Ambassador Bill Taylor Testimony On Ukraine - "very, very troubling testimony" says one congressman
Bill Taylor’s opening statement was 15 pages long and prompted “a lot of sighs and gasps.”
Reporting that those breaking from the Congressional Hearing where Bill Taylor is testifying are saying things like, "this is the most disturbing day I've had in Congress so far" and, "very, very troubling testimony ". Today is a good day! #TuesdayThoughts
@AndrewDesiderio
· 23m
New: Per source in the room, Bill Taylor’s opening statement was 15 pages long and prompted “a lot of sighs and gasps.”
One lawmaker who sat in on the session said he found Bill Taylor ’s testimony to be alarming: “All I have to say is that in my 10 short months in Congress—it’s not even noon, right—and this is my most disturbing day in Congress so far. Very troubling.”
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Guilt is being established. What will the punishment be?
Lynching might seem appropriate...
Not to derail, but Christiane Amanpour is kicking Mark Esper's ass on CNN right now. That boy has been drinking too much Trump tea...lie after lie after lie after lie...
Saw that, fun to watch.
“All Republicans must remember what they are witnessing here - a lynching." - DJT Tweet
Don't worry Donald, many of your Republican supporters likely still look back fondly on the past lynching's in America so they won't be bothered at all by the irresponsible tone deaf ignorance and hate spewing forth from the cesspool you call a mouth.
Yeah, whatever you have to tell yourself. The Democrat History isn't that long.
And now all those Southern Democrats are Republicans, and still hate the idea of blacks, women, and gays having equal rights.
Just another lie perpetrated by Democrats in a vain attempt to distance themselves and their party from their racist, Jim Crow days.
Intelligent people know better.
Bullshit. When exactly did they change?
You're insulting yourself and your fellow Trump worshippers, then. Because you clearly do NOT know better - you think you do, but you're wrong. The GOP used to be the party of progressive values - yet now look at you and your ilk, hating progressives and everything they stand for (change, equal rights, and all that). The Democrats were the party of the South.
Anyone with half a brain knows these things. Go take a class on civics, perhaps? Or read this, it's a pretty good summary:
Wow, your state must have really shitty schools - or perhaps you skipped class when they taught civics.
Do some fucking research and stop drinking the Fox koolaid.
Um, the KKK is a right wing group in this century. Nice try.
How embarrassing it must be for Republicans to not even know what their own damn Southern Strategy is.
That must be why Trump appeals to so many of them ... ignorance seeks its own.
Don't forget ID.....................
Your inability to grasp civics is not my problem.
What I provided was not opinion; but then, I doubt you bothered reading it anyway because it didn't tell you what you want to believe. Typical behavior for Trump fans.
How convenient for the Democratic Party to just look the other way all those years Southern Democrats were installing Jim Crow.
Of course, the South comfortably gave Democrats a majority for decades. Didn't hear anything from the Democratic Party denouncing Jim Crow--did you in all those decades?
@1.2.17
Some Democrats participate in the soft bigotry of low expectations.
Related:
Republicans quit trying to rein in Trump after ‘lynching’ tweet
Some GOP lawmakers defended the president, while others simply declined to criticize him.
I saw a clip. She's a solid journalist and reporter. He was getting nothing by her. She clearly knows the topic as well if not better then he does.
I will admit that out of the many cabinet members in this Administration he at least seemed measured and knowledgeable and didn't recite the standard stupid talking points.
"They" weren't talking about lynching Trump. Mr Foot In Mouth used the term, no one else.
Ya just gotta love the hypocrisy!
Not a single one of the Republicans I have ever known ever supported the lynchings perpetrated in many, many cases by Democrats.
Is "lynching" a new trigger word for the left?
Removal from office, then let SDNY arrest him and rip him to shreds.
I kinda like the idea of him swishing a mop across the floor at Sing-Sing
I like it!
I kinda like the idea of him swishing a mop across the floor at Sing-Sing
And not only our Bone-Spur-Challenged Commander-in-Cheif, but also the entire Terump Crime Family as well!
Hey - make sure your bias doesn't come out to obviously, OK?
Yes, all Democrats present, and all Democrats talking; and not one f'ing detail of the statement to back them up.
