Impeachment Hearing: Day 4

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump

“White House Confidence Grows As Hearings Wear On.” @WashTimes This is just an attempted takedown of the Republican Party by the Do Nothing Democrats. It will never work. #2020

My god, if anyone didn't know what gaslighting was before they should now.,there are plenty of examples.

CNN hosts: Did Sondland think that what he saw was wrong?

Lol

He was one of the main players and coordinator.

So will Sondland plead the fifth?

Could make it much worse for him (and the president) if he does.

^Nah, remember he paid a million bucks to be a part of the action and drama.

Poor hottie Chris Cuomo is outside the capitol today freezing his beautiful ass off.

Here's for another great day! Let's do this!

Sondland's opening statement, everyone understood that it was Quid pro quo, Ukraine wasn't getting the defense funds without an investigation of Biden and the 2016 election.

And Sondland’s prepares remarks are that this was all done under the President’s orders!

Grab a jumbo popcorn for the Q&A...Republicans are going to shit themselves publicly today.

How many Representatives, besides Maloney, have a same-sex partner or spouse, does anyone know?

R8 and R9, are those actual statements?

Sondland opening statement obtained by @GloriaBorger: “First, Secretary Perry, Ambassador Volker and I worked with Mr. Rudy Giuliani on Ukraine matters at the express direction of the President of the United States. We did not want to work with Mr. Giuliani...

This is gonna be good!!!

R12, those are not exact quotes but they are the basically what is in his opening statement, he is about to throw everyone including the President and Vice President under the bus according to his opening statement.

And , Sondland says he brought bis concerns to Republican Senator Johnson. So, it doesn't matter about Schiff and the whistle blower. Republicans knew and did nothing.

OBVIOUSLY, IT WOULD SEEM that the repubs plan is to state that "sondland is a liar, a flip flopper who changes his story, so (like cohen) why should anyone believe him and he was also unqualified for the job (true) so he just didn't understand how it "works" and what the president and both presidents were trying to do... ONCE AGAIN, YET AGAIN, it's not what actually is the facts, it's everything else..

Its a bunch of dumb asses trying to win out over another bunch of dumb asses. Its a no win situation and guess who the dumb asses are who are responsible and footing this bill for it all.

Sondland smiling and joking around with his attorney like this is no big deal and a fun event.

omg I'm READY FOR THIS SHIT SHOW!!!

repubs are probably going to viciously attack Sondland lol gonna be delicious. No one will feel bad for him but I'm glad he's going to flip on Trump.

Here’s a link to Sondland’s opening statement. It’s going to go off like a nuclear bomb.

OMG I AM SO EXCITED

I knew Sondland was going to flip. Loyalty to Trump depends on the lackey being cash-strapped and needing access to Trump for potential money making purposes. Sondland has his own money and once he saw Stone get convicted he decided to save his own ass.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves... Sondland still has time to continue being a lying, Drumpf, ass licker!

Sondland is now driving the bus. Look out Rudy!

Sondland does not want to go to jail for lying a la Manafort, Flynn, Stone etc

surely he knows at this point if he lies his future will not be fun

It would be rather hard for him to disavow his opening statement at this point.

Sondland brought proof! There are text messages and emails which confirm his testimony!

(((DeanObeidallah))) @DeanObeidallah

Ladies and Gentlemen: Gordon Sondland just destroyed Trump. The GOP's only defense left is: "Trump did bad things but not bad enough to impeach and remove him." We need to fight against that. Trump needs to be held accountable. He must be impeached+removed! #ImpeachmentHearings

bitch I'm so here for this

I want to see mega meltdowns from Nunes, Jordan, Ratcliffe and Stefanik

I don't think anyone will feel bad for Sondland if repubs and Fox "News" tear into him. Seeing Sondland severely damage Trump will be fucking delicious

[quote]It would be rather hard for him to disavow his opening statement at this point.

Never underestimate a Rethug!

Sondland looks relaxed. Is this guy going to plead the 5th?

Sondland seem pissed that Schiff is stealing his thunder by reading from his opening statement

Yeah. Fo tRump and his sycophants this is pretty awful.

😂😂😂

I don’t understand how Sondland hasn’t resigned yet. How could he possibly keep his job after this.

For those of you who have real jobs and aren't watching live, attached link is to Sondland's official opening statement which he hasn't actually given yet but has made available in advance.

is Trump nervously watching with 20 cheeseburgers ready? or whatever the hell he heats in the morning?

I bet he eats when he's nervous and scared

Wrap it up Schiff, I want to hear from Sondlund

Ben Riley-Smith @benrileysmith

The word 'Trump' appears 24 times in Sondland's opening statement.

Sondland singing like a canary.

[quote] I don’t understand how Sondland hasn’t resigned yet. How could he possibly keep his job after this.

He paid a million dollars for that job, he wants to be fired so he can collect unemployment. JK

Apparently no pleading the 5th. He's gonna spill!

How the fuck does Schiff sit next to Nunes and not punch him in the face?

Why is that mf smirking like that all the time?

Why are there all of these discarded Depends packages in the Republican section of the chamber?!

Whenever Schiff comes on I have to mute. I can't.

Nunes completely oblivious that these talking points are about to change, as usual.

Sondland is too jovial, I am suspicious

Nunes again. I hate that man.

Nunes opens with sighs and eye rolls and references "day 5 of the circus" and fake Russian hoaxes.

Such a cunt.

it's really fucking obnoxious how the repubs take all the relevant buzz words about THEM and instead it project it on Democrats

Nunes saying "debunked conspiracy theory" that Trump campaign colluded with Russia? STFU cow man

Nunes is just repeating the same tired, ridiculous assertions that he has used each and every time he has spoken.

At least Nunes dropped the nude pictures of Trump line

Nunes just read a list of TRUE allegations against Trump and is calling them all "proven false"

I fucking despise this bastard. Damn you, deplorable area of California. He needs to be defeated next year

Yeah, but, every single one of those accusations are true! Nunes is not good at brainwashing.

R43 Schiff and Nunes’ loathing for each other is palpable. Even though they sit side by side each one stares straight ahead when the other one is speaking. They never look at each other.

Nunes really gives Ted Cruz stiff competition in the repellent category.

I wish Schiff would put as part of his opening:

Despite what Nunes is about to say, Russian interference was NOT a Hoax and as a reminder, all intelligence agencies have agreed that this is the truth. The only reason that Nunes continues to continue this malfeasance and attacks against our Intelligence community is because he hates America.

I give Schiff credit for keeping a poker face while Nunes acts like an idiot

Nunes is an asshole.

I love watching Schiff do a death stare straight ahead while Nunes sits next to him spouting insults. I envy the restraint. I'd be all up in the bitch's face.

I want to know how moderates and independents feel about what Nunes is saying. Do they believe him?

Nunes' suit looks like one Mr. Haney (the real one from Green Acres) would wear.

I can't wait until this gump watches this in 10 years.

LMFAO HE DID NOT JUST COMPARE TRUMP TO GEORGE WASHINGTON!!!!!!!!!!

Jesus, he's still talking?

R60 Schiff won’t look at Nunes even when Nunes addresses him directly.

why does Sondland look so happy?

I am afraid he is going to plead the 5th, he is too smirky

Everything's coming up Sondland!

everything's coming up Sondland

Perjury ain't freeeeee!

Here we go. Trump goes under the bus.

Gordon Sondland would have been better served to spend that million dollars on plastic surgery instead of buying an ambassadorship.

^ He’s drinking straight bourbon from that cup.

does Sondland just have resting happy happy face?

surely he has to know repubs are going to viciously attack him?

I still can't believe he's so dumb and arrogant as to think he could sit in an open air Kyiv cafe blabbing with Trump and no one would know, not even those at his own table never mind the Russians

I again standby not believing he spills the shit until he spills the shit.

That lawyer behind Sondland must have been hot when he was younger. Still handsome.

Moo-head Nunes needs to permanently incarcerated in solitary confinement, surrounded by every species of vermin on the planet.

r75 that's what I have been saying that I am afraid he will plead the 5th, he is buddies with Trump

[quote]I love watching Schiff do a death stare straight ahead

The Russians already knew what was going on, they have all along because they directed it. By allowing the Russians to hear his communications it was showing them that Trump and his administration were doing as told.

oops that was for r76

No one gives a shit, Sondland, get on with it.

Shit I need to get some work done but I am afraid I might miss something juicy

"Nothing to see here."

-- every damn Republican on the planet

R77 he looks like Mitt Romney to me.

lol Sondland says his parents raised him to be humble?

