Of all my regular reads, I think TPM in general, and Josh Marshall in particular, is the media outlet and commentator who have risen to the occasion of Trump Presidency most quickly and consistently. Josh just came out strong for impeachment – you can read his piece here. Whether you agree with him or not, he’s having a subscription drive. If you have the means ($50/year or $4.99/month) take a look and see if it’s worth it for you.
Open thread.
jl
TPM has done great work on the Trump-Ukraine 2020 election corruption scheme. TPM has been one of the very few news outlets following Giulian’s rather public role in the plot, both through their own reporting and flagging other stories. TPM gave several, perhaps unwitting, heads up on the story in the weeks before it broke.
I’m a member and I think it deserves support.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Listening to Buttigieg do the “people here in Iowa aren’t asking me about impeachment” thing on MSNBC.
I am not inspired
ETA: also, this from Harris starts strong and then…. oh god
“If you actually look at the facts of the case, you see this is one more example of the president’s outrageous dishonesty”
BGinCHI
Pelosi had room to maneuver when her argument was to decouple Trump’s impeachable offenses and the 2020 election. The public didn’t understand the issues well and there wasn’t a majority appetite for the destabilizing, messy process of impeachment.
But now that Trump has coupled corruption and the election openly, rather than covertly (at least to many low info people), she’s going to have little choice but to act.
The Democratic Party stands for lots of good policy positions, but these won’t matter if the system of government breaks down under the weight of Trump’s crimes.
Jeffro
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: That’s ok, Warren and Harris are quite strongly pro-impeachment. They’re right. Also, what a ticket! ;)
Baud
TPM is one of those publications I should read more.
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
You think he’s not being accurate? I personally like aggressive action, but a lot of people won’t and never will.
Jeffro
@BGinCHI: I’m sure she’s trying to hold off until the evidence AND public sentiment are both overwhelming, but that’s not the way the world works.
Don’t stress, Nancy Smash. Warren can run against Pence and Pence will still go down in flames. The GOP is done for a gener…oh, who am I kidding? But they haven’t got a prayer come next November.
The Moar You Know
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Well, I know who’s not getting the AG slot in the Biden administration.
NOT FUCKING HELPFUL, KAMALA.
Baud
https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/23/politics/vicente-gonzalez-trump-ukraine-impeachment-cnntv/index.html
Jim, Foolish Literalist
I’m sure he’s accurate, but to me it sounded like he was using it to downplay the issue of trump’s scandals. It’s a tricky line to walk– saying trump is godawful and we have to have policies that improve people lives, but hey, that’s the job he’s running for.
How about “Donald Trump’s self-serving dishonesty and corruption started when he promised the American people middle class tax cuts and improved access to health care, and all we have seen for three years is a man willing to violate any law, betray any obligation, to advance his own interests. He has now crossed a line that not even Richard Nixon crossed…” Just seemed to me a very flat and technocratic (not a word I often use, and not one I think of as necessarily pejorative) performance.
Betty Cracker
I was also going to post about this — glad you got there first because I would have overlooked the subscription drive plug, which I also highly recommend.
The process we have to address this unique and grave threat to our democracy is inadequate because the Founders couldn’t conceive of a treasonous president backed by a spineless, amoral and corrupt political party. Nevertheless, we have to use that inadequate process that won’t yield the results it should. As Marshall points out, there’s no choice now that Trump is openly using the powers of his office to deny us the only other avenue of his removal: a free and fair election. Impeach the motherfucker.
Betty Cracker
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Wow, that’s terrible. I like Harris, but that’s…terrible.
Ohio Mom
I remember when TPM was Josh by himself, writing extremely long rambles. He seemed better suited for academia back then.
What you consider what he evolved his little site into, it’s rather amazing. He’s a very smart cookie.
Baud
@The Moar You Know:
Agree, although I wish I could see the full transcript to be sure it’s being presented fairly.
