to make the 2020 election a referendum on (among other things) your insurance company. Keep asking, "You know who wants to make your healthcare contingent on your pre-existing conditions? That's right, Donald Trump and his Republican toadies."

      But also impeach him. I don't even care if the Articles of Impeachment are delivered to a Senate where conviction requires 20 Republicans with spines and consciences, an oxymoronic combo. Impeach because the Constitution requires it. Then ignore it as a campaign issue in favor of highlighting the Republican malfeasance that affects everyday lives.

      Delete

  19. my ex boyfriend Peter and I.have been dating for 8 months, and we have been talking about getting married and spending the rest of our lives together. But things started to changed Peter he isn’t willingly to be fully committed relationship and every time we talk about these things with each other he keeps walking away and gets upset about it. also i was heartbroken,
    Thanks to the internet which has seems to have made everything more easy and possibilities to come out of difficult issues. At first when peter
    left me i didn’t have any idea on how to restore my relationship back, But through the internet i was able to get the details of this powerful spell caster
    called Dr.Noble whose details are:templeofjoyandprosperity1@gmail.com Call or WhatsApp: +2348145643630
    Whom i contacted and my broken relationship became restored within 11 hours,thanks Dr,your kindness will never be forgotten.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hello everyone out there, help me Thank Dr UGO! My name is MRS LINDA from Netherlands. I am here to give testimony on how I got my ex husband back, my husband left me for no reason 6 Months. He moved in with another woman, I felt like killing myself, my life became very bitter and sorrowful. Then 1 day, a friend of mine told me about a great spell caster that is very good and she said that he told her all about her life history and the problem she is facing, I didn't believe it because I've worked with so many of them and it didn't work. She begged me further so I decided to try this great spell caster called Great Dr UGO. I still didn't believe, but inside me I wanted to give a try and as God will have it, I used the spell solution he gave me and the next day I received a call from my darling husband Romero last month. He apologized and came back to me. I'm very happy now with my family it worked for me and I believe it will work for you too just give him a try and follow up this is a clear truth from a testifier. Thank you Dr UGO once again, if you want to reach him via email:(dr.ugo.temple@gmail.com) 

    ReplyDelete