Don't let Republicans focus on "the phone call". This was a multi-month extortion conspiracy.

[Tom Rinaldo]

The phone call between Trump and Zelensky was not the basis of the crime. It is one damning piece of evidence of an orchestrated multi-player national security sell out. The crime was carefully formulated and carried out by a team working at Trump's direction and it took place in multiple ways, at multiple times, and in multiple locations. The totality of the evidence must always be front and center

Damning as it may be, Republicans want to focus on that one phone call because if that is examined outside of its full context, then the impeachment burden of proof rests on how certain words spoken in a single instance are interpreted. That lends itself to a "Trump always talks that way, it may be inappropriate but it isn't impeachable" defense. Republicans want to fight on the grounds of a single phone call, a single "spontaneous" moment in time. We can't let them boil it down to that.

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. trump's "reign" has been a three year plus, multi part crime.

He is so dirty that it is hard to keep it all straight...and that is for us here at DU. With the media being so ineffective (half of it peddling non stop propaganda and lies), it is no wonder most of the country - which is likely very misinformed - has no ability to follow along (never mind pay any attention at all).

We are in bizarre times.

[panader0]

2. Kand R

[duforsure]

3. What these Congressional Republicans are missing is...

... Trump's using them now ,but if he escapes conviction he'll bypass them in Congress and all judges , then they'll be exposed by trump as corrupt using that as his excuse, and claim absolute power to do anything, anything he wants with no one to stop him. Trump's putin's personal thug here, doing everything he can to please his master by undermining and weaponizing OUR government against us. Barr has already helped him to start using his agency against us.

[uponit7771]

4. K&R, The wording here is very important. Democrats need to say bribery and call it a crime

[gab13by13]

9. yES, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT,

bumped the caps lock but maybe for a reason. No more quid pro quo, bribery or extortion, with a side order of treason, for sure the dictionary definition of treason.

[MFGsunny]

5. what is in fact "perfect" is the OP analysis here ..... BRAVO!

"Multi-player national security sell out"

No doubt Schiff knows this, but the American public must come to see and hear that ::

"The crime was carefully formulated and carried out by a team working at Trump's direction and it took place in multiple ways, at multiple times, and in multiple locations. The totality of the evidence must always be front and center."

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. Exactly right. Important point. . . . nt

[OnDoutside]

7. Lol, that was funny....Danny Heck was on with Hallie Jackson and she hit him with not saying Quid

Pro Quo, and

Danny responded "Using Latin phrases is not something I normally do, per se"

Jackson replied "Period ? Ever ?"

Whoosh !!!

I'm sure someone will explain it to her during the ad break !

[not fooled]

8. Just think about all the other countries

red don and his criminal cabal probably extorted (or tried to). I suspect they have been doing similar sh*t ever since they got in the White House.

[blakstoneranger]

10. NO PUBLIC HEARINGS

The republicans want to turn this into a sh.tt show for trumps entertainment. So trump can marvel at the performance of his flunkies. Tom Rinaldo is right 100%. But the hearings should be private and then let the public know afterwards. The witnesses may not say the same things, they may change their stories, they may conveniently forget, or plead the 5th (can't though). Who knows but whatever happens trump will turn this into his own personal reality sh..t-show. IGNORANCE OF THE LAW OR JUST BEING PLAIN STUPID IS NO EXCUSE!!!

[erpowers]

11. I Had A Similar Question

While reading an article about the Ukraine issue it began the seem that the Ukraine issue involved more than just one phone call. It began to seem that the issue had involved a number of actions on multiple days. I wondered if Democrats should begin to focus on the things that happened that were connected to the phone call. However, it seemed that beginning to discuss the things that were connected to the phone call could allow Republicans to claim that Democrats were moving the goal posts. So, how do you think Democrats should explain, to the American people, beginning to focus on the things that were connected to the phone call and not just on the phone call?

[mgardener]

12. The allotted money by Congress

Would have expired on Sept. 29.
The money was released on 9/11.
Trump did not "release the money", State Dept lawyers did because they felt it was illegal to withhold .
Trump let Gulliani lose in the Ukraine to work behind the scenes deals. Either Guiliani was working for himself with the POTUS blessing or he was working for Trump.

[grantcart]

13. Bingo

[robbob]

14. Wasn't tRump just saying this the other day?

He was saying how he would release more of the call “since that is the whole point of this”, or something like that. He’s so transparent; whatever he says/does is the exact opposite of what is true.

[Martin Eden]

15. Exactly

This was a sustained coordinated campaign of extortion.

[moondust]

16. Yes.

I think it's possible the whole thing started with Dump's desperation to find the help he needs to get re-elected so he can stay out of jail. His gang figured consistent front-runner Biden would pose the biggest threat and probably end up with the nomination so they set out to find a way to start undermining him. Biden family exposure in Ukraine plus U.S. leverage over Ukraine looked like a good place to start the takedown.

[Joe941]

17. I think we should focus on the Mueller report.

That seems to be more damning than Ukraine.