Weekend Music

Earlier this week, we noted the 70th birthday of Bruce Springsteen, one of the great songwriters and performers of this era.  Watching Ken Burns' series "Country Music" on PBS the past two weeks reminded us of one of our favorite singers, Emmylou Harris.  So, what could be better than marrying the two über talents in one song, "Tougher Than The Rest," written by Springsteen and performed by Harris.  Hope you enjoy.

Putin: Don't Release My Calls With Trump

Russian thug Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier today that the Kremlin hopes that transcripts of phone calls between Putin and his U.S. asset, demagogue and con man Donald "The Chosen One" Trump would remain private, as the Associated Press reports:

"Asked if Moscow is worried that the White House could similarly publish transcripts of Trump’s calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that 'we would like to hope that it wouldn’t come to that in our relations, which are already troubled by a lot of problems.'”

That would certainly reveal the nature of the kompromat that the Kremlin has over Trump, whether it's financial dealings and/or promises he's made that would undermine U.S. national security. Unlike the situation with Ukraine, it would probably involve reverse shakedowns with Trump being the target.

Trump has a history of concealing conversations he's had with Putin, most notably at the Helsinki summit in the summer of 2018 and at the G-20 meeting in Hamburg, where he actually confiscated the interpreter's notes. Trump is adamant about keeping those private conversations out of public view, because they likely involve wrongdoing. The same can be said regarding his private meetings with such autocrats as Crown Prince Mohammed bin "Bone Saw" Salman of Saudi Arabia, North Korea's murderous tyrant Kim Jong Un,  and Turkey's strongman Recep Erdoğan.

In the whistleblower complaint regarding the Trump-Zelensky call, it was revealed that a secure system intended for code-word level intelligence was improperly used by White House staff to hide unclassified transcripts of Trump's improper communications with foreign leaders. How many more of these mob boss-like shakedowns are reflected in the calls? How many times has Trump put his personal political and financial interests above national security? We may not find out through the present impeachment inquiry, but at some future point they'll be made known, and further mark Trump as thoroughly corrupt and treasonous.

Former National Security And Foreign Policy Officials Support Impeachment Inquiry

The Washington Post reports this morning:

More than 300 former U.S. national security and foreign policy officials have signed a statement warning that President Trump’s actions regarding Ukraine are a “profound national security concern” and supporting an impeachment inquiry by Congress to determine “the facts.”

“To be clear, we do not wish to prejudge the totality of the facts or Congress’ deliberative process,” said the statement, released Friday. “At the same time, there is no escaping that what we already know is serious enough to merit impeachment proceedings.”

“As national security professionals, many of us have long been concerned with President Trump’s actions and their implications for our safety and security,” the statement said. “Some of us have spoken out, but many of us have eschewed politics throughout our careers and, as a result, have not weighed in publicly.

“The revelations of recent days, however, demand a response,” it said. “. . . President Trump appears to have leveraged the authority and resources of the highest office in the land to invite additional foreign interference into our democratic processes.”

The statement continued: “If we fail to speak up — and act — now our foreign policy and national security will officially be on offer to those who can most effectively fulfill the President’s personal prerogatives.”  (our emphasis)

That last sentence should be taken to heart by everyone who has served or is serving in our national security and foreign policy apparatus, or anywhere in our federal government for that matter.  Let's reduce it down:  the amoral clown in the Oval Office is a clear and present danger to the United States of America.  If you didn't know it or believe it before, you must certainly know it now.  Do what's right.

Tweets Of The Day -- Add Another Log To The Impeachment Fire

Trump told a crowd that "he wants to know who provided information to a whistle-blower... saying that whoever did so was 'close to a spy' and that 'in the old days,' spies were dealt with differently. The remark stunned people in the audience..."https://t.co/AFdnk3vmGb

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) September 26, 2019

Someone explain the extortion and intimidating a witness laws to this guy https://t.co/aFD3nN6SBk

— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) September 26, 2019

Threatening actual and potential witnesses, of course, constitutes obstruction of justice. https://t.co/cgOPxOXOCl

— George Conway (@gtconway3d) September 26, 2019

And this is *why* it's impeachable. This is the President suggesting that someone - a government employee who was just described by his own DNI as following the law and acting appropriately - should be harmed, just for ratting out improper conduct. https://t.co/vBibreyomE

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) September 26, 2019

Trump just threatened the whistleblower -- and actually all patriots -- with the prospect of the death penalty for putting country over despotism. This coward must be impeached and removed.

— John Weaver (@jwgop) September 26, 2019

Trump's authoritarian behavior—which includes attacking the press, scapegoating minorities, hiring cronies & family members, lying constantly, subverting rule of law, ethics violations & corruption, calling to jail rivals—now also includes a suggestion to execute a whistleblower.

— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) September 26, 2019

Just a totally normal day with the president of the united states thinking about deploying death squads against government whistleblowers

Say, are any newspapers working on editorials calling on him to resign or nah?

— Jamison Foser (@jamisonfoser) September 26, 2019

BONUS: On the afternoon that an unhinged and vindictive Trump calls for the whistleblower's execution, the effing New York Times publishes key information (no link) that comes close to identifying the whistleblower. These people (e.g., Michael Schmidt, et al) are fucked up and without conscience.

The New York Times jeopardized the life of a brave whistleblower all for a few web clicks.

Subscribing to the New York Times is no longer something a person of conscience can do in good faith.

— The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) September 26, 2019

More here.

Today's Cartoons -- Impeachment Inquiry Edition, Cont.

(click on images to enlarge)


(Jack Ohman, Sacramento Bee)


(Stuart Carlson, gocomics.com)


(Jim Morin, Miami Herald)


(Matt Davies, Newsday)


(Mike Smith, Las Vegas Sun)


(Walt Handelsman, The Advocate, New Orleans)


(John Cole, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, PA)


(Tom Toles, Washington Post)


(Bill Bramhall, New York Daily News)


(Steve Benson, gocomics.com)


(Steve Sack, Minneapolis Star Tribune)

Article Of Impeachment QOTD

"In the course of my official duties, I have received information from multiple U.S. Government officials that the President of the United States is using the power of his office to solicit interference from a foreign country in the 2020 U.S. election.  The interference includes, among other things pressuring a foreign country to investigate one of the President's main domestic political rivals. The President's personal lawyer, Mr. Rudolph Giuliani, is a central figure in this effort.  Attorney General Barr appears to be involved as well."  --  from the intelligence community whistleblower's complaint, released today, indicating both the original crimes and a criminal cover- up are at issue. 

Ukrainians "Understood" They Would Have To Discuss Biden To Get Call From Trump

Here's the first quid pro quo, which is confirmed in the released whistleblower complaint along with the details in the memorandum of call:

When Ukrainians voted to elect comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy as their next president in the spring of 2019, the fledgling administration was eager to coordinate a phone call with Kyiv’s most important benefactor -- the United States, according to a former adviser to Zelenskiy.

But after weeks of discussions with American officials, Ukrainian officials came to recognize a precondition to any executive correspondence, the former adviser said.

"It was clear that [President Donald] Trump will only have communications if they will discuss the Biden case," said Serhiy Leshchenko, an anti-corruption advocate and former member of Ukraine's Parliament, who had been a former adviser to Zelenskiy but has recently been distanced from the administration. "This issue was raised many times. I know that Ukrainian officials understood."  (our emphasis)

Who are those "American officials" who negotiated the phone call?  Non- official Trump consigliere Rudy "Ghouliani" Giuliani?   Someone from the State Department?  Justice?  They need to be exposed and, in a better world and time, prosecuted:  Giuliani for multiple crimes, or the "official" for criminal bribery and extortion and violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

As with the "ask" involving crime family head Donald "Rump" Trump that was exposed in the memorandum of call with the Ukrainian president, this shady maneuvering bears all the hallmarks of a mob shakedown, which is not surprising given his Mafia connections and mentoring by Roy Cohn. He doesn't know much, but he knows how the shakedown works.

218 and Counting

As of this morning, a critical mass of 217 House Democrats and one Independent (Michigan's Rep. Justin Amash) have come out in favor of proceeding with an impeachment inquiry. The number will undoubtedly grow, as 18 Dems remain undecided or opposed. Interestingly, the New York Times' list includes a number of Republican members who have decided to quit (e.g., Will Hurd, Martha Roby, etc.) as "awaiting response." There's still time for them to put their country over their party, not that we hold out any hope.

Testimony Today On Whistleblower Complaint (UPDATE -- Whistleblower Complaint Released)

Starting at 9 a.m. Eastern time, the House Intelligence Committee will hear the testimony of Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire on the Trump-Zelensky phone call whistleblower complaint. What gives his testimony in open session more weight is the fact that Maguire had reportedly threatened to resign if he were forced to ignore a subpoena to testify. Will he make a full disclosure? We'll see.

Yesterday's release of a summary of the Trump-Zenensky call has sent shockwaves through Washington, as lawmakers and others focus on the clear quid pro quo proffered by demagogue and lawless buffoon Donald "Rump" Trump to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky that boiled down to Trump's phrase "I would like you to do us a favor though..." immediately after Zelensky's mention of buying more anti-tank Javelin missiles from the U.S.  What followed was Trump's call for Ukraine to "investigate" former VP Joe Biden and his son's activities in Ukraine.