That is the great thing about secret closed door investigations where the Dems get to ask all the questions, and the Republicans can only have a monitor- no one can blast them for their bullshit when they make unsubstantiated statements.
Did anyone else notice that all the talkers coming out of the "meeting" are Dems? Yep, me too.
Taylor's opening statement.
Why yes, YES I did. It seems that the GOP doesn't want to get in front of the cameras and mics to defend Trump. Nunes hasn't posted even one comment on the minority side of the Committees website since the Impeachment inquiry started. Didn't he used to be the voice of Trump?
There is no defense of what Trump did. That is the jaw dropping aspect of all of this. The only "defense" they can muster is that the Democrats are not being "fair" in the committee. Not one defense on the facts. Many people have been deposed and the Republicans have not discredited a single one of them.
This is an avalanche of evidence against Trump which the Republicans are trying to hold back with a garden rake.
You aren't giving them credit due John. They will continue to spew out defenses.
BUTT it's not impeachable. It's not a crime.
Utter bullshit and anyone who has watched Graham's speech at Clinton's Impeachment will recognize that fact.
Yet Graham has the balls to say ' Show me a crime." Fucking hypocrite.
Meh.
His own party prolly didn't speak up because they are still trying to digest the truth they heard.
Here's the part of Taylor's statement that really stood out to me:
First of all, those text messages are documented evidence.
Secondly, Mr. Yermak, President Zelensky's assistant, was trying to STOP America's corupt actions in his country.
What Yermak is talking about is the process enumerated in the TREATY WITH UKRAINE ON MUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN CRIMINAL MATTERS signed in 1999. That Treaty cites clear steps that need to be followed by both the US and Ukraine for requesting legal assistance. That Treaty is the law of the land.
Thirdly, Volker didn't mention this all important request from the Ukrainians in his opening statement. He needs to be questioned about it. Did he follow through with the DOJ or did he just blow it off because he KNEW that Trump had no intention of following the law?
Reelection!
Before one can have a trial, one must do their due diligence.
Do you mean somebody has to do some work?????
If you call what the Democrats are doing work. Must be hard to manufacture so much manure at once. But they need to get their narrative out to the media.
I'm referring to Just Jim's meme up there in 2. Looks like he's suggesting that those folks need investigating. Well who's supposed to do the investigating? The White House? The house where nothing ever gets done?
DOJ can handle it....................
sure
Foxes guarding the Henhouse
If those pictured are who Trump would call as witnesses for his defense, he's in deeper shit than I thought.
I'll have to make more popcorn...
"One lawmaker who sat in on the session said he found Bill Taylor ’s testimony to be alarming"
Which One ?
google is your friend
It's not in your …… "THINGY" above ?
Just say you have no idea.
Based on his comments here, he probably doesn't know how to use Google.
Troubling is a two way street. Troubling as in "we got him this time" or "shit we still got nothing".
I'll take "SHIT" for 1 million Alex.
Best "News" source like ...…... EVER !
Amazing isn't it. Have you noticed that the dem/lib/prog/dems have practically forgotten about the poor "cherdren" at the border? Yeah, me too.
Didn't stop the nutters from saying the same thing for 25 years about Hillary...
Anymore?
How about yesterday?
Nobody?
How 'bout a prominent member of the Trump Crime Family-- Attny Gen'l Barr?
(10/21/2019) - Bill Barr sparks anxiety within the CIA as he investigates ‘origins’ of Mueller’s Russia probe: security analysis -
Are you illiterate-- or are you still not very proficient in the English language?
(Or are you,. like our Bone-Spur-Challened Leadwer, just making things up as you go along?)
That makes sense. You have been taking Trump's shit for 3 years. You eat his up so often, it is now considered a food group.
Yes...... I have been taking in the " Shit Loads" of business cash I've been receiving, since 2017 !
Trumps "Shit" has been great for business ….. don't you think ?
There's even jobs out there, with no one left to fill them, since people that actually want to "Work", now have jobs !
Mr. Taylor is a career diplomat and a true patriot who has taken copious notes after each conversation.
Right, so long as he is toeing the Democratic line. Well maybe he was, who knows, this was a secret questioning after all. The Dems can make up anything they want coming out of it.
He could have written 15 pages of Steele Dossier class political bullshit and the left would worship it like it was the new bible for their anti Trump religion.
