If the gang at Morning Joe going over Gordon Sondland's opening statement is any guide, today's testimony is going to be bombshell. You can watch it here, after the jump. 5:30 PM Update: two more witnesses, Laura Cooper, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, and David Hale, undersecretary of state for political affairs at the State Department, are due to begin their testimony.
Read Sondland's opening statement here.
Share your thoughts and observations below. I'll be sharing mine as well.
(Sondland image via screen grab)
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Eyes On Fox commented
2019-11-20 13:50:37 -0500
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Ellen, I watched some of MSNBC’s coverage during the break and it was night and day different from Fox’s (until Wallace spoke). You wouldn’t think they were discussing the same hearing.
Ellen commented
2019-11-20 13:34:12 -0500
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Thanks, Eyes. I was watching MSNBC to hear what they thought, given that I was watching Fox all morning.
Eyes On Fox commented
2019-11-20 13:32:28 -0500
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Watching Fox News’ all-in, full-throated defense of Trump during the break I think Nunes should have called in Bill Hemmer to be his pitch-hitter on the committee instead of Gym Jordan. Though Hemmer appears to have made the mistake of inviting Chris Wallace to the discussion who’s throwing a big cold bucket water on their Trump ass-kissing party. Chris when as far as to accuse previous panelist Ken Starr of data-mining spin!
Ellen commented
2019-11-20 13:22:17 -0500
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Bemused, I agree with your explanation as to why Sondland got the job (also his donation) but I’d like him to explain on the record why he was interfering in Ukraine when it’s not in his portfolio.
Also, the aid to Ukraine was released to them after the whistleblower complained and they have the Javelin missiles. But a condition is, they can’t use them on the Russia battlefield.
Also, the aid to Ukraine was released to them after the whistleblower complained and they have the Javelin missiles. But a condition is, they can’t use them on the Russia battlefield.
Bemused commented
2019-11-20 12:50:58 -0500
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Nunes is dumb as a fence post. That so-called “foreign aid” for Ukraine was supposed to help them buy Javelin missiles from the USA. That money won’t even leave the USA. Seems the only “aid” the USA has provided is for military purposes.
It would appear that Germany has provided US$ 1.2 billion in aid, some military but mostly for development and investments. Further, the EU as a whole has reportedly provided over US$15 billion in aid, mostly for development and investments. Makes Trump’s USA look just a tad stingy.
It would appear that Germany has provided US$ 1.2 billion in aid, some military but mostly for development and investments. Further, the EU as a whole has reportedly provided over US$15 billion in aid, mostly for development and investments. Makes Trump’s USA look just a tad stingy.
Eyes On Fox commented
2019-11-20 12:47:14 -0500
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On cue, Trump spews his typical line of bullshit:
President Trump on Sondland: “I don’t know him very well. I have not spoken to him much. This is not a man I know well. Seems like a nice guy though. But I don’t know him well. He was with other candidates.”
President Trump on Sondland: “I don’t know him very well. I have not spoken to him much. This is not a man I know well. Seems like a nice guy though. But I don’t know him well. He was with other candidates.”
Bemused commented
2019-11-20 12:33:12 -0500
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Ellen wrote: One question I hope is asked: Why was Sondland involved in Ukraine? He’s an unqualified ambassador to EU.
I believe his lack of qualifications WAS his main qualification. After that little detail of US$ 1 million donated to Trump’s inaugural event.
To my mind, the people who appointed W. Taylor, Lt. Col. Vindman, K. Volker, J. Williams, etc. etc. did not realise that they were qualified, experienced civil servants. That realisation would have immediately disqualified them.
I believe his lack of qualifications WAS his main qualification. After that little detail of US$ 1 million donated to Trump’s inaugural event.
To my mind, the people who appointed W. Taylor, Lt. Col. Vindman, K. Volker, J. Williams, etc. etc. did not realise that they were qualified, experienced civil servants. That realisation would have immediately disqualified them.
Ellen commented
2019-11-20 11:43:24 -0500
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One question I hope is asked: Why was Sonderland involved in Ukraine? He’s an unqualified ambassador to EU.
Ellen commented
2019-11-20 11:07:51 -0500
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Bret Baier: Sondland testimony is cleaning up for Kurt Volker, not Trump.
Ellen commented
2019-11-20 11:04:50 -0500
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During current break, Fox is discussing “quid pro quo.”
Ellen commented
2019-11-20 11:00:38 -0500
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Goldman’s questioning is unbelievably brutal for Trump.
Bemused commented
2019-11-20 09:42:57 -0500
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Wow. If I can believe my ears, Sondland is throwing everybody else under the bus.
Bemused commented
2019-11-20 09:35:10 -0500
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The extent to which Nunes et al are willing to demonstrate their illiteracy is mind boggling.
Transactions, exchanges, extorsion, bribery and all such terms are different sorts of “quid pro quo”.
Transactions and exchanges that are fair are “good” forms of quid pro quo. Extorsion, bribery, blackmail, price-gouging and such-like are not acceptable forms of quid pro quo.
So much so that there exists a large body of law to curb and punish such actions.
Rather than admit that Trump is corrupt, GOPers are willing to appear as dumb as the proverbial fence post.
Transactions, exchanges, extorsion, bribery and all such terms are different sorts of “quid pro quo”.
Transactions and exchanges that are fair are “good” forms of quid pro quo. Extorsion, bribery, blackmail, price-gouging and such-like are not acceptable forms of quid pro quo.
So much so that there exists a large body of law to curb and punish such actions.
Rather than admit that Trump is corrupt, GOPers are willing to appear as dumb as the proverbial fence post.
Eyes On Fox commented
2019-11-20 09:32:31 -0500
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I have an appointment so I’ll miss the morning hearing. But I am listening to the opening statements. Devin ‘Internet Cow Hater’ Nunes is claiming a lot of debunked accusations against Trump which, IMHO, never were debunked. But then he’s pretending there’s no evidence of Trump criminality against a mountain of the same.
Ellen commented
2019-11-20 09:28:08 -0500
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I notice Nunes has not said anything about “hearsay” so far.
Ellen commented
2019-11-20 09:27:48 -0500
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Now Nunes is complaining that impeachment is not bipartisan.
Ellen commented
2019-11-20 09:26:30 -0500
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“Partisan extremists” have “hijacked the Intelligence Committee.”
Ellen commented
2019-11-20 09:25:45 -0500
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Devin Nunes: “No conspiracy theory is too far-fetched” or “asinine” for the Democrats.