***IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY HEARING NOV 20 THREAD 7***

[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. Kick up

[ancianita]

2. Republicans proclaim there is "no evidence" from today's witness, Sondland.

Repubs claim their prez is being bullied by impeachment.

[Pacifist Patriot]

4. And in other news, Republicans claim 1+1purple.

[polichick]

6. All they have left is gaslighting.

[NewJeffCT]

12. but, I thought Trump

was the ultimate Alpha Male Man's Man He-Man?

[ancianita]

32. Except that adults know the flip side of the bully boy is the victim. Thus, Putin, the predator.

[Roland99]

3. Stewart, imho, helping make the case for extortion

Of course Zelensky isn’t going to say he is

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Sondland is pushing back a bit on Stewart

believe it or not...

[elleng]

13. Good. Had it muted, so didn't hear.

[gademocrat7]

7. The rethugs have nothing.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. Mike Quigley (D-IL) up

[Roland99]

10. You'd indict the person who pulled the fire alarm

Whistleblower claims don’t change the presidents actions

[crickets]

11. I like his analogy - don't indict the guy who pulled the fire alarm -

It doesn't change body of evidence, just puts someone at risk.

[ancianita]

26. GS: Noun + verb + Trump + Giuliani + Pompeo + Volker + Burisma no Biden equals no smoke or fire

Just looks that way to me, so far.

Media can only go with Sondland's opening written statement to affect public opinion; if they go with testimony, they've got equivocation, which affects public opinion, too.

At least Sondland's showed up. Not sure that it's advanced the Democrats' case.

[Pacifist Patriot]

18. And continuing the casting call...

How about Patton Oswalt to play Quigley?

[BumRushDaShow]

42. I was thinking Robert Urich

(if he were still alive )

[Pacifist Patriot]

49. Goodness me!

1) You're absolutely right.
2) Holy crap, I forgot he was dead. I met him in the Atlanta airport once. Seemed like a nice guy.

[BumRushDaShow]

62. His face kept coming up in my mind when I see Quigley

and had to google "1980s cop shows" to remember his name.

[Pacifist Patriot]

65. LOL! That is precisely how I'd have done it.

[BumRushDaShow]

74. I originally considered a "young" Jack Lord

but I know he's been gone for awhile (and would have been 100 next year).

[madaboutharry]

9. The disingenuous complaining and minimizing

of Trump's crimes by these republicans is just so depressing.

[polichick]

14. Some of the RepubliCONs are such good liars they seem to believe their lies.

[mucifer]

15. that's how they win

[elleng]

16. right

[BumRushDaShow]

17. And Ghouliani thrown under the bus ("problematic to work with Ghouliani")

[Blaukraut]

21. Again! He's been under that bus so many times, he's flat as a pancake n/t

[BumRushDaShow]

19. Stupidufuckik (R-NY) up - MUTE ALERT

[Pacifist Patriot]

20. Beat me to it.

[The_Counsel]

23. She's Still on the Now Debunked Idea That Just Because Trump Didn't Say the Words...

"quid pro quo," "bribery" or "extortion" that no evidence exists.

Whatever.

[Roland99]

27. She was completely useless just now.

Repeated everything she regurgitated yesterday

[Mersky]

22. stewart is about the last person that should be lecturing

About fairness after stooping so low yesterday.

Then, after a bit stewart, went into how bush withheld aid to Pakistan, etc...

Umm, I'm pretty sure those instances withholding of aid came with real foreign policy that involved bipartisan, Congressional support.

THOSE WERE NOT FOR THE PERSONAL BENEFIT OF THE SERVING PRESIDENT. THOSE WEREN'T BRIBES TO TAKEDOWN POLITICAL OPPONENTS.

Sorry for yelling. It just isn't his money to use for muddying the election.

[crickets]

24. Good points. You're yelling to the choir; don't worry about it.

[BumRushDaShow]

25. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) up

Quoting what Drumpf said about not "knowing Sondland".

