***IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY HEARING NOV 20 THREAD 3***

[crickets]

Other streams: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212688024#post9

NYT Live Updates: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/20/us/politics/impeachment-hearings.html
Global News Canada Live: https://globalnews.ca/news/6189777/live-trump-impeachment-hearings-sondland-day-4/
Wonkette Live: https://www.wonkette.com/the-gordon-problem-impeachment-liveblog-day-four

[crickets]

1. Bump

[demmiblue]

2. I joke but, my God, how low we have fallen as a nation under Trump. How shameful.

I joke but, my God, how low we have fallen as a nation under Trump. How shameful. We still haven't reached the bottom.

"Loves your ass." Trumpspeak. 3 letter words. 4 letter words. Quid pro quo. A$AP Rocky. This is the Presidency that 60 million thought would make them great again. Are you not entertained?

Link to tweet

[Bucky]

18. Honestly, it's not the crude language. It's the extortion.

It's the politicization of foreign aid to trash his expected Democratic rival for 2020. Harry Truman cussed up a blue streak, but always served the nation and the Constitution.

It's the bite, not the bark, that betrays the country.

[crickets]

53. Well said. nt

[Bucky]

3. What's the manbaby twittering?

Or are his manbabysitters managing to keep him away from his "smart"phone

[nolabear]

9. Utter silence. Rumor has it he's tied to a chair.

[Pacifist Patriot]

11. That may very well be a porcelain throne.

He has to be shitting himself!

[nolabear]

13. 😂😂😂

[klook]

27. I'm waiting for "I don't really know the gentleman." (nt)

[Roland99]

4. So. Sondland has stated there was a quid pro quo but keeps trying to evade

saying it again outside of his opening statement when it’s obvious that’s the intent behind more of his conversations with Taylor, Morrison, et al

[BumRushDaShow]

5. I just posted in the other thread that there was something about him that reminds me of

Felix Sater (and the slime factor)!

[Hermit-The-Prog]

8. he's completely for hire -- except he has a strong sense of self-preservation

[BumRushDaShow]

15. Yup. That pretty much sums it up!

[crickets]

21. This. This man is slimy, but he's not nearly as slimy as the scum

he is taking down. I just hope his testimony holds. Let this man walk if he can just get everyone else on the hook.

[Botany]

6. Bus Music ... Sen. Johnson, Pence, Pompeo, Rudy, & Mulvanay

[Hermit-The-Prog]

16. the wheels on the bus are spinning in air -- too many bodies under the frame

[nolabear]

7. It's too early on the W Coast for me to be laughing this hard.

Can we request Devin cam to see what he looks like right now? 😂

[ancianita]

10. "Everything about Ukraine is Giuliani. I'm just an unwitting accomplice."

And where's Rudy been lately?

"The only thing I know is that the "investigation" must be announced publicly. President Trump presumably spoke through Mr. Giuliani."

[uponit7771]

12. LOL !! Sondland is driving a monster truck bus ... he's rolling over everyone !!!

[Roland99]

14. Sondland saying Ukraine investigations only needed to be announced publicly

Since Ukraine has a history of not following thru

Backs up yesterday’s testimony from Volker / Morrison

[Pacifist Patriot]

19. And what I've thought since the call become public knowledge.

It was always about a smear, not substance.

[DeminPennswoods]

63. Agree with this

assessment.

[Mersky]

17. My Granny's watching the hearing like a champ

She decided she wants to postpone our plans today, because she's all caught up in the testimony.

[polichick]

20. Slurp...

[klook]

38. Is that a picture of Marco Rubio? (nt)

[mahatmakanejeeves]

22. Based on Sondland testimony, House is fully entitled to hear from, at a minimum: Pompeo, Bolton,...

Kevin M. Kruse Retweeted

Based on Sondland testimony, House is fully entitled to hear from, at a minimum: Pompeo, Bolton,Mulvaney. Oh, and Vice President Pence.