Fair Economist
@Jeffro: Nancy Smash is responding to her constituents – the Democratic caucus. She’s not a dictator – she can twist a few arms, but if her caucus isn’t overwhelmingly for impeachment, she *can’t* impeach. At present there are about 100 not supporting impeachment; certainly some would if it came to a vote but it only takes 17 defectors to stop it and at present there are probably at least that many. The current blunt admission of criminal activity by Trump may well change some minds, and Nancy Smash will move forward on impeachment if it changes enough.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Baud: from your link, the third paragraph, the whole third paragraph
When CNN is doing better than a lot of Dems…
BGinCHI
@Betty Cracker: This is why I support Warren (among other things): she’s not distracted from where the attacks need to be leveled.
jl
@Baud: Leaders need to know how to shape public opinion when it needs shaping in order to respond to emergencies, and I think Trump’s latest criminal scheme to debauch the 2020 election qualifies as an emergency. Bill Clinton’s statement that people often prefer what looks strong but is wrong to what they perceive as weak but is actually right. That statement has often been misinterpreted and criticized. I think Clinton’s clear implication was that it is even better to appear strong, rather then weak, when you are in the right.
Looks to me that Buttigieg and Harris don’t see that. Luckily some of the other primary candidates do see that.
Harris needs to be clearer and firmer on her stands. I think she finally did that on her version Medicare for All, and I think her vision for what that would be after the transition was completed is fine, even if it takes far too long to get there. Maybe too late to help her much, though I hope not and that she improves in the polls.
Ohio Mom
@Betty Cracker: I continue to maintain Harris will make a fabulous Attorney General.
aj
Yes, love TPM and signed up last year for the 5 bucks/month.
[Individual 1] mistermix
@Betty Cracker: I also think the founders didn’t anticipate how partisanship would trump duty to country as it has in the Republican party.
Baud
@jl:
I haven’t been able to see the candidates myself today, so I’m just getting snippets from here and the internet.
Jeffro
@Betty Cracker: Exactly. Can’t subpoena documents – ENNT! Can’t call witnesses – ENNT! Can’t get his taxes – ENNT! Can’t expect witnesses to “tell the truth, the whole truth…” etc. ENNT! Can’t expect the AG to uphold the rule of law – ENNT! Can’t expect Republicans in the House OR Senate to uphold their oath – ENNT!
Ok, then. We’re going to impeach him and follow the facts without fear or favor. And if the Senate acquits, we’ll just impeach him on another charge (probably, all the crimes he commits while flailing around in a panic from the first charges!)
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Ohio Mom: IIRC Josh was still working on his PhD back then.
Jeffro
@Fair Economist: Good point. She can’t exactly say it, but if she can’t (yet) muster enough House Dems to support starting impeachment, that ain’t a great opening hand.
Hopefully today, NOW, they are seeing the light.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Ben Sasse writes books about how young people lack character and moral fiber. Two of them, I think.
BGinCHI
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: The question for Pelosi and Dem leadership is whether an impeachment inquiry will put more or less pressure on people like Sasse.
Baud
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
He means they vote for Dems.
The Moar You Know
@jl:
Buttigieg got it right. Coulda been stronger but it works. Here’s his answer to the easiest question these candidates will ever be asked, from the same AP article:
“It’s beyond laughing or crying,” said Pete Buttigieg, a White House hopeful and mayor of South Bend, Indiana. “It is a betrayal of the United States.”
Harris is from my state. She has a rep as a hard hitting lawyer, which frankly I’ve never seen any evidence of. That answer of hers is one step away from “I think Trump has a point here”
And hell, for all I can tell that’s exactly what she meant.
Baud
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/09/23/how-well-know-if-impeachment-dam-starts-break/
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: I’ve been advised that prunes helps with that.
Baud
@The Moar You Know:
Your assuming AP is characterizing it correctly. I hope they’re not.
Betty Cracker
@Fair Economist: I’m no expert on the impeachment process, but my understanding is that the House can start impeachment HEARINGS if a majority of the Judiciary Committee approves, which its chairman, Jerry Nadler, seems willing to do and indeed already has, according to some accounts. We don’t need every Democrat on board to get started on that, and get started we must.
rikyrah
Marshall has had his number from the beginning.
Baud
Look whose coming to dinner.
trollhattan
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
Suppose they’ll get more fiber by eating his book. Such a blatant fraud, yet he gets plenty of fawning press.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
He keeps this up, they’re gonna give Obama another one just to piss trump off.
Baud
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
I’m surprised no one has created a conservative Nobel Prize for him to win.
Jeffro
And now trumpov is denying he ever did anything at all…lovely! “Who, me?” He has his stages confused: at this point, he and his minions are supposed to be saying, “Yeah I/we did it…so what? This is JOE BIDEN we’re talking about here!”