[polichick]

29. Swalwell is good!

[BumRushDaShow]

56. He has been on TV all over and twitter trolling the GOP

[polichick]

58. Yeah, I really enjoy him!

[Blaukraut]

28. They all have faces as red as tomatoes. Must be hot in there n/t

[madaboutharry]

33. I was thinking it must be really warm in the room,

but the other day I read it was cold in the room and that Ambassador Yovanovitch sat with a blanket on her lap.

[Pacifist Patriot]

35. I've noticed the flushed faces and been wondering that as well.

[crickets]

30. Swalwell up - asking ordinary and reasonable questions

Sondland is weaseling on things like the definition of 'often.'


eta - Sondland's smug laugh has me ready to smack him.

[Roland99]

31. "We followed the direction of the president "

[crickets]

34. Unsaid: the direction of the president through Rudy. nt

[ancianita]

37. Swalwell and hypothetical questions isn't a good look. Sorry, the only thing going for Dems is the

opening written statement.

It's in writing, so it is something.

[crickets]

47. It is in writing, and that may bite Sondland hard and help Dems in the end. nt

[BumRushDaShow]

36. William Hurd (R-TX) up

[ancianita]

38. Hurd: how do you reconcile your written opening statement and your testimony about the

president saying he wanted nothing.

GS: Yeah, it's difficult to reconcile.

[luvs2sing]

39. He spent the morning throwing everyone under the bus..

And has spent the afternoon pulling them out and giving them first aid. I wonder, wonder, wonder, why...hmmmmmmmmmm?

[crickets]

41. I wonder if he received a casual phone call during the lunch break. Hmmm... nt

[luvs2sing]

43. Something like that. No doubt. n/t

[Blaukraut]

44. yea, why is he walking back his already amended testimony?

When was he lying? This morning or now?

[ancianita]

45. He's using "no records" from Pompeo's State as the basis of his equivocation. So now it could

be Pompeo, Giuliani and Mulvaney, according to afternoon testimoney. Fall guys for Trump.

Without his equivocation, Dems already have evidence now about obstruction for Pompeo, conspiracy for Giuliani, obstruction from Mulvaney, and hard evidence from Trump himself.

[BumRushDaShow]

40. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) up

[meow2u3]

46. Castro had Mulvaney's press conference played

[nolabear]

50. Lord, can't ANYBODY handle simple technology?

They ought to have an intern who has this down before they even try.

[BumRushDaShow]

48. Castro replayed Mulvaney's quid pro quo presser

and forcing Sondland to admit that Mulvaney would have the direct line to Drumpf as "acting chief of staff" and his saying yes it was quid pro quo and "political influence".

[nolabear]

51. Paging Mulvaney...come defend yourself!

[Mersky]

57. Sondland said that politics is always in foreign policy, but that going after

Political rivals is inappropriate.

Really would like to insert his full, exact quote here.

[BumRushDaShow]

52. OMG Sondland claim they belived they were well in the "center lane" of proper diplomacy

[crickets]

54. He keeps saying that. Repetition doesn't make it true.

He really wants to come out of this smelling like a rose and it's not going to happen.

[ancianita]

59. This is fizzling. Before wrap up and Brussels, I hope Schiff hits hard with evidence in spite of

Sondland.

[madaboutharry]

61. Sondland bought his Ambassadorship.

He did not come up through the Foreign Service, State Department, military, etc. He has no frame of reference for what a center lane even looks like. He is a dupe who was living out a pipe dream in Europe as an Ambassador. The others wanted him in on it because he wouldn't fully understand what was going on.

[uponit7771]

73. +1,Sondland is doing a good job at presenting this BUT its really hard to think he didn't know shit

... about the Biden's until the July 25 summary was released.

NOTHING ?!

[crickets]

77. +1

[BumRushDaShow]

53. Ratfucker (R-TX) up again

[BumRushDaShow]

55. Denny Heck (D-WA) up

And Sondland just fucked up with his initial answer saying "certain conditions" were justified for foreign influence in our elections and then had to correct himself.