Link to tweet

[mucifer]

23. I want Bolton's testimony

[ancianita]

24. They won't get any of them before this committee. They're 45-over-impeachment process.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

25. Sondland matches speed of questioner, will fail under Jacketoff questioning

[mucifer]

26. I agree.

[BumRushDaShow]

28. Now he's admitting the quid pro quo to the aid

(and not just the meeting)

[polichick]

29. This guy might shit his pants on the stand before it's over.

[ancianita]

35. Looks to me that he's looking like, "y'all really got nothin', you know that, right?"

Whatever your 2+2=4 logic is, dudes.


Bottom line: "President Trump never told me directly that aid was conditioned on announcement of elections.

The only direct Giuliani statement was this was about the 2020 elections. "

[polichick]

43. He's acting - watch his jiggling body and water slurping.

[Roland99]

30. FYI - both MOOnes and Gym have left the room and returned

Getting new talking points?

Having to change their underwear?

[crickets]

32. Yep, they're burning up the cell towers to the WH getting new talking points. nt

[Hermit-The-Prog]

34. new orders from Agolf Twitler

[crickets]

45. *snerk* good one!

[obamanut2012]

98. stealing

[extvbroadcaster]

31. Sondland trying to get out of this mess

The guy gave a million bucks to Trump, found out he was in the middle of a scandal and now wants out. "Everybody was in the loop" is his way of saying "I'm not going down for this" - I bet he just wants to go back to being a rich guy and regrets ever getting involved with Trump. Join the club, moron! Trump is a dirtbag that always dirties everything and everybody.

[uponit7771]

33. +1, Sondland paid a mill for his position and all he got was a Tshirt with an inmate number on it

[Hermit-The-Prog]

48. HA! thanks for that laugh!

[DeminPennswoods]

52. Boy, howdy is your post spot on!

I really feel sorry for Sondland. He obviously paid his 1M for an ambassadorship that would be fun, not require much real work, get to host and attend lots of parties and just generally have a good time among people of similar social status to himself. Now he's in this nightmare from trying to please Trump et al and doesn't know how to get out of it.

[gristy]

36. when Nunes and minority counsel are recognized, they're going to hit Sondland on lack of notetaking

I don't think it's going to get them very far, but we'll see...

majority counsel is doing a really good job right now.

[oswaldactedalone]

37. Sondland perjuring himself?

[mucifer]

40. seems like it to me.

[padah513]

44. If not yet

He's close to it

[crickets]

61. This is what I was afraid of - starts strong, can't hold it together. nt

[Botany]

39. Senator Goldman?

The man has skills.

[ancianita]

46. Except that his meticulous questioning isn't getting much from Sondland.

[Roland99]

55. Sondland being quite evasive despite laying it all out in his opening stmt

And he’s trying to protect trump it seems, yet throw everyone else under the bus

[DeminPennswoods]

59. Goldman's being a bit too adversarial and his frustration is coming across

Sondland's a friendly, back-slapping type guy. A friendlier approach would be getting more out of Sondland, imho.

[ancianita]

69. I seriously doubt that Sondland falls for any happy horseshit style.

[DeminPennswoods]

83. I think you catch more flies with honey than vinegar

I don't think this was Goldman's best work. And, I don't think Schiff helped the cause by taking 10 minutes for himself off the top.

[ancianita]

90. Nice belief that doesn't apply to someone who's already a master of honey over vinegar.

Schiff's break might be time to verify that the Repubs just talked to the White House for talking points, which is process tampering by the executive branch. Just speculating about their penchant for keeping an eye on the executive's continued obstruction and abuse of power.

It's more than it appears, is all I'm saying.

[DeminPennswoods]

115. JMO, but starting off with a "thank you for your service..."

etc makes the witness feel comfortable. After all, Sondland could have declined to appear as he was told to do by the WH/State Dept.

Coming out swinging makes a witness uncomfortable and defensive and adds to whatever stress the witness is already feeling.

[ancianita]

116. I hear you. But it's their call. The guy looks anything but stressed, from what I can see.

[DeminPennswoods]

119. Of course

I'm not a lawyer and it is their call.

I could see what Schiff and Goldman were trying to elicit - a confirmation of the call in the restaurant. Sondland couldn't remember it and it was frustrating for Schiff and Goldman to have to try a few different ways to get the testimony they wanted. Sondland sorta, kinda admitted it, but it wasn't exactly what they wanted.

[ancianita]

122. I like the idea of calling him sorta Sondland. The only thing he's revealed is "everyone" was

"in the loop."

