is all Mulveny accomplished, per his script, to save is his job.

Lying little weasel.

I hope they all Burn. In. Hell.

But once again, folks, a quid pro quo wasn't/isn't required in order for the episode to constitute an impeachable offense.

As icing on the cake, though, it's tasty.

Isn't one of the clauses for impeachment that a leader cannot ask for favours from foreign countries in return for other favours? That, to me, sounds like quid pro quo.

that the asking of favors is enough to satisfy the impeachability standard. So quid pro quo isn't necessary. Don't get me wrong. I'd love to see articles of impeachment that are pages and pages and pages long.

The impeachability "standard" is whatever Congress says it is, there's no formal definition.

And just the ask of a favor is enough for a criminal indictment.

Nobody would bat an eye if the us pressured turkey to protect the kurds. We could with hold aid, military supporr, even trade to get them to do us a favor.

Not impeachable.

But to do it for personal gain is. To do it for personal political advantage is.


We pressure foreign governments all the time. For trump though, its purely corrupt, and that is both impeachable and criminal.

Quid pro quos are legal, but not THIS one, because there's a law against this one.

or is this some TV hack's "interpretation?"

Said it in a news conference.

and reporters let him get away with it. The press needs to grow a spine and start calling these assholes out on this stuff, and I mean on the spot.

heard a reporter make the point that the Dems were not ignoring legislation for this investigation. They mentioned one important bill and I can't recall if they talked about others. Good for them for making that point. It was later, though, not during Mulvaney's press conference.

New York Times, 10/17/19

In LBN:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142382906

(clearly undercutting Trump's claim of no quid pro quo),

"We had to do it - anybody would!"

Perfect assholes.

This is, once again, an example of trying to convince the public that crimes committed openly aren't crimes. This is part of a pattern. Deny, lie, obfuscate and then acknowledge while claiming it's perfectly okay and normal.

Mark my words, there are many people (and I don't just mean Cult45) who will fall for that tactic and the narrative Republicans are trying to establish will become the dominant narrative. Unless Democrats are vigilant and work hard at establishing what should be the dominant narrative. Part of that effort has to include shining a bright light on what Mulvaney and Co. are attempting to do.

The same goes for the tactic of creating a massive problem (e.g., trade war, slaughter of Kurds) for whatever reason (incompetence, ideology, distraction), applying a bandaid and then claiming victory.

It's not enough to debate the *what*, especially when it's on their terms. We must shine a light on the *why*.

the argument will be this is hardly the first time that the U.S. has used something like a carrot and a stick tactics in aid and diplomacy. In fact it is pretty much SOP.

So the emphasis here must be that the "Qou" requested was for a blatantly partisan (and electoral) advantage .. rather than some national or strategic goal.
AND .. for that very clear reason, half the people with knowledge of this affair were repulsed and flipping out .. leading to the WH organizing a belated and self-damning cover up.

Disinformation. Deliberate. Lather, rinse repeat. Totalitarian tactic.

That’s what that morally bankrupt Mulvaney told the press.

My blood pressure spiked.

EDIT
Link added because his attitude is unbelievable even when corroborated, but here’s the corroboration anyway.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mick-mulvaney-acknowledges-quid-pro-quo_n_5da8a1ffe4b0b24e75deeec6

You're right. It's not just lying, but strategic, constant manipulation and targeted 'spin' of current events to present them in a way that casts doubt on any pushback.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212548797

FORMER FBI AGENT SAYS TRUMP ATTEMPTED TO EMPLOY COVERT PROPAGANDA AGAINST AMERICAN PUBLIC

that Democrats, so far, have had control of the narrative these past two weeks. They just need to keep it up.

Now please issue a statement asking Trump to resign. This should have happened already and needs to happen NOW.

And would Obama, Bush, Clinton and Carter PLEASE join in.

They can't be allowed to get away with the, "Yeh, we did it. So what?" after two weeks of lying.

order to not be pardoned.

(apologies to the Spice Girls!)

was timed to help bury this little tidbit?

speak out about this? What a slimy little weasel he is. No cojones, no spine, no self respect. Just another toady.

that they were referring to these reports as "fake news"? Now, it's "well everyone does it!"

Not one bit.

How many times will we let this slide? Impeach away

And are walking back Mulvaney's comments.

I wonder if he saw it coming.

We (meaning Democrats) have to jump on this and focus on the fact that the administration is acting like a guilty person changing their story every 15 minutes. If you've seen one 48 Hours Mystery, you've seen them all. The killer always changes their story and then gets caught.

Mulvaney was trying to spin the story to normalize the "quid pro quo" saying that it is a normal part of negotiations, which in a normal administration is true. We always negotiate and give some concessions for other benefits. HOWEVER, Mulvaney tried to spin the fact that Trump clearly talked about "the Biden's" very clearly in the call with Ukraine's president. That quid pro quo was clearly illegal and no amount of spinning is going to change that.

Now that Mulvaney whiffed on that, the administration has to do damage control. Thank goodness they are so inept.

... into Mulvaney's mouth and make them not said.

Unless the WH comes out and says Mulvaney doesn't know WTF he's talking about there's no "walk back" ... these people live on another planet.

At this point trump can admit to bribery and nothing will happen as long as the republican controlled senate will not convict. I think we should just let trump the idiot keep doing stupid sh..t, keep a detailed record of it, then let the voters decide if they want a "CRIMINAL" to represent our country as POTUS. Because if you've been watching the stuff he's been doing (and what he's encouraged others to do for him), then you can just imagine what he's done as a private citizen. No wonder he doesn't want us to see his tax forms. They're probably full of tax fraud. I'm convinced based on what I've seen that this president is a criminal. I will not vote for a criminal. If obama had committed the crimes trump has, i would definitely not vote for him or any other politician.

no quid pro quo required no matter how many times trump and his cabal say otherwise.

But there was clearly quid pro quo. Look no further than Trump's use of the word "though."

An acknowledgement of quid pro quo adds some legal heft that makes Republicans look even more pathetic when they vote to acquit.

that it wasn't required for this to be a crime.
mulvaney just admitted it and said it was done all the time. well no it is not, not to hurt the president's primary political opponent.

i'm spun by all the propaganda and how outlandish it is.

If they put it out there then the moronic Americans think that it must be OK and legal. This is what they do with everything and it has worked for them so far.

Everyone else in the United States knows that if you are questioned in an investigation and if you start change your story, authorities zero in on your ass and you will get burned.