I think this guy is going to play dumb

Sondland: "talking to world leaders might be memorable to some but I do it all the time"

Sondland is rich. What does he have to lose really? His political career is over. Everybody knows he was totally unqualified. Blabbing in a public place on a cell phone would finish him. He can’t actually be confirmed for anything, he’s not qualified. Trump will start badmouthing him any second.

He’s also smart enough to know this is the only way he doesn’t go to prison. So why not throw Trump under the bus? He can probably get a job as a panelist on CNN for a while. Or run for President, there’s no qualifications for that job, unlike dog catcher.

so Sondland is blaming the State Department on his dishonest testimony the first time around for not releasing his materials

His defense is that because he speaks to people routinely he does not remember what they say?

Da Fuq?

IF that;s what you do and it's part of your job you SHOULD fucking remember.

R86 I'm getting hints of Rick Perry

is he backing out???

Sondland is blaming his lack of candidness on the State Department not allowing him access to his emails! Pompeo = thrown

His smiling is what used to be called whistling past the graveyard. Here’s his theme song.

Sondland is Jewish; I had no idea.

He is going to throw Rudy under the bus and save Trump

Sondland will provide email evidence that he says proves he kept NSC and State Department in the loop. “We kept the NSC apprised of our efforts, including, specifically, our efforts to secure a public statement from the Ukrainians that would satisfy President Trump’s concerns."

Throwing Giuliani under the bus!!! YESSSSSSSS

and "following the President's orders" omg omg omg

"at the time we did not believe his role were improper"

he claims not to have known Giuliani's intentions

we haven't heard from good ol' Rudy in a few days....I hope we get reaction today

He is throwing everyone under the bus. Maybe some more than others, but no one is getting off easy.

He's passing the buck and saying if I did something wrong, EVERYONE did something wrong. He's also pulling the 'I didn't know the law, so can't be held accountable for breaking it' card.

Throwing Pompeo, NSC leadership and WH under the bus!!

hot damn!

And there's the Fox soundbyte:

Nothing we did was inappropriate!

Can Rudy go to jail for this? Here it is straight from the horse’s mouth.

THIS IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR!!!

I think I'm gonna ejaculate hands-free during this hearing

That’s one HUGE bus 🚌

Sondland: "We followed the President's orders." [There was] "a Quid Pro Quo".

Sondland was adamantly opposed to suspension of aid? Where's the proof lol

Rick Wilson:

Sweet mother of God. Sondland is shoveling them under the bus wholesale.

He knew Giuliani was expressing Trump’s wishes.

Oh please Santa I have been good, please let this guy throw Rudy and Trumpy under the bus

R104 fact witness can characterize right or wrong but it holds no heft. They are not there is judge right or wrong.

omg someone put the camera on Nunes, Jordan, Ratcliffe and Stefanik faces RIGHT NOW. I need to see their reactions

So is Sondland now refusing to work with Rudy Giuliani, since he said he would have refused if he known that Giuliani is working with accused felons.

the one thing working in his favor is Sondland can claim he's a political neophyte

I want to see the look on Nunes' face!!!

Sondland gurl you were EU Ambassador. What that have to do with Ukraine, tho?

New vernacular item: I'm gonna Sondland you!

He was a coffee boy! Never met him!!

[quote]the one thing working in his favor is Sondland can claim he's a political neophyte

Sounds like a good strategy!

I wonder how Fox will spin this. No one's going to care if they attack Sondland. He's not some honorable innocent do gooder

I think the lawyer behind Sondland is about to cry. He’s hot. I’d give him a tissue.

That is one hot daddy sitting behind Sondland's left shoulder.

Hannity, Ingraham and Carlson must be screaming at their tvs right now

God bless you, r106. This is EXACTLY the kind of thing I come to DL to read.

^ At least that lawyer knows he’ll get paid.

Are any off the pukes going break ranks and actually start asking pertinent questions?

[quote]I wonder how Fox will spin this.

"Sondland is an admitted liar, by virtue of his changed testimony. How do we know he's not lying today?"

"Even if what he's saying is true, the president's actions don't rise to the level of high crimes and misdemeanors. This has been a sham trial from the beginning."

Repeat ad nauseam.

He’s now describing direct conversations with Trump.

R128 on this committee, Will Hurd is the only semi-decent repub. So far he's been asking questions to muddy the waters but he's not going to spew propaganda about Ukraine or hoaxes. If anyone turns, it would be him

Separated at birth:

Gordon Sondland and comedian Jeffrey Ross.

R132 YES!!!! It's been killing me. Thanks

What was the reason to talk to Rudi? Was he part of foreign policy? Don’t think so.

wow even bringing up Rick Perry

Sondland gurl you better use all your wealth to have round-the-clock security. Deplorables gonna be after your ass

Shall we place bets how quickly the Rethugs bring up Hillary in their line of questioning of Sondland?

New Republic's Adam Weinstein:

I just want to salute the Sondland lawyers who came up with “Did I contradict my earlier testimony? Well I might not have if the WH and DoS hadn’t blocked access to my notes,” that is a next-level flip.

Sondland’s lawyer got to him and told him, let it rip or you’re going to jail. This guy is rich. He doesn’t need Trumpy. He’s saying fuck you, I don’t need you, you’re not the boss of me.

He’s not a politician, he won’t destroy himself to kiss some politician’s ass. And obviously the Russians have nothing on him.

r135, he'll be a hero in Portland.

R136 yeah but I think they're going to hammer Joe and Hunter Biden a lot

Finally — Sondland sings 🐥🎼🎶🎶

All we need him to do is throw Pence under the bus!

Somebody on MSNBC yesterday (Barbara McQuade?) pointed out that you can't take the Fifth on subjects that you've already discussed under oath. So Sondland has to choose between more lying or strategically telling the truth.

I predicted some combo of a nuclear strike and a shitshow at a work lunch on Monday.

I am glad it did not disappoint.

Me right now:

Please let the Dems lawyer or one of the Dems ask Sondland about Pence. Please!!!!

David Frum

@davidfrum ·

Successful real estate entrepreneur sees no reason to go to prison for unsuccessful real estate entrepreneur

Does the White House have Walter Reed Hospital on speed dial?

"Pompeo, Hill, Morrison et al they all knew what we were doing and why."

No wonder Morrison did see nothing wrong and illegal with the call, he was involved in this while thing and cover-up.

Wow! This is so good! He couldn’t be any clearer.

WaPo : WH wanted advance copy of Sondland's statement, told to FUCK OFF!

Apparently, when Nunes wrote his opening remarks, he did not have a copy of Sondland's opening statement.

Sondland is taking everybody down to save himself lmao LOVE IT

let the repub values of self-interest first lead to eating their own!!

"Everyone was in the loop"

That's it. I think impeachment poll numbers will go up after this

even though Sondland lied before he'll get the Democrats' stamp of approval today for coming clean

R152 my thought was the opposite. That's exactly why he repeated his bullshit.

Pompeo goes under the bus with Trump.

I wonder if Morrison will be called back to testify

32 across wrote this on Twitter:

the reverse Pentangeli is not something you see every day

Schiff is either a saint, or he's always composing his shopping list when Nunes is lying.

Nunes" "Welcome to the circus, Part 4."

Schiff: {Turkey gravy, cranberry sauce, flowers for the missus,.....}

Sondland gurl yes you drag Morrison hahaha

This is the best day ever!

Might this testimony exacerbate whatever caused Cheetolini to head to Walter Reed over the weekend...

CAN ANYONE EVEN FATHOM... someone who had not a shred of political experience, of ANY KIND, being given a ambassadorship not to some bumfuck country, but to UKRAINE!!!!.. someone (trump) nominating him, and someone like sondland (, mr. hotel magnate) thinking what a great idea, sure i'll take the position! I found it odd that sondland would WANT such a job? for what reason? political aspirations in the future? ...

i hope sondland speaks the truth and sings like a canary taking down trump, pence, pompeo, giuliani,perry, johnson and EVERYONE republican!, but i don't think he is pure as snow either..

So, Taylor is dirty, too.

[quote]Yeah, but, every single one of those accusations are true! Nunes is not good at brainwashing.

[quote]Nunes just read a list of TRUE allegations against Trump and is calling them all "proven false"

[quote]I give Schiff credit for keeping a poker face while Nunes acts like an idiot

This is KILLING me. Why is Schiff just sitting there with this holier than thou look on his face while this prick talks out of his ass? Come on, man. Remove that stick and call him on his shit. Just say “Representative Nunes has lost his DAMN mind about these allegations. Please continue.”

ENOUGH Dems. Stop being pussies.

Why is everyone using Whatsapp instead of emails? so that there is no permanent record that can be subject to the Federal records keeping act?

[quote] Pompeo goes under the bus with Trump.