All of those "in the loop," from GS's show of lack of awareness of plans and goals, sounds like a feckless front group for Trump.

[asiliveandbreathe]

41. To mute, or not to mute - that is the question..when moonez takes over..

Someone here mentioned a Duncan cap....

[uponit7771]

42. Crap, FAUX News just got there soundbite from Sondland

[mucifer]

49. Yeah I think Sonland isn't too bright and nunes and jordan will eat him for lunch

[mindfulNJ]

50. Yup

That's all the sheeple will hear from Fox about this entire testimony.

[backtoblue]

54. He's "not recalling" conversations with trump

His statement earlier of "it would refresh his memory if the state dept releases documents" is interesting .

[crickets]

64. Good point, I hope the Dems remember this for later questions. nt

[madaboutharry]

58. It doesn't matter much what Fox reports.

Trump didn't say it to him directly, but it was all coming from Trump.

Sondland says he was absolutely convinced it was coming from Trump.

[uponit7771]

60. +1, More accurately its coming from Rudy I think someone from the WH just tweeted something

... about Rudy and it looks like they're going to throw Rudy under the bus and act like Trump didn't say anything.

[madaboutharry]

47. One thing we can be certain of

is that during the 5 minute questioning there will be a lot of republicans screaming at Sondland.

[uponit7771]

56. +1, this is where Jordan strips, hits the pole and starts twerkin KGOP don't have anything else

[Polly Hennessey]

51. "Water, water everywhere..."

and Sondland is drinking it all. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Chairman, potty break, please.

[BumRushDaShow]

57. He's all over the map now

[Roland99]

62. He's protecting trump at this point

Refusing to specifically name him as the source of the requirement for the investigations despite having said he was certain there was a quid pro quo re: investigations and aid

[BumRushDaShow]

73. Yup. That was the obvious take-away.

[crickets]

74. It's odd. Earlier he had no problem tossing Trump under the bus. nt

[uponit7771]

82. +1, looks like the goal is to make claims we can agree with but not implicate Trump directly on ...

... anything.

"I think" or "I surmise" is different from "Trump said"

Looks like the former MO senator thinks the same thing !!

[BumRushDaShow]

65. **** 5 - 10 MINUTE BREAK **** MOO MOO WILL BE UP AFTER

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

70. After all the water Sondland was drinking he'll need all 10 minutes

just to pee.

[BumRushDaShow]

78. LOL

[Roland99]

75. Is that Stewart hovering over Gym? Who was the woman they were talking to

MOOnes didn’t look thrilled.

[Roland99]

77. Gym and Castor now likely forming a game plan of gotcha questions

[ancianita]

66. All the Repubs need is "I don't recall." They'll not press him.

"By Sept 8, I still believed, from a timeframe standpoint, that aid was contingent... but I never heard it from Trump directly..."

That's what the Repubs will care about.

Goldman says: Do you agree?

Sondland says: I believe you are correct.

[polichick]

67. The RepubliCONs look pretty freaked out.

[padah513]

71. Did you see Nunes' face?

[Pacifist Patriot]

76. Just posted that. Don't think I've ever seen him look like that before.

Jordan still looks oddly gleeful and manic talking to Castor.

[uponit7771]

68. LOFL !! The KGOP .... DOES NOT ... look encouraged !!!

[Pacifist Patriot]

72. Nunes face when Schiff announced the break. Holy crap.

Now the Republicans are having a little frantic conference around Jordan.

[mucifer]

79. They will do their best to make him look stupid.

We shall see how that works.

[Pacifist Patriot]

81. Think they'll ask him to out the whistleblower?

[Politicub]

94. And he is Trump's appointee. People know this. Even the GOP, though

they will not acknowledge the gravity of what that means.

And Trump directed Galliani. He hired Giuliani as his hit man. I hope Sondland throws Bolton under the bus a few times because Bolton’s ego will compel him to appear before the committee to protect his reputation.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

80. they'll ask Sondland if he ever convicted Trump of bribery

[C_U_L8R]

84. He makes these comical sad sloth movements

Complete with eyerolls and cheek puffs. Dork.