Oh wait…I think I see the problem with that approach…
LOLOL
“History’s greatest monster…Joe BIden”. Good luck, GOP!
jl
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
Medicine: discovery that noise from windmills causes cancer
Physics: disproved man made climate change
Literature: Art of the Deal
Economics: proved trade wars are simple and easy to win
Chemistry: the women love him, and strong men weep in front of him and call him ‘Sir’
Trump really wants to go the whole Dear Leader route. Look for a brag about his 18 stroke rounds of golf soon.
geg6
The only site I pay to subscribe to. I went with the ad free version this year, after many years of the $50 a year version. Josh is the best editor out there and he has some of the best young reporters out there. TPM is my second most read site, right after BJ.
Baud
@jl:
Excellent.
zhena gogolia
@Baud:
Yes, I don’t trust the AP.
jl
@Baud: Baud 2020! should write up the Nobel prizes that have been ripped of its virtual hands because of Deep State treachery.
Baud
@jl:
Too bad there is no Nobel for not making any waves.
@zhena gogolia:
They’ve screwed us before. The problem for Kamala is that, even if it’s wrong, it hurts her chances to gain traction, and she doesn’t have many chances left. Time is running out.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
this is…. something
Baud
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
“What did I ever do to them?”
jl
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: ‘Interesting’… That is some understatement. The reporter have a British connection?
Trump has gotten to such a state that his flunkies are afraid to tell him anything. Or, he is really out of it, probably due to several factors, including growing senility and panic over getting caught in the middle of his latest criminal venture.
HalfAssedHomesteader
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: This is probably an unfortunately side effect of coming from a trial lawyer mindset: Never concede anything before trial.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Baud: in real time you see Mnuchin say there’s been confusion, then he remembers there is never confusion or chaos in trumpworld
Hitlesswonder
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Is there video? Because that would be a great campaign ad…Trump said he could make deals but he can’t…this is how he drove all his businesses in bankruptcy.
montanareddog
@jl:
debbie
The driver in the next car asked me what I was yelling about. It was this:
FFS.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Hitlesswonder: video.
Baud
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/france-britain-germany-jointly-blame-iran-for-attack-on-saudi-oil-facilities/2019/09/23/fa29f71a-de41-11e9-be7f-4cc85017c36f_story.html
prostratedragon
Another TPM from earlier in the day:
Both-sides that!
debbie
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
Even better, award it to Michelle.
Baud
@debbie:
And call it the Nobel Prize for Being Best.
EthylEster
But TPM’s internet poll is free!
Baud
Fuck the so called liberal cable news network.
Mary G
Per Greg Sargent at WaPo, these are the Democratic representatives most in danger of losing their seats next year:
People in these districts, contact your representative and get on their case.
Also, too, I really like Lauren Underwood.
prostratedragon
Rayne at emptywheel blog has a timeline going back to 2017. Whoever the whistleblower is, the Coats and Gordon resignations look damn loud in context.
Gin & Tonic
@prostratedragon:
No “apparently” to it.
EriktheRed
Already a TPM subscriber, myself.
prostratedragon
@Gin & Tonic: If you have a link to the info, tell Rayne, I’m sure she’d be glad to hear. The whole line is probably crowdsourced.
eldorado
even kevin drum is on board, regardless of whether a conviction can be upheld by the senate.
when you’ve lost kevin drum…
JoeyJoeJoe
@Mary G: Those are all of the Democrats who flipped Republican seats that had also voted for 45 in 2016, minus Mikie Sherrill I believe.
delk
Warren takes lead in California
Mezz
Any Jackals in MA-D Stephen Lynch’s district other than me? Is he still hewing to his bullshit position on impeachment (tl;dr: he’s sensitively opposed)? I’m going to have to start calling him regularly.
Seems for any Congressperson a simple question: Do you think Trump committed a crime? If yes, and you oppose impeachment, that is an act of moral cowardice. I don’t care: stand up to Trump. If Impeachment loses, Republicans can carry that stain (or not, as they would prefer). If Trump wins in 2020 — hey Stevie, he’s cheating like A MOTHERF***ER TO ENSURE HE DOES WIN ALREADY YOU NUMBSKULL — we’re all doomed anyway. (Like “we” as in the globe.)