That poor bus.

this hearing today will go down in history and will be shown endlessly in clips in the future whenever Trump's impeachment is brought up. High schoolers will learn about Sondland. So his big ego has just been immortalized

R164, Sondland is ambassador to the EU and not Ukraine, which makes his involvement even more troublesome forTrump.

R167 it's encrypted too

just ask Jared about all his Whatsapping with MBS and other foreigners...

We're gonna need a longer bus.

MSNBC Headlines--

"Sondland Points Finger at Trump, Bolton, Pompeo" "Everyone Was In The Loop, It Was No Secret"

CNN Headlines--

"Sondland: I Followed The Directions Of The President" "Sondland Ties Trump, Pence, Pompeo To Ukraine Deal"

Pompeo, Perry, Mulvaney ALL THROWN UNDER THE BUS

Sondland gurl omg

I love this! Clear logical statement

The Constitution is a Never Trumper!

Damn, he is spilling names and involving everyone.

R164 Trump saw Sondland as essentially transactional. I think it was Maddow or O'Donnell which showed a clip from the past where Sondland was talking about quid pro quos in gov't (presumably to further state/national, not personal, interests).

Anyhow, Trump saw in Sondland a kind of kindred spirit...

[quote]Why is everyone using Whatsapp instead of emails? so that there is no permanent record that can be subject to the Federal records keeping act?

My SO works for a bank and their Whatsapp conversations are autosaved per regulations.

Sondland wants to be the "John Dean" of this impeachment.

this opening statement is better than the trashiest real housewives' episode!

can't wait for the questioning

gonna be fucking fire

This is a thing of extraordinary beauty.

"everyone was in the loop. It was no secret"

Sondland just made himself famous in history. He's the John Dean

This has to be more than the Democrats were expecting as far as setting the stage for “the”conversation.

"where's my fainting couch??"

Nunes don't have a cow, man!

I bet he's sweating buckets

Has Trump tweeted? Yesterday he had the White House account do his dirty work.

[quote] He is going to throw Rudy under the bus and save Trump

Trump would throw Rudy under the bus to save himself if he could.

We’re gonna need TWO buses!

[quote]So, Taylor is dirty, too.

HEY, I'M ALWAYS CLEAN "WHERE IT COUNTS"! LOLOL

Charles M. Blow

@CharlesMBlow ·

Sondland is burning the whole house down! That thing is on fire like Sheryl’s she shed.

Could Sondland go go prison for this?

See, none of this matter.s NONE of these fuckers will vote to impeach. Party over morality over country.

His is bringing WH plus others down. Oh boy. Thank you.

Republicans have a choice -- toss out Trump as a sacrifice to keep Pence in office.

Expect Mulvaney to resign.

Expect Pompeo to resign.

1 of my favorite news queens Charles Blow lol

"Again, everyone was in the loop". Love it.

Is this enough PIZAZZ for ya media?

Claude Taylor’s is my second favorite tweet.

Here’s my first:

Spending $1 million to incriminate the President in live TV: priceless.

I love how Sondland is even dragging into this unknown names like Pompeo's secretary hot damn!

Pence is now named as a conspirator so he’s excluded from being able to vote.

R200 yes the media is THRILLED they already have their bombshell and the hearing has just begun

CANNOT WAIT TO READ the angry tweets from deplorables and Trump defenders. OMG This is already best day ever

is this the "Were their tapes in the oval office," moment?

Everyone was in the loop = they’re all in a noose.

In other news, Nikki Haley was just revealed to have used a private insecure email for secret information because she forgot her password. The news is trending as #LOCKHERUP. So I’m guessing the WH just threw Haley under the bus to try to distract. Good luck with that.

Now back to our regularly scheduled Fitzmas.

He appears to have kept his own file on this, so he has messages that the State Dept withheld.

Just heard on right-wing media: "The kind of bribery Sondland is describing is not the kind of bribery that the framers of the Constitution meant when outlining causes for impeachment."

Yeah, that seems like a good defense.

Someone upthread asked if Trump tweeted yet...

Nope. Last tweet was an hour ago and about Pelosi/AoC/Squad

Has Sondland pleaded the fifth? Maddow said there was speculation he would.

I can’t wait to see how arrogant Nunes will be now? Or maybe a cry baby? Nunes from joking to crying idiot

Volker and Morrison would like to amend their testimony...

R209 like anyone else he would have access to any emails he received or sent, just not his records he turned over to the State Dept.

Morrison should be drop kicked into an active volcano.

Schiff had this statement before Nunes talked. He knew.

r212, not even close. He's spilling like nobody's business. Naming EVERYBODY.

His voice is easy to listen to and that's a change.

Finally, the light of day.

Schlepping....love it.

What ifPence hears this and decides, time to save my own skin? You know that is what Mother is telling him to do. She hates Trump.

This is going to dominate the entire day

who knows how bombshell-ish the second hearing will be but it's going to be almost impossible to top this

Question time. Get ready.....

This thread is easily going to part 3

R222 then the video of whatever got him sent to the conversion camp gets released all over the internet.

What I don't understand is, all these people are claiming they turned over their notes and documents to the State Dept and now the State Dept won't let them have access to their own records. So what sort of dumb ass turns over originals without keeping copies?

Lawyers for the upcoming witnesses are furiously rewriting their opening statements right now.

WELL, NOW.....

"vanilla". Oh, Mr Sondland, you're so kinky.

"continuum of insidiousness"

Who is that Mitt Romney looking guy behind Sondland? A lawyer?

R227, I suspect there may be a statute that while something is under review by the State Dept (etc) there’s essentially a gag order on the info in those docs.

The selective choices about which laws to obey and which to flaunt is of course telling in and of itself.

I am so glad Schiff was a prosecutor. He will know what to ask.

How is Nunes going to respond? Oh boy

POTUS, WH and Don Jr. all stopped tweeting after the opening statement began.

I see another trip to the Doctor for Trump today.

Did we say quid pro quo was wrong? Sorry, we didn't know what it meant, only effete latte-sipping liberals know Latin. Of course there was quid pro quo, and it's totally fine.

George Conway: "This is a John Dean moment. It will live forever in American political history."

Seems like he told everything. Questioners need to avoid beating a dead horse.

[quote]Just heard on right-wing media: "The kind of bribery Sondland is describing is not the kind of bribery that the framers of the Constitution meant when outlining causes for impeachment."

is it bad if Sondland says he didn't mention the Bidens and Holmes said he did during the call?

I've been unable to watch until now... is Sondland throwing Trump et al under the bus or helping the carpetbaggers?

He verifies the call at the restaurant minus mentioning Biden specifically, but he did mention Burisma.

Everyone keep in mind that Sondland was very specific in letting it be known that although he is a lifelong Republican he has given and supported both the Republican and Democratic parties. He may be doing this out of patriotism.

OOH CHEETO GWORL

He is not disputing 99.6% of Holmes testimony.

Does anybody reread the thread before posting? Sondland SPILLED.

I didn’t catch the other thread but did we talk about how attractive--yet repulsive--Morrison is?

Do they have a padded room in the White House?

R242 it could possibly help get some of the lower rung people off the hook because it gives them plausible deniability UP TO A POINT IN TIME with knowing Burisma was essentially a code word for an illegal act.

R243, imagine a bus with the White House under it.

[quote] Republicans have a choice -- toss out Trump as a sacrifice to keep Pence in office.

Pence is a nobody and he cannot hold the Deplorables. He will never speak their language and he cannot win in 2020. Rethugs would have removed Trump in 2017 if they thought Pence had a shot in 2020.

Sondland: “I mentioned to VP Pence before the meetings with the Ukrainians that I had concerns that the delay in aid had become tied to the issue of investigations....During the actual meeting, President Zelensky raised the issue of security assistance directly with VP Pence.”

The Pence tie-in is an early Christmas present.

I'm sure Sondland is expecting the Republicans to release the hounds.

Trump lickspittle Brent Bozell: Listen to Sondland and you'll understand why America elected Donald Trump president to get rid of people like Sondland.

Ummm, Brent? Trump hired Sondland. (Of course, the rubes this is aimed at will swallow it unquestioningly.)

Please welcome to the stage: BURISMA NAUGHTYPANTS

People like Susan Collins will have to vote to convict after this, right?

The announced merger of the Trump and Sondland hotel chains is cancelled.

R253, Or else they’re all in Putin's pocket and Putin thought Pence wasn’t Russian-y enough.

That’s really the only explanation, because all Deplorables care about is guns and abortion and Pence is right where they want him on both issues.

There is no Pence. Sondland has just revealed that Pence was knowingly complicit. Pence is now as dirty and Ghouliani and Dump and Pompeo.