[crickets]

85. I just caught up - his FACE. Nunes knows it could well be over today. Over. nt

[Claritie Pixie]

91. I saw that! What a look he gave the guy beside him. Made me laugh with glee!

[Hermit-The-Prog]

86. Schiff sums it up to press during break

[DeminPennswoods]

87. Who's the "blue tie guy" sitting

behind Sondland's left (looking forward) shoulder? His face is pretty expressive. I caught a couple of eye rolls while I was watching.

[padah513]

96. Lawyer I think

[gristy]

88. Great statement in the hallway by Schiff at the break between Majoring and Minority questioning

[demmiblue]

89. Bret Baier on Sondland's testimony: "On its face it's very damaging to some of the arguments the GOP

Link to tweet

[Roland99]

92. On its face, under its skin, and deep in its bones!

[KWR65]

93. Sondland: I don't recall, but I never mentioned Biden's name.

If he doesn't remember then why does he know he never mentioned Biden?

[Politicub]

95. The talking head on NBC said that Sondland is making it sound like

he was the most incurious diplomat of all time considering he was in the midst of everything swirling around him.

[uponit7771]

99. +1, Sondland doesn't want to point to Red Don directly on anything. They're not slick !!!

[mucifer]

100. that's why he was hired for that post between the money and him being unqualified they

thought they had the perfect lackey.

That did not work out for them

[crickets]

101. Yes. Also MSNBC is dinging him for his lack of contrition; says it mars his cred a bit. nt

[padah513]

103. Yes and the funny thing is

That whenever anything was brought up regarding the investigations, he was usually the one who initiated the conversation.

[Bettie]

107. Well, he didn't get the post to BE a diplomat

he's a rich dilettante who wanted to go to fancy parties and act important.

So, incurious isn't really a surprise in this case.

On the other hand, I'm really surprisingly sad that this is who we are now.

This is our nation: criminals running rampant with the explicit consent of a significant portion of our citizens and not a single Republican with the ethics to say "ENOUGH".

[uponit7771]

97. MAGA Cult will hammer on ... EXPLICITNESS ... of Trump orders vs what Sondland surmises.

[crickets]

102. THREAD FOUR LIVE

Fresh thread for a fresh round of testimony

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212708897

[demmiblue]

104. Castor: wtf can I do with that?

Link to tweet

[extvbroadcaster]

105. I won't burn for you

Sondland seems to be saying "I won't burn for you" to Trump and anybody else. Serves his rich ass right. He bought an ambassadorship with a million bucks, and now finds out his ass is new mown grass.

[Marthe48]

106. sondland lacks nuanced thinking

He is flippant. He doesn't seem to have the outlook that the deal he was working on with the other crooks was so very illegal.

At least that's what I'm getting.

[Hortensis]

111. Yes. Coming in he had to be afraid but to me looked more pleased

at being the center of attention than anything else. And now as you say.

He's been told, and believes, his team's going to win. Arrogance.

[brooklynite]

108. And.....Devin Nunes decides to stick to the script...

Democrats worked with Ukraine to "get" Donald Trump

[Marthe48]

109. commentators discussed the Biden investigation as show

Finally, they are describing what trumpskie really wanted: the announcement of an investigation, not an actual investigation.

[extvbroadcaster]

110. Nunes hits the talking points

Again, everybody is out to get Trump! Of course that explains everything! You wonder what kind of asshole Nunes has to be to act this way. Him and gym Jordan take the cake.

[Pacifist Patriot]

112. I wonder more about his breath.

Does he ever take a break from kissing ass?

[kairos12]

114. Sonland is throwing

binders full of men under the bus.

[Wawannabe]

121. ...

Hilarious!

[DeminPennswoods]

117. The best strategy for the Rs is to focus on Sondland's

testimony that he went through Rudy and did not actually hear it from Trump's lips that WH meeting and military aid was dependent on announcing investigations into Biden/Burisma/2016. That keeps their "hearsay" argument at least somewhat intact.

[Claritie Pixie]

118. They can try that angle, but Sondland testified Trump directed everything.

No one will believe them except the MAGA cult.

[DeminPennswoods]

120. That's about the only angle the Rs have

But, of course, the "defense" is being directed by Trump which is why the Rs are forced to follow him down these ridiculous rabbit holes.