Primary is tomorrow in the Commonwealth. Going straight progressive — liberal Democrats were helpful enough here in WRox to drop off a list of progressive City Council candidates like a month ago for me and Mrs. Make sure to get out and vote.
jl
@Baud: It’s a mixture of fear of criticism from the reactionary thugs, and incompetence and ignorance.
People need to contact them and clean up their act and report some facts.
One fact that they could report is that there is an established formal procedure for the US to request a legit investigation of crimes of various kinds that its citizens commit in another country. The US DOJ does a formal investigation, sends the evidence to the other country. and formally requests that they open an investigation.
That didn’t happen in this case, did it? Trump secretly leaned on the new Ukrainian government to dig up some dirt on the Bidens, sent Giuliani around to try to get them to respond to the threats and issue additional threats, sticks and carrots, and sent Pence to introduce himself as the bag man.
People should contact the corrupt and incompetent news outlets pumping out this meta meta meta horse race garbage and tell them to report some fact.
SiubhanDuinne
@Jeffro:
Okay, I’ve been trying for about an hour to figure out what ENNT! stands for. Google/acronym directories are no help, and my imagination has evidently gone dormant. What does it mean, please?
(I know I’m going to groan and smack my forehead when you explain it….)
eric
@Mezz: i think he is mine…..i shall get in touch tomorrow
Gin & Tonic
@prostratedragon: Rudy gave an interview to Dmitry Anopchenko of Inter TV back in May, shortly before Ambassador Jovanovic/Yovanovich was dismissed, calling her an enemy of Trump:
Gin & Tonic
@SiubhanDuinne: Like Bzzt!, I suspect.
Elizabelle
@eldorado: Yeah, I saw that WRT Kevin Drum.
I wonder what other people’s last straw will be. May we be getting there, fast.
cain
@jl:
It works in the animal kingdom all the time. Many creatures will try to make themselves bigger and bolder even though they could get their ass kicked by a predator.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Gin & Tonic: Yup.
cain
@rikyrah:
Starting with his term “Trumps Razor”.
Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism
Channel user/MeredithCollegeLive on the YouTube.
Omnes Omnibus
@Jeffro: What is ENNT?
cain
@Mezz:
Every Democrat needs to vote for impeachment or say they support it. If not, congress loses power to the unitary executive.
geg6
@Omnes Omnibus:
Seriously. I’m scratching my head here.
Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism
I took it to be a sound effect.
You know, the “wrong answer” buzzer? I’d link if I could.
Ben Cisco
@Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism: Behold!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V0DGjXE_BQQ
Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism
@Ben Cisco: Yay!
SiubhanDuinne
@Gin & Tonic:
@Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism:
@Ben Cisco:
Thanks. It never occurred to me that sound was spelled that way.
SiubhanDuinne
@Omnes Omnibus:
@geg6:
Others have said it’s the “wrong answer” buzzer sound effect. Absent a really terrific acronym, I’m inclined to believe them.
Omnes Omnibus
@SiubhanDuinne: I think they are keeping something from us.
Jeffro
@SiubhanDuinne: it’s that annoying game show buzzer sound when you give a wrong answer, is all ?
(Think “Family Feud”)
Jeffro
@Gin & Tonic: yup!
(Sorry folks ?)
Jeffro
@Omnes Omnibus: @SiubhanDuinne: @Omnes Omnibus: LOL
Sorry – “ENNT!” Is just more how my head hears it.
/splitter
???
Jeffro
@Ben Cisco: love it!
I often hear the traditional submarine ‘dive’ klaxon when reading almost anything about trumpov, too. Or Howard Schultz’s campaign, back when that was a thing ?
Sister Golden Bear
I’m a TPM subscriber myself. Josh has had Trump’s number for a long time.
BroD
Martin Longman seems to agree.
J R in WV
@SiubhanDuinne:
ENNT! is the sound an alarm makes when it goes off. Fire alarm, general quarters alarm, collision alarm, radiation alarm, crime alarm, you get the drift now…
dww444
@Fair Economist: What I’d like to see the Speaker do is something other than “counting the votes” Why can’t she persuade and lead? It is her constitutional and historical responsibility. No waffling when you do it. Be Clear Be Decisive. This is one of the primary reasons that Elizabeth Warren is such a strong candidate. She doesn’t equivocate and she came out decisively in favor of impeachment when she made the effort to sit down and read the redacted Mueller Report as soon as it was released.