I'm not a lawyer but question for those who know:

if a testimony mostly matches up with another person's but 1 detail is disputed, are both testimonies still accepted? like Holmes saying Sondland mentioned Biden and Sondland saying he only mentioned Burisma?

I hate that you only see Sondland and Schiff. I would LOVE to see the faces of Gym, Nunes, Stefanik and the other fuckers right now.

r256, Brent Bozo is still around? Geez, I thought he disappeared in shame a long time ago.

Be assured that I am currently very concerned, R258.

Susan will definitely be concerned. Possibly even disappointed.

R263 after Sondland's opening statement we saw Schiff and Nunes and their counsel. Nunes' forehead was shiny

Susan Collins is very concerned, R258. Very.

BYEEEEEEEEE

R253 McConnell losing the Senate is a real danger. Deplorables are not going to keep the Senate for GOP. Deplorables are going to mobilize mass voting against their nominees.

Pence might bring in crucial swing votes.

Sondland must have purchased the ambassadorship anticipating a feast at the corruption buffet. He is clearly not into shall we say diplomatic nuance and finesse, thus the gabbing on an unsecured phone in a restaurant with the volume all the way up.

Wow, will Sondland lose it before this is over?

Wait until the Repukes start their questioning of him.

R250 They may have to go to Walter Reed for that.

Wonkette

what happens if Sondland fucks up during the questioning portion? I mean if he says he didn't know things that others said he did, can they still accept his testimony? or would he be thrown out?

Why is Schiff beating him up?

I'm just a bit worried now that he's disputing what Taylor and Morrison said

Luckily for Nunes, there’s a cardiologist on standby right down the street at the WH. It’s not far.

"If you could show me that, you know, Trump actually was engaging in a quid pro quo, outside the phone call, that would be very disturbing.” — Lindsey Graham one month ago

Sondland is continuously bringing up the fact that the POTUS and the WH has stymied his attempt for records and info he needs to answer certain questions from the committee.

Schiff questioning him now.... not letting him off easy. He's softening him up before DL fave Goldman moves in for the kill.

R270 clearly isn’t even watching the inquiry if he thinks Pence is viable for anything but a prison sentence at this point.

R278, Two witnesses can both be credible even if the details of what they remember are somewhat different.

Goldman is up. Game on.

R282 Do you think they are going to drum them all out?

Oh god, I hope he holds up under questioning.

lmao Sondland is dumb

I had to leave for awhile, did he throw Pence under the bus? If so, how?

yeah I don't want people to prematurely get happy. I thought the questioning would be going better than it is...he's not giving every expected answer so far...hopefully he doesn't discredit his whole testimony

A$AP Rocky comes up in impeachment proceedings. Go figure....

Front page of the Failing New York Times.

Can I just say I love Goldman ?

But is he a nail biter? His fingers are odd.

Sondland reminds me of Wallace Shawn.

Goldman is shooting fish in a barrel...

if Sondland says he doesn't recall a lot, is he still credible?

don't blow it damn it

r290, never thought I'd hear the word "schlepping" either.

why doesn't Sondland just say yes to whatever Schiff and Goldman say?

Sondland is a mensch.

lmfao Sondland laughs at himself

he is a fucking unaware narcissist typical rich guy

no clue that everyone hates him

Preppy, man-next-door Dem attorney, Daniel Goldman can mount me like a dog, and ask me questions till the end of time.

the alt right gonna be raging online today about Sondland turning on their fuhrer

Sondland is a schlub.

Goldman can't keep a poker face when he asks GS about the "loves your ass" call. GS appears to be all out of fucks to give.

Poor Mr. Goldman looks like he hasn't slept in over a week. He looks 1 year older each day.

Poor Mr. Goldman looks like he hasn't slept in over a week. He looks 1 year older each day.

omg the wide angle shot of the committee lol

look at the long repub faces!

Hurd looking down. Stefanik looking pissed Nunes and Jordan nervous

Are there worrywarts here or concern trolls?

Sondland seems set free...

Nunes probably took a potty break... at the White House.

Donald Trump Jr. on right-wing radio just now: "When is this country going to start investigating real crimes? Remember when Loretta Lynch met with Bill Clinton on the tarmac? The Democrats get away with everything."

My bet is he gets testy with the Republicans, which should make for good eatin’.

Can hardly wait for the Nunes putdown.

wow all these direct phone calls with Trump

I think the repubs will point out all the inconsistent statements he's made and try to discredit him

After this it is time to put SO much pressure on Senate GOP.

Do you think they are planning an exit strategy for Trump?

My friend asked me yesterday if the Latina in glasses behind Goldman is trans. 🤣🤣🤣

Write or call your Senator. Impeach and remove NOW!

I think Sondland seems very confident. We may not like him but he's a very capable survivor at this point.

I like Sondland and Goldman distinguishing between the *announcement* of an investigation and the investigation itself. Of course Trump doesn't a shit about corruption in the Ukraine; he just wanted Zelensky to announce that the Bidens were being investigated.

R138’s post reminded me of what SVU’s Judge Donnelly said to Casey Novak when she got censured:

“We are civil servants. No one is going to fall on their sword for you.”

R319 Exactly is continues to reinforce that it was all for personal gain for Trump in the election, and not any concern over corruption.

interesting backstory on Goldman

President Pelosi is trending.

Sondland is undignified like Trump. He lacks decorum. We've all seen his type. The successful business man who bullied his way through life by being a big mouth and flashing cash. Really just a thug at heart.

When someone confesses, why grill them?

Republicans' time is coming up soon...

I'm just a bit worried that Sondland is contradicting testimonies of Morrison, Holmes and Taylor. Just certain details that are probably important

I hope Sondland doesn't lose credibility

Sondland is going to get grilled by both sides because he is considered a wild card. I am sure his opening statement allayed a lot of Dem fears but no one is taking chances.

So that's their out. Sondland never heard directly that there was a condition.

I need you guys as I’m at work and I can’t watch/listen to rest.

the repub angle is we can't believe Sondland because he's contradicting everyone else who's a career professional in the State Department

R329, he passed the buck to Rudy. Now Trump will say “Rudy, no I don’t know him”

Rudy needs to testify or the bus will run back over him.

Sondland is dumb he should just say yes to everything Schiff and Goldman say

I'm afraid if he says he doesn't recall too often that he'll be discredited

He may have been coached to say "I can't recall" enough to specifically put in question his whole testimony.

Hehe. "That look when you throw the bus in reverse to make sure you got everyone."

Ha ha what competent lawyer would advise his client under threat of perjury to do that? R334

Look who is watching;

Don Cheadle @DonCheadle

you watching the hearings, @LindseyGrahamSC ? in a word; damn. oh, and this is the first thing that pops up when you google search your name ... 😬

so Sondland says no one told him directly there were conditions but he came to the conclusion himself there was a quid quo pro

the repubs will argue that's the proof it didn't exist?

Someone doesn't need to tell someone of a crime for it to be a crime lol

I am so scared that they are going to punch holes in Sondland's testimony. I noticed he tried to take the heat off Trump.

R334 hopefully not but this isn't going as smoothly as John Dean

R339 yeah I hope not but who knows

Sondland is a dumbass.

clearly he's not smart enough to "remember everything" without notes

Nunes looks like he saw Jesus and Jesus wasn't happy with him.

Did you just see Nunes' face as they went to break? I think he may have shit himself.

Sondland gave him their out. Their talking point is going to be that no one told him directly and he's just assuming and probably because Hillary threatened to kill him like she did Epstein if he didn't conclude that. Case over. No Quid Pro Quo. No Crime.

[quote]I'm afraid if he says he doesn't recall too often that he'll be discredited

He's already given himself cover, saying the WH and State Department have blocked access to his notes, which would jog his memory.

Twitter:

Fox News chyron: “SONDLAND: PRESIDENT TRUMP NEVER TOLD ME DIRECTLY THAT AID WAS TIED TO ANNOUNCEMENT OF INVESTIGATIONS”

It seems a bit silly for Schiff to have given them a break. Nunes could barely manage up there without a break to get someone to tell him what the fuck to say and do.

Ken Starr: GOP Senators Might Consider Having to ‘Make a Trip’ to the White House After Sondland’s Testimony. Resignation.

Nunes on the phone with the WH right now.

Adam Parkhomenko on Twitter:

"Sondland is working hard to save both his and trump’s asses. He’s gonna have to choose."

SONDLAND: "By the 8th of September, it was abundantly clear to EVERYONE" that the aid was tied to Ukraine announcing investigations to benefit Trump politically.

r349 from his mouth to God's ear

Wow R349.

WH talking points: Sondland never heard anything from the president about a quid pro quo, it's all Rudy Giuliani's doing.

Countdown to resignation.