[BumRushDaShow]

60. Heck made Sondland admit they have no evidence of anything "criminal" regarding Hunter

[crickets]

64. Bringing Sondland to talk about patriotic duty

in order to read out the list of names of people who won't testify, including Trump. Denny Heck is good.

[BumRushDaShow]

70. Yup.

He nailed him.

[Bayard]

72. The first time I saw Sondland go perfectly still

When Rep. Heck talked about Sondland's family.

[BumRushDaShow]

63. GYMSUIT ALERT - MUTE

He hasn't banged the desk yet and voice is a bit softer but not sure how long that will last.

EDIT - someone shoved a new battery up his butt and he just got wound up.

[Pacifist Patriot]

69. I turned down my volume control, but not enough. He must be ramping back up.

I can hear his squeals again.

[JHB]

76. Gotta recycle an instant classic

[BumRushDaShow]

78. LOL!

[Hermit-The-Prog]

103. she got him!

Telnaes is a genius.

[polichick]

66. Jordan really gets off on the sound of his own voice! lol

[demmiblue]

67. Jim Jordan parroting Putin talking points:

[Roland99]

68. Gym ignoring that Zelensky isn't going to admit pressure

He wanted to get the meeting in the WH

[BumRushDaShow]

71. GYMSUIT's battery turned off. Peter Welch (D-VT) up.

[crickets]

75. Welch is pointing out that holding back the aid put people's lives on the line. Good.

[Roland99]

79. Maloney (D-NY) up now

[BumRushDaShow]

80. Sean Maloney (D-NY) up

[Mersky]

81. Oh, c'mon, Gymmy. Murphy brought up the withholding of aid days after it had already

Been reported in the media. Of course it was a topic, but that doesn’t make the quid pro quo scheme some bipartisan arrangement.

CNN reported the aid holdup on Aug 30 & the meeting of Murphy and johnson with Zelensky happened on Sept 5.

[BumRushDaShow]

82. Maloney made Sondland admit who would "benefit" from "investigations"

where "investigations" = "Bidens".

Maloney got the applause!!!! Maloney doing a GYMSUIT on him!!

[polichick]

83. Sondland is terrified of Trump.

[elleng]

86. they all are.

[BumRushDaShow]

90. He's wealthy enough not to care about Drumpf

but he is probably more worried about going the way of Manafort.

[Roland99]

84. Sondland. I've been very forthright. Maloney - this is your third time here!!

Silence abounds

[PuraVidaDreamin]

96. WoW this guy was great!

Who is he and from where does he hail?

[Roland99]

98. He's from NY

[polichick]

85. Love Maloney!

[crickets]

87. Sondland's insistence on EVERY TIME saying

"I don't want to characterize"
"I know now, but I didn't know then"
"I understand your hypothetical"
"With 20 20 hindsight"
"Burisma not Biden"

is annoying. I am SO GLAD Maloney finally nailed him on this. He HAS NOT been forthright.

[Pachamama]

88. Maloney!!!!!

Wow.....

[woodsprite]

95. Yup! Nailed his balls to the chair! nt

[crickets]

120. Gonna park the video here, cuz it's amazing...

Link to tweet

[nolabear]

89. Boy did Maloney wipe the smile off of Sondland's face!

Let's not forget he is trying to cover his ass.

[Pachamama]

94. That was amazing....

[crickets]

102. Sondland thinks he got away with "please be clear about what you're asking"

but what he really got was a potential perjury charge. Refusing to answer a question when you know the answer is as bad as making up an answer. Both answers are untrue.

[Siwsan]

91. Congressman Maloney just took my breath away.

Wow. No holds barred.

[nolabear]

97. I'm so glad. It was getting way too chummy. Sondland is NOT our friend.

And he's getting more self important as this goes on.

[blogslut]

101. That was for the books

stunning

[MerryBlooms]

104. I think Maloney is fed up with all the republican tap dancing and Sondland

trying to cya with all his not recalling bs.