Whatever. You keep telling yourself that you're the only one qualified to determine who is a patriot. It's pretty pathetic and sad that you have to shit on the reputation of those who have dedicated themselves to serving their country.
Also, Trump fucked up when he put the military in a position of cowardice and weakness. Service men and women don't take kindly to having their honor ripped from them.
Bullshit. They have dedicated themselves to a cushy job with extreme benefits and their bank accounts first.
"Also, Trump fucked up when he put the military in a position of cowardice and weakness."
Just how did he do that??
You have no idea what you are talking about. Your ignorance on the subject is glaringly obvious.
Really? You aren't able to look at the situation and see how this Syria retreat has affected our military?
Putting our service men and women in harms way without an exit plan. Watching them retreat as they are shamed by allies because of our betrayal. Even those in the military that agree with the objective of getting out of Syria are not happy with how this has happened. Trump has made them look like they have broken their promise and that they have no honor.
Were you not referring to those in Congress? If you weren't you must have been referring to the military in which case I retract my statement. But at the same time, nothing military was mentioned in Ronin's statement that you needed to respond to. If you were relating to Congress, my statement stands.
No, I was referring to the Ambassadors, specifically Mr. Taylor. I was also speaking about our military and how they've been placed in a very awkward situation by the President.
Ugh - I don't have the patience to converse with you. Everything is a deflection with immature jabs at previous presidents.
Circular logic, that's all the defense they have
It's totally frustrating.
Did I bring up Obama or dispute what you claimed? I'm not interested in hashing out what happened in the past. It holds no relevance to this situation.
Same old talking points, can't see the forest through the trees and plenty of whataboutism
No, I judge each president individually and by weighing all of their actions and policies not just a select few. I recommend you do the same.
If you truly did then you would know that the disasters created by Obama don't hold a candle to the destruction Trump has created for generations to come for America. There is simply no comparison when weighed by a reasonable rational person.
You are obviously forgetting what happened to Nixon.
No
Uh ......nope. I don't hate the President. He's only doing what his base has allowed him to do. The problem isn't Trump, it's his base. Ignorance and idiocy at its best.
I just want you to know that I believe you. You have shown me who you are and I believe you........
But he didn't. Taylor cited dates, names and documents. So how about you address what's in his opening statement rather than some fantasy you've come up with in a desperate attempt at dismissing it's actual content.
Trump has made them look like they have broken their promise and that they have no honor.
Many of the local Kurds thought so also. They were pelting the military vehicles with rotten food as they pulled out.
Yes, it's sad. This President does not understand what honor is because he has no honor. He doesn't understand what it means to have someone's back because he has never shown others loyalty. He doesn't understand what it means to keep a promise as is evident in his inability to be faithful. He is a pathetic human being and those that put their faith in him are even more pathetic imo.
That settles it then! A Congressman is troubled by something someone said about Trump. That's a game changer! No one has ever had that reaction to something about Trump. Never! Very compelling! /s
FerChrissakes! This guy could have read Trump's recipe for buttermilk biscuits (not that I think he has one) and these hacks would find it "very, very troubling." It'll be news when one of these Chicken Little's doesn't respond with a "sky is falling" declaration in response to testimony on Trump.
You are flailing. Get a grip.
Your response is telling. It tells me you know I'm right.
Sure.
Correct!
Trump did nothing wrong..its all John's fault!
/sarc
Thats impeachable. Game set match. What will the Republicans do?
Just trying to educate the Trumpsters here. It's an uphill fight.
When the facts are against you , you argue about the process.
I heard someone complain today about the whistleblower. The whistleblower is now irrelevant. They are way past that.
You know dear, someone with your obvious charm and skilled writing technique should explore more constructive ways to contribute to our little slice of heaven here at NT. Author or seed an article sometime. It's infinitely more rewarding than following John around as often as you do.
I can't argue with that bit of monkey-see, monkey-do logic. Carry on.
Are you so gaslighted that you don't know that GOP Congressmen are participating in all of the depositions?
You seem to think that a vote on a Resolution to start an Impeachment inquiry would alter how the inquiry is being conducted. What lead you to that ridiculous assumption?