I think Schiff wanted to let this sink in in the media and give reaction to the press

but I agree it gives Nunes time to coordinate with the WH

Sondland calls for a bathroom break.

Schiff is giving a quick presser in the hallway. Gravely states that this morning's testimony was shocking and the veneer is being torn away despite WH attempts to shut them down. Takes no questions after statement.

The talking heads say this is devastating to the defense. But won't change minds due to Fox propaganda machine.

The problem with throwing Rudy under the bus will be his deathbed confession. I know I am wishful thinking but maybe there really is no way out now.

Schiff called the break so Repugs could go shit themselves in private.

Sondland refuses to say Trump told him that aid was dependent on Zelensky making the announcement of investigation into Biden.

Remember Michael Cohen testified before congress that Trump never gives direct orders when he wants you to do something shady, he hints around about it until you eventually get the message, Just like mob bosses do.

R355, but Trump ordered him to work with Giuliani.

OH!!!

Ken Starr suggests Sondland’s testimony could prompt GOP to ‘make a trip to the White House’ and ask Trump to resign

R355 It'll be fascinating to see what the Repubs do in questioning. Obviously "Trump never told you anything!", but will they completely throw Rudy under the bus?

Bennett Hall @bennetthall · 32m "Ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct honor to introduce to you the First Woman President of the United States."

Madam President Pelosi

#PresidentPelosi

Didn't Rudy recently say he has receipts in case be gets thrown under the bus? I half recall seeing something to that effect.

The "out" about not directly hearing it was tied to aid is up against a mountain of evidence that overwhelmingly leads to the opposite conclusion.

[quote]but Trump ordered him to work with Giuliani.

Rudy went rogue.

Ken Starr on FUX wondering if the Senators are talking about asking him to resign.

He could do it for health reasons (like Pope Ratfucker). Pence would be Pres and give out pardons and he could appoint Ivantkok as VP, until he gets impeached too. Jarvanka 2020.

R367 those receipts are like Drumpf's tax returns. They'll never see the light of day.

I still think Pence will weasel his way out of trouble

no way will GOP let him go down with Trump

^ God don't even say Nancy's going to be president. I love her but she's around 80... it's only a short wheelchair ramp to the Democratic nomination race... that context is somewhere between catnip and Viagra for an oldies.

R364 see R349

Someone please report back what Rethugs do, not that itll be any different than what they normally do, but I'm turning it off because I cant stand watching them.

[quote]no way will GOP let him go down with Trump

No way the Republicans will allow NP in the Oval.

Has any Republican yet explained why it was OK to impeach Clinton but not Trump?

Yes, R367, Rudy recently claimed that he has "insurance."

R373, seriously? At 80 she’s running loops around people nearly half her age. I think she’ll be fine.

Nichole Wallace: "I think this is a much worse day for Mike Pompeo than even Rudy Giuliani."

R379, she's 80. They're freaking out over Biden, Sanders and even Warren. It was a joke but get real... an 80 year old running for President?

How old are you?

OK Nunes let's see what your move is

moooo

lmao

Nunes talking about Democrats "colluding" with Ukraine to "dirty up Trump campaign" in 2016

Charles McNulty @CharlesMcNulty: 'Everyone was in the loop. It was was no secret'... Pompeo dragged deeper into probe... Foreign gas exec cooperating in Rudy investigation... Republican witnesses aren't helping Trump... Reject conspiracy theories...... KEN STARR: Republican Senators May Push Trump To Resign...

Josh Shepperd @joshshepperd: Another avalanche - Clinton impeachment lawyer Ken Starr himself predicts that the GOP will ask Trump to resign.

Lesley Abravanel🆘@lesleyabravanel: What's worse, agreeing with #KenStarr or having @realDonaldTrump as your POTUS? I'm with Ken! #TrumpResign

Claude Taylor @TrueFactsStated: I’m not ready to have Ken Starr on our side.

Crooks and Liars @crooksandliars: Even Fox News... Even Ken Starr... Hey @senatemajldr, are you watching this?

Nunes is obsessed with this Chalupa bitch.

Here comes Nunes, gaslighting about how Ukraine was out to get Trump, so therefore they don’t deserve any money Congress voted for them.

He says they supported Hillary.

Repug response = but Hillary!

Claude Taylor @TrueFactsStated: I’m not ready to have Ken Starr on our side.

LOL

Nunes reconvenes with an opening statement that the Sondland requested bathroom break was a plot by the Democrats to instead hold a stealthy press conference.

Sorry, Devin - you were on the phone with master tRump while the Dems were messaging.

is the area Nunes represents really so red that he can't be defeated? I mean damn he's so awful

Nunes is a complete joke. I mean, inside he must be thinking "fuck this!"

Moooooo!

Nunes sounds delusional. Playing losing hand badly.

anyone here live in DC?

how can repubs like Nunes and Jordan freely walk around without having people constantly screaming at and confronting them? I would love to call him a piece of shit to his face

So far Nunes has NOTHING.

[quote]KEN STARR: Republican Senators May Push Trump To Resign...

I’m extremely concerned. 😧

Drug deals? Wtf?

Ha so straight out the gate with Hillary? Told ya!

So the only defense Nunes has is the Steele dossier? And, Sondland's smirk with Nunes has me unnerved.

Proud Amigos = bad hombres.

apparently -- GOP pushing Trump not to run for re-election in exchange for acquittal.

Nunes has that "ah, what's the fucking point?" tone in his voice. He's definitely shook.

R398 Hillary and HUNTER BIDEN.

Source, R491?

Nunes just going to spend all his time trying to dirty up Joe Biden and the Democrats

I really hope he loses 2020. Can't believe he won in 2018

Alayna Treene @alaynatreene

Statement from @VP's chief of staff Marc Short on Sondland's testimony:

Nunes has no questions. No logic. Circling around trying to find something. He should stand up and leave. Case closed.

Why is Sondland nodding that Hunter Biden "could clear this all up".

He didn't go very long.

Nunes is just babbling.

They are going to circle the wagons around Pence and sacrifice whoever else is needed.

Nunes starts whining about Hunter Biden again. Burisma bullshit. The attempt to distract is so transparent. He's spending his time not asking any real questions just lying about Ukrainian conspiracies.

GOP counsel Cantor us up now.

Sondland realized Nunes was just doing a monologue and was waiting for him to go away and the real lawyer to question him.

They have 45 minutes. If Nunes wants to waste all that time blabbing mindlessly, Sondland is happy to run out the clock.

Sondland is very careful to say Trump NEVER directly told him why the aid was being held. Putting it all on Rudy.

Ooooh... the lame lawyer is getting agitated and aggressive. This bodes well. They are frightening.

The woman behind counsel on the right side looks like Ukranian prostitute.

I meant they are frightened.

I created part 2 so you don’t have to! Please don’t post there until this thread is full.

R414 He’s making Rudy the fall guy.

I'm subscribed for part 2!

Don't ambassadors have to be confirmed by Congress?

Rudy must testify...in chains if need be.

And where is Lev in all this? Isn't he cooperating with the committee?

R416 I noticed her yesterday too.

Barr should surely tell Giuliani he's not going to protect him if he defies a subpoena to testify

Surely Barr doesn't want to go down with Giuliani

^ They Repugs are keeping the huge blimp guy with the misshapen head off-screen today tho.

Sondland is a shitty guy but he's doing a great job of saving himself and destroying Rudy.

[quote]He’s making Rudy the fall guy.

He's (Sondland) not going to jail for these fuckers. Rudy is a lethal strategy because he's not going down either. They are fucked. Today's Wednesday... I give it a week but I bet the resignation is announced Monday IF there's weekend polling that shows it is changing the landscape. If the polls hold, they brazen out even this.

I fear the Republicans are going to allow Trump to get away scot-free by focusing on the minutiae. "You didn't actually hear President Trump say 'Go talk to Rudy' as an order, but more as a casual 'Talk to Rudy'." Because that word "go" makes sooooo much of a differance.

I like that the Republicans' attorney keeps emphasizing that aid to Ukraine was paused for 55 days. That's a significant amount of time.

It amazes me how often the Republicans are quoting what the love to call the "fake press" as it is absolute fact.

It amazes me how often the Republicans are quoting what the love to call the "fake press" as it is absolute fact.

Starting Pt 2 when there are still almost 200 posts left!

[quote]the alt right gonna be raging online today about Sondland turning on their fuhrer

Indeed they are.

Yes R431-- quoting the Hill and Politico and Sondlund looking at them like "no fucking idea"

R426 Saving Trump too. “He NEVER told me the aid was being witheld until they announced the Biden investigation.” i.e. no quid pro quo by Trump linking aid to Biden investigation.