Ukraine was counting on the provision of nearly $400 million in U.S. military aid to oppose Russia's aggression in the eastern Ukrainian region of the Donbass, which Trump had held up just days before the phone call. Trump has repeatedly favored Russian interests in the region and has routinely expressed his belief that Russian didn't interfere in the 2016 elections despite his own intelligence community's conclusive evidence that it had. Ukraine should be under no illusions about where they stand with the corrupt Trump: as a pawn to extract bogus dirt on his political opponent.

UPDATE: Read the whistleblower complaint here. It's incredibly damning and implicates the corrupt William Barr, Trump's defense attorney and ersatz Attorney General among others. Clearest case for abuse of power and more.

Mid-Week Boss Songs

A very happy birthday to one of the true greats, Bruce Springsteen, who turned a young 70 on Monday. An acclaimed musician, singer and songwriter, Springsteen has earned his nickname "The Boss" over five decades of creating compelling, socially conscious and finely crafted songs that have earned him an incredible 20 Grammys, an Academy Award, two Golden Globes, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. We feature four of his songs in acknowledgement of that long, and continuing career, the first two from years ago, the second two of more recent vintage. Enjoy.

Tweets Of The Day -- Keep Calm And Carry On

“Will this fire up Trump’s base” is a good question, but it seems like there are endless issues/fights that are Firing Up Trump’s base. By contrast, the Democrats’ base was watching them fold and whimper and clearly getting sick of it.

— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) September 24, 2019

The “Trump really loves being impeached and he's actually laughing and thinks it's funny and he’s got Dems right where he wants them” takes not looking so hot. https://t.co/V08pMM1k5O

— Brian Beutler (@brianbeutler) September 24, 2019

"Why public support for impeachment may grow" https://t.co/Amq3vXeo1u

— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) September 25, 2019

Not to mention, it has the virtue of being the right and only thing to do under the circumstances.

OTOH: 

#Russia is not ready to dump Trump:
Kremlin-controlled state TV hosts throw buckets of mud on #Ukraine, insist it should investigate Biden and conclude that "Republican majority in the Senate won’t allow President Donald Trump—whom we elected— to be impeached. It’s impossible." pic.twitter.com/d7NL1mL4Bp

— Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) September 25, 2019

"whom we elected"... Mmmhmm.

Today's Cartoons -- Impeachment Edition

(click on images to enlarge)


(Mike Luckovich, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)


(Daryl Cagle, darylcagle.com)


(Dave Granlund, davegranlund.com)


(Emad Hajjaj, AD-DUSTOUR, Amman, Jordan)


(Tim Campbell, Washington Post Writers Group)


(Nate Beeler, Counterpoint)
 
(Rob Rogers, Counterpoint)


(Drew Sheneman, The Star-Ledger, Newark, NJ)


(Steve Sack, Minneapolis Star Tribune)


(Nick Anderson, Washington Post Writers Group)


(Tom Toles, Washington Post)


(Clay Bennett, Chattanooga Times Free Press)

Quid Meet Quo

From the memorandum of the call (not a "transcript"!) between corrupt demagogue Donald "Rump" Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelinsky, we see the quid pro quo unspool  (middle of p. 2.):

(Trump): We do a lot for Ukraine... the United States has been very good to Ukraine... I wouldn’t say it’s reciprocal necessarily because things are happening that are not good but the United States has been very very good to Ukraine.”  (our emphasis)

 Then (bottom of p. 2.)

(Zelinsky) "I would like to thank you for your great support in the area of defense. We are ready to continue to cooperate for the next steps, specifically we are almost ready to buy more Javelins from the United States for defense purposes."

(Trump): "I would like you to do us a favor, though..." (our emphasis)

Trump goes on to ask Ukraine to look at the provision of information used by Robert Mueller's investigators in prosecuting Paul Manafort, and Zelinsky helpfully notes that his assistants have met with deranged Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani. Trump then continues (top of p. 4):

(Trump): The other thing, There's a lot of talk about Biden's son, that Biden stopped the prosecution and a lot of people want to find out about that so whatever you can do with the Attorney General would be great. Biden went around bragging that he stopped the prosecution so if you ·can look into it..." (our emphasis)

As former Trump fixer Michael Cohen noted in testimony before Congress, Trump doesn't ask directly for things, but uses innuendo and implications to make a point, much like an organized crime figure would if he thought his phone were tapped. This is a "wink wink" quid pro quo delivered in Trump's style.

BONUS:

Quid, meet quo. https://t.co/agt0oDCvpT

— George Conway (@gtconway3d) September 25, 2019

The transcript is even worse than we could have imagined. If this is what the White House thinks will paint Trump in a *good* light...

— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) September 25, 2019

If this is the part the White House wanted us to see, what else is out there?

— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) September 25, 2019

Any other presidency would be over. Today.

— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) September 25, 2019

Breaking: Intelligence Community IG referred a criminal complaint to the Justice Dept to investigate whether the president’s pushing Ukraine to investigate Biden was a violation of campaign finance law. DOJ’s criminal division last week determined not to open an investigation

— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) September 25, 2019

(photo: "You understand the deal, capisce?)