The answer to that would be yes. The Trump worshippers, like Trump himself, refuse to read actual news and only read things that support their orange god .. facts and truth are not requirements and are apparently considered bad things. Forget their actually researching how impeachment works (much less how the Republicans became the party of racism).
Okay, did the Ukraine ever find anything out on Biden or his son? I haven't seen that covered much, if at all.
No because there was nothing to find.
Are you using the drivel Kevin McCarthy passed off on Ingrahams show as a source of information?
Let me ask you a question. Did you read the article you linked to? The Ingraham Angle
There is not a single sentence in that article that shows how Taylor's argument was "destroyed" by John Ratcliffe. I read the article, and there is NOTHING.
All the whole thing is, is McCarthy relaying to Ingraham that he was told by Nunes that Radcliffe destroyed Taylors argument. Lot of dummies and liars in that sentence.
Kevin McCarthy is not on the House Intelligence Committee. He has no idea if Ratcliffe "destroyed" Taylor. He wasnt there.
The video of the segment with McCarthy on Ingrahams show is little more than a pathetic nothing.
Thats all of it. That is what you are basing YOUR argument on?
Fox News babbling.
So you have nothing to back your boasting that Ratcliffe destroyed Taylor.
I know.
Details that are surely lost on deporables
My source is Taylor's opening statement, and all the other testimony that has come forth, AND Trumps own words to the Ukranian president in the phone call. And the arrest of Giulianis two henchmen who were helping him in Ukraine.
You are a walking talking Fox News/Breitbart regurgitator. You need to do MUCH better.
I didn't accuse you of being uninformed, I asked you if you were gaslighted.
Good to see that you recognize that the GOP ARE part of the Inquiry.
Since McCarthy wasn't in the SCIF, that's hearsay. From your link:
So McCarthy should STFU with his hearsay about events he didn't witness shouldn't he?
BTW, Ratcliff is clueless.
Good for you. Now, how sure are you that a vote on a Referendum to open an Impeachment inquiry will alter how the inquiry is conducted?
Perhaps like me, John is relying on what he has read with his own eyes.
That comment illustrates utter ignorance of the process and proves that the gaslighting by McCarthy et al is working. Well done.
It's like trying to convince an FLDS member that it's not right to marry a 13 year old... they just don't want to listen and are determined to keep raping kids, and/or supporting this criminal President.
If he read it to the panel, yes. If he submitted it for the record yes.
Well gee, Ratcliff said that he found Taylor to be 'very forthright'. FYI, in English that means 'straightforward and honest.' So it looks like at least Ratcliff thinks that Taylor stood up pretty damn well to questioning.
Why yes, YES there are. They are documented in the opening statements of Volker and Sondland who tell different stories about the same events. How well will THEY stand up to questioning about that fact?
Is there another word that better describes using persistent denial, misdirection, contradiction, and lying to sow seeds of doubt? Cite it and I'll use it.
Adam Schiff has NOTHING to do with the witnesses releasing their opening statements.
They aren't holding hearings, they are taking depositions.
Blah, blah, deflect, blah.
maga
You don't seem to have a problem with trusting the words that come out of Trump's mouth.
No, it was documentation of the events with dates, names and he cited documents that can corroborate his statement.
Nope. Statements during a deposition have NOTHING to do with due process. During a deposition, the witnesses attorney can object to a question but the witness STILL has to answer it unless they claim the 5th. So not even the witness has 'due process' rights during a deposition.
Again, they are NOT holding hearings, they are taking depositions. Depositions are done behind closed doors. EVERY Congress has done it this way. When Nunes was Chairman of the Intel , he did it that way. Gowdy did it that way during the Benghazi investigation. Yet all of a sudden, the GOP is whining about it.
The fact that you keep asking that question proves that they're gaslighting you and you're lapping it up.
FFS, you have nothing but deflection. Well done.
Trump and his staff and many who worked on his campaign are the only ones who have been caught lying to investigators. The facts PROVE beyond a shadow of a doubt that Trump openly told a Russian spy that he would get along with Putin and didn't think sanctions for their illegal invasion of Crimea would be necessary if he were President. He openly asked them to hack American servers in an effort to hurt his political opponent and the evidence shows the Russians were listening and didn't think the request was a joke. Russia did help Trump in the 2016 campaign. They illegally hacked private American email servers, hacked 22 State voter databases, targeted specific swing States with their $1.25 million a month social media blitz, and released stolen documents and emails in an effort to embarrass and discredit Trumps political opponent. Putin has since admitted he it.