[quote]Sondland is a shitty guy but he's doing a great job of saving himself and destroying Rudy.

And Rudy will do a great job of destroying himself while trying to save himself by destroying everybody else

Those Senators are gonna have to force him to resign. They don’t want to have to vote in favor of this shit.

[quote]I fear the Republicans are going to allow Trump to get away scot-free by focusing on the minutiae. "You didn't actually hear President Trump say 'Go talk to Rudy' as an order, but more as a casual 'Talk to Rudy'." Because that word "go" makes sooooo much of a differance.

At this point there's not much they can do until they can regroup with all the players and attorneys. The break wasn't nearly long enough for a substantive strategy session. They're just buying time until the next hearing, which will then be directed by whatever comes out of today's regrouping.

Sondland is 1 of those classically unaware guys who has no clue everyone hates him and thinks everyone finds him charming

"Sondland is Part of the Deep State. I don't even know who he is!"

(2 min ago)

Rudy Giuliani @RudyGiuliani

During the July 24 conversation @realDonaldTrump agrees to a meeting with Pres. Zelensky without requiring an investigation, any discussion of military aid or any condition whatsoever. This record shows definitively no quid pro quo, which is the same as no bribery. END OF CASE!

More Ken Starr on Faux News:

"It's over. We know now - this is [Schiff's] position - that POTUS in fact committed the crime of bribery... I think the articles of impeachment are being drawn up if they haven't already been drawn up."

R433, All the cons seem to be trying to pin everything on Giuliani

Trump just spoke to reporters on the WH lawn, reading quotes from Sondland's testimony that he thought were favorable to him. He also said he barely knows Sondland (who donated $1 million to his inauguration and has flown on Air Force One). Trump did not take any questions.

The GOP Senate is in danger.

The Presidency is in jeopardy.

When you are at risk of losing both houses and the Presidency it is time to make some hard choices.

Stay with Trump and lose it all?

Cut the cancer out and hope to keep at least the senate or presidency...

Trump tried to make it all about quid pro quo (when it was really just about asking a foreign government about political help)

Trump thought it would be much harder to show quid pro quo and if he convinced Americans that;s the only bad thing, he could get off.

Today showed for certain there was a quid pro quo. Trump painted himself into a corner.

Lurch-looking attorney Castor’s voice is annoyingly mousey and squeaky, as compared to the pleasingly hot, deliberate, confident, alpha-tone coming from Goldman.

[quote] He also said he barely knows Sondland

as expected Trump's response would be

but but but repubs are scared of the deplorable mob

the politicians are much more willing to turn on Trump than Fox "News" and are afraid of getting wrecked on there

I'm really not convinced that anyone in the Rethug party takes any of this seriously or is worried at all. Certainly not worried enough to beg Dotard to resign. They're cocky, weaseley, motherfuckers who will just drag this out as long as they can with the belief that by the time this hits the Senate everyone will have forgotten the testimony. And they'll probably be right.

The guy over Sondland's shoulder is most likely Jim McDermott of high powered Portland real estate law firm Ball Jannik.

R450 McConnell is looking at the polls, he is looking at 2018 midterm results, he is looking at VA, KY, LA results...

WOW!

Jennifer Griffin @JenGriffinFNC: Ken Starr, lead prosecutor in Clinton impeachment hearings: “There is now proof that the President (Trump) committed the crime of bribery...This has been one of those bombshell days.”

Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1: Ken Starr: "There will be articles of impeachment, I think we've known that ... It's over ... This is his position, we now know that the president, in fact, committed the crime of bribery ... Articles of impeachment are being drawn up if they haven't already been drawn up."

Tom Watson @tomwatson: Wow, Ken Starr making a strong case for obstruction and contempt of Congress charges on Fox right now. Cites Nixon. Says he's changed his mind on these proceedings. "It's over. There will be articles on impeachment."

CAP Action @CAPAction: "We now know that the president in fact committed the crime of bribery... I think articles of impeachment are being drawn up if they haven't already been drawn up." —Ken Starr

Yeah, R452, I'm still not convinced. Especially that they care about polls or recent elections. I'm not convinced they don't have a plan to blatantly steal bigger in 2020 when it matters.

And I hope to God I'm wrong.

R450 I think that's absolutely right. Repubs won't budge. Fox, in the short term, will actually stoke more rabid support from Trumpers from this. Might be 2-3 Senators who vote to convict (though I also suspect some general "censure instead of remove" compromise will be introduced. But it's about a select number of precincts in PA, MI, WI. Those, with testimony like today, move inexorably blue.

I will say that I'm surprised that they're having Ken Starr say these things on Fox. THAT gives me hope that maybe the inner workings of the GOP have decided what direction they're going to go and are slowly starting the process.

How are the other vermin on Fox responding to Starr? Is he bleeding? Are nooses being tied?

if trump don't git kicked out after amb sondlands wild exposes then nothin will work. he the Charles dean of it all. fuk yea!!!

I was at the Mirren/McKellen movie last night (which is great fun BTW) and they did a preview for the Fox/Ailes movie. It will not be a happy December for Fox News.

fox not even showing it !!!!! fuks!!!!!!

Julian Borger @julianborger: This is going really badly for the Republicans. Castor: You believed the President, right? Sondland: I'm not going to characterise whether I believed or didn't believe.

David Corn @DavidCornDC: Questioning Sondland, Castor makes a big point of noting the investigations Trump wanted, as far as Sondland knew, had "nothing to do with Biden." But...Trump himself referred to Biden in asking Zelensky for investigations in the 7/25 call!!! This is nuts.

Harry Litman @harrylitman: strong sense that they literally scrapped their plans and are improvising. Castor sifting through his notes for next subject, voice tentative. don't want leave the bad impression of not using up their time.

Michelangelo Signorile @MSignorile: Castor gets flustered when Sondland confirms that, yes, Pompeo made it clear the money would get released if the investigations are announced publicly by Ukraine.

Elise Stefanik and the other bowel movements are texting like crazy to whoever advises them, trying to calculate which way to go in the questioning. This is about self preservation in the short term because no one knows exactly what the strategy it (and the previous strategy won't go down on the clear and strong list.)

Any guesses on what distraction the WH will try to put out today?

Ah, poor Ambassador Sondland…… I was sooooooooooooooooo busy!

Sondland is the king of humble bragging.

GOP so unprepared? Everyone knew that Sondland was going to happen in 3 ways: take the 5th, spill it, or perjure himself.

Castor actually making the slime Sondland MORE credible? Amazingly inept.

Sondland on his memory lapses: "While other people might consider a call from a head of state as a once in a lifetime experience, for me it was no big deal - an every day occurrence."

IOW: I'm kind of a big deal.

Schiff not doing the 5 minutes...

R466, the WH did not adequately disclose what Sondland might say.

Nunes may as well be working for the dems. He is making his fellow repugs and trump look llike dumb fuks when he opens his tiny mouth... what a monster.

R470 Huh? WH doesn't disclose anything...but it has been in the news clearly for a week what Sondland's options here might be...

im in love with counsel Daniel goldman for the dems:::hot hot hot

any nudes??

also sondlands one/attorney to his own left shoulder is a stud

Thank you, Mr. Schiff, for finally clearing up the ridiculous drug deal metaphor.

R472, I meant to Congressional Republicans. You can’t believe Nunes etc are not trying to coordinate with Trump.

Did I just hear a fart?

r473, et al. need to grow up. Their IQ-lowering comments contribute little to the general discourse.

R476 In your room, perhaps. Not on TV. (Senior DL'ers watching must-see TV).

R477 I'm a hard core news junkie trying to post important updates throughout on several platforms but I don't mind an occasional lewd and lascivious comment about the impeachment studs. 😜

What just happened?! Everyone was momentarily distracted.

Trump this morning on the White House lawn. Enlarge and look at his notes. "I want nothing." Written twice, just in case he couldn't remember from one time. Non compos mentis.

Seeems to reinforce ANONYMOUS' claim in the book "A Warning" that he needs 3 big headlines or he gets distracted/confused/angry

Doe WH aides sew his mittens to his coat, too? Lol

R481 Trumps notes look like they were written by a 4 year old.

Pompeo has had enough. He's out.

Trump is praying for a national disaster.

R450 - Then it’s up to us, and the media to remind everyone, every day, that the corroborated evidence is compelling, accurate, and true, and that Trump was directly at the helm. Hammer home that dump is the most egregious, and dangerous president in modern history.

Fuck this Republican bullshit “nothing to see here”

It’s not gonna fly this time.

[quote]Did I just hear a fart?

[quote]What just happened?! Everyone was momentarily distracted.

Oh shit he just said he can't remember if he got it from Trump

(473) KISS MY GRITS HUN AND GO JUMP INTO THE TOILET

If Pompeo resigned and runs for Senate, they need to go after him for all this.