[brooklynite]

92. Sean Patrick Maloney gets Sondland to say Trump would benefit from Biden investigation: applause!

[crickets]

105. It's incredible the effort that took - it shouldn't have if Sondland were an honest man. nt

[BumRushDaShow]

93. Val Demmings (D-FL) up

[Mersky]

99. Maloney - this is real life

I hope Maloney gets more time or someone tracks back onto where he was going with that.

[meow2u3]

100. Congressman Maloney got applause from the gallery

Maloney got Sundland to admit that Trump would be the one to benefit from the fabricated investigation into the Bidens.

[BumRushDaShow]

106. Val Demmings (D-FL) running through the record during May in the media

re: Ghouliani blabbing about Burisma and Hunter Biden and asking him why he wouldn't have known about that back in May vs "later".

[Siwsan]

107. Sondham has SMS (Selective Memory Syndrome)

Really, REALLY obvious.

[BumRushDaShow]

108. Demmings just gave him that "you're bullshitting me" look

[Mersky]

110. Yup

He's being a bullshitter this afternoon.

[BumRushDaShow]

109. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) up

[Mersky]

117. Ooooo... He just got Sondland

To volley back to giuliani's Oct 14 statement to the press that Sondland was in charge of the Ukraine deal

Sondland replied, if he was in charge he would have told tRump to have the meeting without preconditions.

[Roland99]

111. Have the Repukes fled?

[BumRushDaShow]

114. There aren't that many on the committee since they lost a bunch in 2018

I expect the newer ones are long gone.

[BumRushDaShow]

112. Sondland against throws Ghouliani under the bus

Raja just mentioned how in October praised Sondland and then a month later didn't know him.

Says his colleagues call him the "one Amigo".

[nolabear]

113. Krishnamoorthi is playing Sondland like a cheap fiddle.

I'm beginning to think Sondland's not that bright.

[Siwsan]

119. Skills in business to not necessarily translate well to skills in government or diplomacy

Ego tends to be a problem. IMHO, of course.

[Roland99]

115. MOOnes closing with calling it a conspiracy theory

[BumRushDaShow]

116. MOO MOO ALERT - MUTE (closing statement)

[nolabear]

118. *sigh* Here goes Nunes, bitching, whining, obfuscating, doing what he does best.

[BumRushDaShow]

121. MOO MOO needs to go back to the farm with the rest of the GOP animals.

[BumRushDaShow]

122. Schiff up - CLOSING STATEMENT

[crickets]

124. Too bad the questions ran long today. Looks like Gordo probably missed his plane. Boohoo. nt

[mucifer]

127. he could probably buy his own effing plane I don't really care

[crickets]

130. +1

[BumRushDaShow]

123. Schiff is going to make Drumpf throw Ghouliani under the bus

[Mersky]

125. Preposterous mooing

Desperate nefarious claim Ukraine doesn't support impeachment whistleblower gave birth (to a calf) Obama no answers no hear no see no tell.

Cow had a cow, and he's done - thank goodness

[Roland99]

126. Schiff - so much for the Ukrainians did not know.

You (GS) testified that you told them of the quid pro quo

[crickets]

128. Sondland is not happy about his own testimony that Schiff is reading back

to him. This man is no poker player. He looks ticked off.

[mucifer]

133. sondland really is scumb I hope they get him on perjury

[Siwsan]

129. I suspect Sondland might not want to spend one more day on this side of the pond

And, he's out of water!

[polichick]

131. Great summary by Schiff!

[crickets]

134. "Is there any accountability?"

[BumRushDaShow]

132. Sondland squirming like a kid in a chair.

[Roland99]

135. Schiff again stating the whistleblower didn't cause trumps actions

Ending with applause

[BumRushDaShow]

136. ADJOURNED AND APPLAUSE

[crickets]

137. Another standing ovation - this time for Schiff

Well deserved!

[budkin]

138. Once again Ladies and Gentlemen.... ADAM MF'ING SCHIFF!!!

GIVE IT UP!!!

[Mersky]

139. Eloquent and great summary.