“President Putin, did you want President Trump to win the election and did you direct any of your officials to help him do that?” - reporter Jeff Mason
“Yes, I did. Yes, I did. Because he talked about bringing the U.S.–Russia relationship back to normal.” - Vladimir Putin
Why none of that seems to bother Trump supporters, if they also believe themselves patriotic Americans, is beyond me. To claim that we must have definitive evidence of criminal conspiracy to claim Trump did anything wrong at all is beyond insane. The Mueller report makes it clear that their investigation was obstructed by the many lies told by Trumps staff, it did not prove Trump was innocent of any wrongdoing. It also laid out at least 10 clear counts of the President actively obstructing justice by telling staffers to lie and demanding staffers fire the investigators.
Not even Trump insulting his supporters and effectively calling them lawless gullible morons was able to open his supporters eyes. Perhaps many of their heads are shoved so far up Trump's ass that they don't want to get his bullshit under their eyelids so they keep them squeezed shut.
"You know what else they say about my people? The polls, they say I have the most loyal people. Did you ever see that? Where I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose any voters, okay? It’s like incredible," - Donald "The Bully" Trump.
The problem with your babbling comment is that there is NOTHING in ANY of the opening statements that is classified so releasing them isn't 'leaking' them.
Now with the recent practice by Trump and his minions, to retroactively classify documents, you never know WTF they'll do.
BTFW, I didn't say the opening statements were 'legal documents', I said they were submitted under penalty of perjury. Don't misrepresent my comments.
It's not a 'story' loki, it's a fact.
Do you have ANY doubt that the GOP would be running around with their hair on fire if one of the witnesses HAD disclosed classified information? Nunes et al would RUN to the mic so fast that our heads would spin.
Seriously, fabricating bullshit about the witnesses gets you nowhere with me.
They think Trump makes liberals cry. Most of that theme is based on a couple photos or videos of Hillary supporters crying on election night.
Like that was unique.
Disaster strikes: Living in the land of the free has never felt so bad for these Romney fans
These Republicans react to a bad result coming in with cries of disbelief and anguish
All of it can be easily corroborated. Text messages to and from Volker and Sondland, a memo to file from June 30, an August 29 cable to Pompeo and testimony from DAP Morrison will all help connect the dots.
Will Trump allow witnesses to testify?
Perhaps he does. How does that in any way change the facts I presented?
"(Russian Spy Maria) Butina asked Trump about his plan for working with her country – particularly if he would continue America’s “damaging” sanctions against it."
“I believe I would get along very nicely with Putin. I don’t think you would need the sanctions , I think we would get along really well. I really believe that.” - Donald Trump
“ Russia, if you’re listening , I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing,” - Donald Trump
"on or about July 27, 2016, the conspirators attempted after-hours to spearphish for the first time email accounts at a domain hosted by a third-party provider and used by Clinton’s personal office,” according to the indictment, referring to spearphishing, a common tactic used to target email accounts.
The indictment said that on the same day, Russians began an effort to target 76 Clinton campaign email accounts ."
Robert Mueller's report revealed a years-long plot by the Russian government to interfere in the U.S. that investigators called "sweeping and systemic."
As to the amount of money expended on Facebook ads, the company said Russian operatives did spend less than $200,000 on advertising on the platform — but that doesn't account for the organic content the operatives created and shared. Not only were influence specialists within Russia's Internet Research Agency purchasing normal advertisements, they were authoring their own posts, memes and other content as they posed as American users. They also reached out to politically active Americans, posing as like-minded supporters, and helped organize rallies and other events in the real world. Facebook says the Internet Research Agency may have reached as many as 126 million people.
"One month before the 2016 election, the IRA was reportedly operating on a monthly budget of at least $1.25 million . The organization's primary source of funding came from Yevgeny Prigozhin, a Russian oligarch and ally of President Vladimir Putin, who controlled Concord Management, Consulting LLC and Concord Catering. Prigozhin and his two Concord entities were among the individuals and organizations included in Mueller's indictment."