Ari Melber @AriMelber: Sondland keeps defending himself by saying he was not in an “irregular” policy channel - he WAS the channel. This argument may make him seem less rogue — but it also makes Pompeo and Trump look more guilty. Note this line of testimony is coming during the *GOP* questioning.

Seth Abramson @SethAbramson: MAJOR BREAKING NEWS: Mike Pompeo Planning to Resign

Michael Cohen @speechboy71: Sondland nails Pompeo dead to rights. He knew about the quid pro quo and actively participated in furthering it. He needs to resign

Wajahat "Abu Khadija" Ali @WajahatAli: Sondland was always the crucial link. His own direct testimony today confirms it. He was following a chain of command. Trump - Pence - Pompeo - Perry - Mulvaney - Sondland with a lot of Giuliani. Everyone knew it. Everyone was in on it. Quid Pro Quo.

Cameron Joseph @cam_joseph: Dem counsel Goldman points out that Pompeo was on July 25 phone call so when Sondland emailed him about breaking up “log-jam” on security assistance, he likely knew exactly what they were talking about. Pompeo cleared Sondland to set up mtg.

Anyone know Sondland's education?

What a day- he will be impeached, but probably not convicted in the Senate unless more Americans take notice and the GOP feels threatened. I don't think they do yet. And then there is the involvement of Pence, Pompeo, Barr, Perry, Mulvaney etc. They all knew what Trump was doing. It's quite something.

Meanwhile, the reactionary policies of the Administration continue- Pompeo support settlements in Gaza, LGBT people will not be protected from job discrimination by the Justice Dept and on and on- hell, kids in cages no longer gets attention. Trade war continues and the Russian meddling unimpeded- and on an on.

Nunes strategy: talk to the base... he's just trying to use dumbed down conspiracy talk to stoke them. It's all they've got.

sondland's a dumb shit for never keeping diary or take notes. unreal. hope he goes to jail....BUT BY GOD HE HAD $$$$$$

R496 My understand that there are notes, but the State Dept have them and won't release them? Is that incorrect?

Nunes says Dems fantasize about Watergate at night. Lol! In a solemn impeachment proceeding he's talked about Trump nudes and night time fantasies. He's a pervy freak - not in a good way.

Pompeo to step down soon and run for Senate. He is trying to preserve his career (which is quickly being destroyed). But he must be subpoenaed and made to talk --

R496 it's not as though he didn't take notes because he's dumb.

R494... I don't want to get ahead of myself but this seems to have gotten very, very messy and to have drawn a lot more names into the mess, less than a year out.

If it goes off the rails - and the polls will show it fairly quickly if so - I think Trump could try to brazen it out... pit his nightmares against everybody... Democrat and Republican alike. So they would have to convict.

I know this is gonna sound dumb: has anything Trump has done violated law in a way that he could be facing jail time? There's so many moving parts. I really don't understand. But that would be the only thing that could motivate him to cut an exit deal. Otherwise, I think that crazy dotard will fight to the last ditch.

Nunes attacking Sondland. They are dying.

I can't believe what I'm hearing...this is ridiculous. I can't wait for Drumpf to be convicted

R501, I have a feeling that he is indicted under seal and they're just waiting until November of next year to see if he is.

[quote]sondland's a dumb shit for never keeping diary or take notes. unreal.

Oh, c'mon... How many C-Level executives do you know actually take notes unless they were trained (like a lawyer) to do so?

Nunes sounds like such a dumb shit. “Magical minutes.”

🙄

R501 Trump is already an "unindicted co-conspirator" in the charges against Cohen. Obstruction of justice etc. from the Mueller process. That's all before the impeachment inquiry.

"Everyone was in the loop."

Everyone, Mr. Sondland?

Sondland doesn't seem like the sharpest tool in the shed, but what kind of staff does he have as Ambassador to the E.U.? I would think that someone on his staff would have put together that Burisma = Biden.

Castor....oily.

if they were amb to Ukraine while all this mess was going on:::theyd have had notes yess !!!!

That was very slick of you, r509

The Repub lawyer is stammering and sweating.

The more he talks the more sondy seems like a dumb fuk god yes

I hate when Castor "asks" questions because he has a story along with the question and then when he wants an answer, the person has to go, "I'm sorry, was there a question there?" He's a horrible lawyer. I wouldn't ask him to represent me on shit!

Castor: We wont' use up all this time as a courtesy to you...

Oh, whistleblowing smoke...

Here goes Nunes and the Rethugs go with the WB...just let that go! Focus on the main part of the meat!

If Sondland's plan is to come across as the rich diplomatic dilettante who was in way, way over his head, then he is succeeding.

Giuliani tweeted today he didn't interact with Sondland much...he has deleted that tweet.

Oh, Rudy...

Don’t these people eat? No lunch break?

ima dem, but cause sondland has no memory or notes, im starting to give them this one....what a dumb fuk S is...

no, they wear diapers and shit while talkiing

Trump already started ghosting Sondland.

ASSOCIATED PRESS President Trump said of Gordon Sondland that "I don't know him well." Testimony by several officials revealed the men were in frequent contact around time Trump spoke with Ukraine's president about doing a politically beneficial “favor.”

Nunes shoves Castor out of the way in order to introduce breaking newsworthy new strategy: "the whistle blower!"

Thoughts and prayers.

they need to stop, sondland is pooped and about to start crying...

[quote]Giuliani tweeted today he didn't interact with Sondland much...he has deleted that tweet.

I thought the Republicans weren't watching the hearings...

R522 - It's also been reported that Pompeo wants to resign so he can "focus on his run for the Senate seat". If Pompeo resigns, he opens himself up to criminal prosecution.

With all of this mess how can Pompeo run for a Senate seat?

If Pompeo resigns, he can testify, right?

Castor: Do you have anything else?

Nunes: I have nothing else.

US ambassador to the EU sounds like an awesome job.

[quote] ima dem, but cause sondland has no memory or notes, im starting to give them this one....

OK, sure. 🙄

I suppose hope springs eternal, r527.

R528, I'm not sure exactly yet. I'm researching it though. I'll let you know in another reply to you.

R527, I don't know why his fat ass is WALKING for a Senate seat...nobody I can recall in the Senate likes him. He'd be better running for the state (Kansas) Senate seat. Just work at the state level.

Pompeo would be subpoenaed within an inch of his life if he stepped down. It does beggar belief he thinks he can run for Senate...this man's career is destroyed.

501- yes literally dozens of things playing out in the Southern District Courts in NY State apart from the Ukraine mess. These cases will play out when he is no longer President. And, bribery is a crime- attempted or carried out and specifically identified in the Constitution as an impeachable offense. The bigger story breaking big today (but really no surprise if you have been reading the news) is he involvement of Pence, Pompeo, Mulvaney, Perry et al. Will they go down with him or before him? In the Nixon impeachment his lackeys went down both before and after he resigned.

The devil is dancing in Washington, D.C. tonight!

Castor is pushing the ludicrous idea that Trump was really, really interested in fighting corruption. Please. That is so profoundly offensive to a person with a brain. Trump if all people on the face of the earth as a corruption fighter? No. Just no.

Lunchtime. Sondland bitches about having to catch a flight to Brussels soon but Schiff tells him "we're all busy". Get over it honey. It's a motherfucking impeachment, bitch. Brussels will be there tomorrow. Lol!

tRump is unhinged. Screaming and yelling “I want nothing, I want nothing.”

R537, what if Sondland wanted to get to Brussels so he could get to a country where he can't be found because he knows Trump will send an assassin, haha?!

How in hell are we going to have a presidential debate tonight?

Tomorrow’s headline: Plane crashes in Brussels.

Sondland is still Ambassador? After this?

R540 I know. I'm exhausted after yesterday's 12 hour session and today will be longer by the time the debates are done. I wish I had a job so I could get some rest.

R540, SHIT. I forgot about that tonight. Mmm...I don't know if I want to because this is more juicy. There's more attacks with this versus our Dems not taking a jab or punch at each other...

DAVID AXELROD, IT'S NOT NU-YES, IT'S NU-NESS. God, that irritates me so much because Nunes is not Spanish - hail, Mother Mary.

Nunes harping about the whistleblower is hilarious. The whistleblower doesn't have first-hand knowledge of all the shit that went down. Sondland, Taylor, Vindman, etc. have that first-hand knowledge.

wow, I did not know steve asswipe mnunchin was a producer of Avatar.....what does that say bout James Cameron????

"One-way ticket to Brussels, Mr. Sondland? Will Mr. Giuliani be accompanying you this trip?"