Ukraine Phone Call Notes Released. Now, Lock Them Up!

UPDATE:  A "Memorandum of Telephone Conversation" -- not a verbatim transcript -- of the call between Trump and the Ukrainian president has been released.  Here's the link.  Joe and Hunter Biden come up directly and are inferred at other times. (We'll have another post up on this soon.) Once again, the whistleblower complaint is the missing piece that Congress and we all want to see.

We have several good reads on power mad, frothing Trump consigliere Rudy "Ghouliani" Giuliani's involvement in the effort to involve Ukraine in the 2020 election.

First, in a must- read, the Washington Post details how career professionals were sidelined in order for Ghouliani to operate freely:

President Trump’s attempt to pressure the leader of Ukraine followed a months-long fight inside the administration that sidelined national security officials and empowered political loyalists — including the president’s personal lawyer, Rudolph W. Giuliani — to exploit the U.S. relationship with Kiev, current and former U.S. officials said.

The sequence, which began early this year, involved the abrupt removal of the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, the circumvention of senior officials on the National Security Council, and the suspension of hundreds of millions of dollars of aid administered by the Defense and State departments — all as key officials from these agencies struggled to piece together Giuliani’s activities from news reports.

Several officials described tense meetings on Ukraine among national security officials at the White House leading up to the president’s phone call on July 25, sessions that led some participants to fear that Trump and those close to him appeared prepared to use U.S. leverage with the new leader of Ukraine for Trump’s political gain.

As those worries intensified, some senior officials worked behind the scenes to hold off a Trump meeting or call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky out of concern that Trump would use the conversation to press Kiev for damaging information on Trump’s potential rival in the 2020 race, former vice president Joe Biden, and Biden’s son Hunter.

The Post's Greg Sargent has a timeline of the Trump-Ukraine scandal, in which you'll note Ghouliani operates as Trump's alter ego.

Former U.S. Attorney Mimi Rocah describes under what laws Ghouliani could be prosecuted, though she is realistic in her appraisal that the Justice Department under William "Low" Barr isn't going to pursue charges:

There are several different federal laws that might apply to Giuliani’s conduct here. Most obviously, Giuliani appears to be in violation of the Logan Act, which makes it a crime for private citizens who attempt to intervene without authorization in disputes or controversies between the United States and foreign governments. He is Trump’s personal lawyer, not a government official, and so his involvement is clearly a complicating, detrimental element for U.S. diplomatic interests. Ukraine officials need to know who is speaking for the president and, as Ukrainian journalist Serhiy Leshchenko wrote this week, who is trying to “drag” Ukraine into a U.S. presidential election.

More significant, Giuliani and Trump’s reported actions raise the real specter of a federal criminal bribery and extortion conspiracy. While Attorney General William Barr has made it clear that he will not prosecute Trump due to current DOJ policy, Giuliani enjoys no such privilege or immunity. And, while the factual record is not fully developed, federal investigations are opened every day against people with far less known and incriminating information. Any objective prosecutor, I believe, would agree with that.

As explained by my colleague, former U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade, in the Daily Beast, it is a crime under the federal bribery statute for a public official to demand anything of value in exchange for performing an official act. Additionally, the Hobbs Act defines extortion as "obtaining property from another, with his consent, under color of official right." [snip]

And, if Giuliani assisted or agreed to assist this scheme — even if he did not fully adopt the entire plan — may have aided and abetted or conspired to commit those same crimes. In addition, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act makes it illegal for a U.S. citizen to corruptly offer “anything of value” to a foreign official to retain business or influence an official decision.

Cleaning out the traitors and crooks from our government and allowing the rule of law to proceed should mean that Ghouliani rightly has as much to fear about the future as the odious mob boss he works for.

BONUS:  Let's not forget AG William "Low" Barr in all of this.  May need a double- wide cell --

it seems possible that bill barr is the most corrupt attorney general in american history and is up to his forehead in criminal conduct https://t.co/tqsDUjgien

— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) September 25, 2019

Here it is, the moment Bill Barr couldn't quite answer whether anyone at the White House had asked Bill Barr to open an investigation. This was in May,  right around the time Rudy was kicking the Ukraine scheme into high gear.

Bill Barr was under oath here. https://t.co/ItUFrOvnGc

— Jennifer Hayden (@Scout_Finch) September 25, 2019

(Image:  screenshot of Ghouliani sweating it out on Fox "News" last night.)

Is This "The Thing?"

Stephen Colbert's monologue last night got a standing ovation at the mention of the impeachment inquiry, included a great imitation of Bernie Sanders, and provided the identification of the whistleblower (hint: her name rhymes with Belania). Good times.