“President Putin, did you want President Trump to win the election and did you direct any of your officials to help him do that?” - reporter Jeff Mason
“ Yes, I did. Yes, I did . Because he talked about bringing the U.S.–Russia relationship back to normal.” - Vladimir Putin
Then prove it loki.
Post proof that the witnesses are somehow precluded by law from releasing their own fucking opening statements. I'll wait.
No, you just implied that doing so would be 'leaking' and that they conspired with the Chairman to do so.
That was you right?
Bullshit, you haven't said a fucking word about 'ideology' until now.
You are acquitting while ignoring all of the evidence already available. There is NO defense for what Trump did. PERIOD, full stop.
You mean the person that exposed the abuse of power by Trump that is leading to his impeachment?
Hopefully nothing.
Did you read Mr. Taylor's opening remarks? Did you take the time to educate yourself before making your broad statement and assumption about Mr. Taylor?
I read all 15 pages of which Mr. Taylor relayed a heartbreaking situation in which the US held up funding to a desperate country trying to protect itself against Russia. Where the Russians were weighing whether the US would fulfill a commitment and remain supportive of Ukraine's goal for independence or abandon them so Russia could invade.
It's sickening to read time after time the dismissive comments from trump supporters when the US acts dishonorably towards our allies.
What did you think of Taylor's assertion that Trump had demanded that the Ukranian president announce IN PUBLIC that his government was investigating Joe Biden?
This was corruption at all levels from the President, throughout the State Dept, and OMB. It's sickening.
What impacted me most was the confusion and desperation from the Ukrainians after they realized what was going on.
I just keep thinking how would I feel if the US required another country's assistant and we had soldiers dying each day while the other country held up aid to us.
Ukrainian soldiers died waiting for this aid.
This is not making America great and I don't understand how anyone could think it is.
What would have been perfect is if that schmuck actually did that, he would have added.....under demand from Trump.
I didn't hear that testimony, Tacos!, did you? Think back just a short time ago and remember this.
And then remember this same person has told everyone for 3 years he had evidence and has never once produced any, so what does he do? He stands before the whole country and anyone who can see a TV around the world and makes up a bunch of lies. I wonder why this fellow isn't in jail for all the leaking he has done and do you really think his leaking is not twisted into another bunch of lies as it has been ever since Trump was elected.
Just think how you would feel if you were charged with a crime and couldn't even be in the court room when your trial was being held. Of course I know they say this isn't a trial, but when you subpoena people who testify behind closed doors and neither you nor your attorneys can be present, not to mention the judge and jury have already determined you fate, isn't it a little like being in Iran, North Korea, the old Soviet Union or Nazi Germany? Then the judge tells the government press what the witnesses said with his special little twist to produce the outcome he desires. I mean, the man has proven he is a liar and evil, what more can we say.
Deflection doesn't look good on you. Try thinking like a patriot first. It's eye opening.
Given the ridiculous shit trump has said daily for the last 4 years you seriously have no room to complain about Schiff.
Yes, Trump stands before us daily making up a bunch of lies and the majority of Americans disapprove of him and many do wonder why he isn't already in jail. But don't worry, this currently unindicted coconspirator will be getting his orange jumpsuit when he leaves office January 2021 if not sooner.
The moment Trump is out of office is when his real legal problems start.
Which is why he'll never resign, and will not drop out of the race for 2020. The day he's not 'president' is when the real fun will start.
The day the fun starts for those who knew he was never 'president' in the first place.
"Not president" can be the result of two things...not reelected or term limit. I am betting the first choice.
His family should have packed him up and had him resign for health reasons a long time ago. After he had issues with his gait in walking, his balance, his word finding issues and his frequent slurring of words, the man is not fit regardless of how horrible he is. He is not a mentally or physically fit person to even attempt the job. The fact he spends taxpayer dollars every weekend golfing is just a slap in the face and his family knows it. They figure it is better than a nursing home, he is out of their hair and all on the taxpayer dime so they don't have to deal with him. Name any decent family man who spends every weekend golfing and never once a family outing or a dad/son outing with his young son? He is not fit because I think the children avoid having him around on purpose.
His family are little more than his "YES PEOPLE". Do you really think they would derail their gravy train? Baron is getting off lucky with little to no contact. Look what contact with his other sons and daughters did to them.