They should make everyone that was subpeoened show up or go to jail. I don't care how long it takes for the inquiry to go on since plenty of damage has already been done. Get Rudy, Pompeo, Bolton and Perry at the very least.

What in the fuck is Drumpf yelling about, "I want nothing! I want nothing!"? What notes is he supposed to have that are so important that are written with a goddamn Sharpie instead of invisible ink?

Trump, right on schedule: "I don't know him!" It'd be hysterical if it weren't so psychotic.

I can't stand it when Ratface asks questions. He makes himself unlikable to people. Someone should feed him some D-Con since that's what rats eat to die...

Matthew Miller @matthewamiller: Schiff and team have run the most effective Congressional probe in history. Informed of the WB complaint on Sep 9, and in a little over two months have broken WH obstruction, got docs & testimony, flipped reluctant witnesses, and revealed the entire plot. Seriously impressive.

Lawrence O'Donnell @Lawrence: If I was still a Congressional staffer, I'd hand this question to @RepAdamSchiff--Q: Ambassador Sondland, since the State Dept won't give you any relevant documents, were the emails you're quoting today sent via your personal unsecured email?

Greg Pinelo @gregpinelo: Was a masterstroke by Schiff to set up the rules to force Nunes to carry the GOP load.

Adam Schiff @RepAdamSchiff: Sondland confirms that the Ukraine scheme was a quid pro quo: the conditioning of official acts, a WH meeting and military aid, for something of great value to the president. It goes right to the heart of the issue of bribery, and other potential high crimes and misdemeanors.

Russia rigged our election. Trump knows he's not a legitimate president. Putin knows this, Trump knows this. That, along with big money payoffs for Trump Inc, is why Trump is beholden to Putin. All these shenanigans are to cover up Trump's illegitimacy and corruption.

If the truth ever gets out, the Trump presidency is null and void along with all of his appointments, Supreme Court judges, and "official" acts.

He will leave behind the biggest mess we've seen in US history yet. I hope he enjoys the view of the clean up from prison. Lying, cheating, corrupt fool. Eat your own shit, trump, before you die.

Why does Gym yell? He's not even a lawyer, so why are you trying to make yourself look like you are? I don't know why Nancy transferred him to the Intel Committee...I hope it was in exchange for Schiff to come to the Judiciary Committee so he can run the impeachment article hearings and trial.

Does anyone else find the "I want nothing, I want no quid pro quo," from trump is most likely a complete fabrication? It seems far to perfect of a thing for him to have said when all of this was going down.

R556, oh, for sure. I think that they came up with that after the WB report came out and then two days later they released the aid. I think they spent those 48 hours trying to come up with particularly that phrase. I can't see that that phrase was said anytime before then.

R555, Jorden was transferred by GOP House leadership, mostly because he yells.

THAT'S IT! I'm having my stylist call these Sewel and Demming women. He'll work with them. It'll be my expense. I just can't take their horrific Halloween wigs anymore. I just can't....

I'd like to blow Jim Himes' whistle.

Yes, absolutely, R556. Of course he lied when he — self-servingly — said that there was no quid pro quo. He lies about everything. He has not a shred of credibility. So yes, when it appeared that the story was starting to unravel, he lied.

So, let me see if I follow this; The Republicans have gathered all of the news headlines published since this morning and are using them against Sondland? They're playing to the television audience?

Oops *too in R556

R559, Terri Sewell should know better than that. She is an Ivy-educated ex-debutante!

[quote]A proud product of Alabama’s rural Black Belt, Congresswoman Sewell was the first black valedictorian of Selma High School. She is an honors graduate of Princeton University and Oxford University and received her law degree from Harvard Law School.

[quote]Congresswoman Sewell is a Silver Star and life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is the daughter of the late Coach Andrew A. Sewell of Selma, AL, and retired librarian Nancy Gardner Sewell; Selma’s first black city councilwoman; and the 18th South Eastern Regional Director and former Supreme Grammateus [national secretary] of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Well played, Jackie.

Jackie Speier gets applause from the room by zinging Trump's lies!

R100 Rudy has probably been home, sitting in a darkened corner, rubbing his hands, muttering about getting “these assholes”. I’d imagine that grimy germ is just raging, getting ready to go nuclear and just greasefire every one. He’d have some epic shit stashed, I reckon. He has that real slimy goombah vibe.

Is it just my tv, or does Stewart have the complexion of a burn victim?

Stewart is not too bright. He had to look up the word "extortion"?

More Jordan and Nunes visibility equals more money in their opponents’ coffers.

I love the willful ignorance of the GOP trying to argue the fact that Zelinsky "didn't feel pressure". Like...OF COURSE HE'S GOING TO SAY HE DIDN'T FEEL PRESSURED! He's got Trump's foot on his neck. He's clearly in a position of weakness. Do they really think he's going to say "oh yeah...what Trump did was wrong"? I mean come on. It's almost as bad as the ridiculous defense that "Ukraine eventually got the money so nothing to see here". Every time they bring up that argument I want to scream "YES AFTER HE GOT CAUGHT!". These people are reprehensible.

R555. While Gym is a loud ass, he does have a law degree (JD) from Capital University.

Gym is still in coach mode, yelling at his wrestling students: "I didn't hear about the doctor incidents!" "I didn't see anything!"

Big fucking deal. I know a ton of people with JDs who are complete idiots.

This Stefanik cunt is the worst

This is just going around and around. Let it be over!

I love Joaquin Castro's freaky eyes. Sexy.

[quote]This is just going around and around. Let it be over!

Republicans are trying to salvage something from all of the damage that has been done.

Today everybody gets to have the headline they want. Both sides will claim victory.

OT but did you notice very very over weight young man. His neck face above very large neck. Looked painful position to sit.

"Thank you for your stamina"?

ahem

[quote] R195: See, none of this matter.s NONE of these fuckers will vote to impeach. Party over morality over country

Impeachment only requires a majority in the House, 218 votes, where the Dems hold a substantial majority of 233. Even if all the Republicans vote against impeachment, the Dems can lose the votes of 14 Dems, and impeachment will still succeed.

Conviction in the Senate is another matter. If all the Dems vote to convict, they’d need 4 Republicans to also vote to convict, in remove Trump from office. I think that’s doable. Possibly Romney, Collins, Murkowski, McSally, Sasse, or Lamar Alexander could vote to convict. You never know if some Republicans might have integrity and will vote to convict Trump as a matter of principle.

R580 I meant his face above his very large neck

R579 that's happened every day

R579 Yes,, of course. "Trump shoots man in the middle of Fifth Avenue - helps with population control." So, the spin machine will churn out the talking points, undoubtedly. But the slow erosion of Trump's position continues - today was very damaging to him in terms of history, perhaps a Senator from Maine, and most importantly, with some soccer moms in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Detroit and Milwaukie.

I think Sondland helped move the needle but the repubs are still moving the goal post

So have the Repubs successfully diluted Sondland’s testimony? It seemed very firm this am, but now it seems weaker.

Sondland looks like Congressman Furlong from Veep.

[quote] See, none of this matter.s NONE of these fuckers will vote to impeach.

Well, House Republicans can still play this politically. They can all vote against impeachment and yell that it's a witch hunt and partisan. The public must be moved towards impeachment so that pressure can be placed upon the Senate.

[quote]Nunes just read a list of TRUE allegations against Trump and is calling them all "proven false"...I fucking despise this bastard. Damn you, deplorable area of California. He needs to be defeated next year

Can some of our more patriotic Californian posters gather up some people to move to Fresno to enable a vote-out of this loser? We would be ever so grateful to you all!

r582, unfortunately, in order to convict in the Senate they need 2/3rds of the Senate to vote for conviction, not just a simple majority. They need 20 Republican Senators to cross over to the light. That seems almost impossible, since about 40 of the 53 Republican Senators seem to be compromised by Russian intelligence, based upon their unwavering support for Trump.

[quote] R227: So what sort of dumb ass turns over originals without keeping copies?

True, but doing so might be illegal. For example, you can’t take classified info with you to work at home, unless you have appropriate security at home, which virtually no one has. It could be grounds for firing.

Has someone made another thread? If so, please post the link. Thanks.

New thread is here, by the way. Relaying this message from the OP, who has other engagements...

Sondland looks amazingly like Gucci CEO Marco Bizzarri

[quote]Pittsburg

It's PittsburgH -- with an H

R590 Nunes wins in 2016 with 67%

Nunes wins in 2018 with 53%

We're working on the problem.

R594 - Thank you.

Let's go to the Part Two thread....

...like right now.

I couldn't post earlier, but judging from Nunes reaction...… Trump is cooked.

Bravo , Nancy you got the Orange fucker. I hope this meme becomes a thing around DL :D !