“IT’S PAYBACK TIME”: WITH ACQUITTAL CERTAIN, TRUMP PLOTS REVENGE ON BOLTON, IMPEACHMENT ENEMIES
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
With Senate Republicans on track to acquit Donald Trump on Wednesday, Washington is bracing for what an unshackled Trump does next. Republicans briefed on Trump’s thinking believe that the president is out for revenge against his adversaries. “It’s payback time,” a prominent Republican told me last week. “He has an enemies list that is growing by the day,” another source said. Names that came up in my conversations with Republicans included Adam Schiff, Jerry Nadler, Mitt Romney, and John Bolton. “Trump’s playbook is simple: go after people who crossed him during impeachment.”
Several sources said Bolton is at the top of the list. Trump’s relationship with Bolton was badly damaged by the time Bolton left the White House in September. Trump has since blamed his former national security adviser for leaking details of his forthcoming memoir that nearly derailed the impeachment trial by pressuring Republicans to call witnesses. In the book Bolton reportedly alleges Trump told him directly that Ukraine aid was tied to Ukraine announcing investigations into the Bidens (Bolton has denied being a source of the leak).
The campaign against Bolton has already begun. On January 23, the White House sent a cease and desist letter to Bolton’s lawyer demanding that Bolton’s publisher, Simon & Schuster, not release the book in March without removal of certain information. Trump intends to ratchet up the pressure, and some Republicans close to the White House fear how far Trump will take things after he’s gotten off for a second time (Trump famously made his July 25 call to Volodymyr Zelensky the day after Robert Mueller testified before Congress.) “Trump has been calling people and telling them to go after Bolton,” a source briefed on the private conversations said. The source added that Trump wants Bolton to be criminally investigated. A person familiar with Trump’s thinking said Trump believes Bolton might have mishandled classified information. According to a former official, the White House is planning to leak White House emails from Bolton that purportedly allege Bolton abused his position at the National Security Council. The official said that West Wing officials have discussed releasing emails “showing [Bolton] was doing pay-to-play,” the official said. A person close to Bolton dismissed the story. “John plays things straight,” the person said.
The White House declined to comment.
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GOP STRATEGIST SAYS TRUMP WILL 'LIKELY' TRY TO IMPRISON JOHN BOLTON AFTER IMPEACHMENT VOTE
Aprominent Republican political strategist has warned that President Donald Trump may lean on the Justice Department to get revenge on former National Security Advisor John Bolton once the Senate has voted not to remove him from office this week.
Bolton has become a central figure in the impeachment debate surrounding Trump, with Democrats keen to have him testify in front of senators—while the political world eagerly awaits his tell-all memoir detailing his time in Trump's turbulent White House.
But according to a Vanity Fair article published Monday, Bolton's prominent role has put him squarely in Trump's crosshairs and at the top of an enemies list to be addressed once Republican senators acquit the president.
Rick Wilson , an author, analyst and long-time Republican operative, suggested that Bolton's only chance now was to leak his explosive book manuscript before the Senate vote, which is expected to take place Wednesday.
Last month, The New York Times reported that Bolton's unreleased manuscript claimed the president told his then-national security advisor he wanted to continue withholding $391 million of military aid until Ukraine helped with investigations into Democrats, including possible 2020 rival Joe Biden.
Trump was impeached by the House in December over his alleged effort to extort the Ukrainian government to interfere in the 2020 election. Despite significant evidence, Republican senators are expected to vote against removing Trump from office.
Democrats pushed for Bolton and other senior administration officials to testify at the Senate trial, but did not win enough Republican support for the proposal.
Bolton said he was willing to appear, but the White House and key GOP senators fought to block any new testimony.
According to Vanity Fair , Trump is planning a revenge campaign once acquitted by his GOP allies this week. The magazine cited an unnamed prominent Republican as saying "it's payback time," and another source warning: "He has an enemies list that is growing by the day.
Among those thought to be top of his list are House Intelligence Committee Chair Rep. Adam Schiff, House Judiciary Committee Chair Rep. Jerry Nadler, moderate Republican Senator Mitt Romney, and Bolton, Vanity Fair reported.
Bolton left the administration under a cloud last September after disagreeing with the president on multiple foreign policy issues. As senators grappled over potential new testimony, Trump continued his long tradition of attacking witnesses on Twitter and turned his focus to Bolton.
The president dismissed Bolton as "a guy who couldn't get approved for the Ambassador to the U.N. years ago, couldn't get approved for anything since, 'begged' me for a non Senate approved job, which I gave him despite many saying 'Don't do it, sir.'"
The thing Republican voters should be most afraid of is Donald Trump himself.
The next year between now and the election will be one Trump scandal after another. Why? Because he can't help himself.
Now that he has been given free reign to do anything he wants with no accountability, he will be more of a loose canon that he already has been.
How many times can the same POTUS be impeached?
Impeached but not removed means he can do anything he wants even if it is illegal.
Vengeance is mine sayeth the 'presdient'
Hell, he probably can't even spell the word.
More unnamed sources bullshit. So many of them in one damn article.
Not one shred of proof to back up anything claimed; but I am sure other main stream media will pick up this article and run with it. Using it to back up their own unnamed, unverified, and uncorroborated sources that told them the exact same thing.
The White House or the NSC sent the letter; there is an important difference. Asking for classified information to be removed from the book is a normal procedure. They are not telling the publisher they cannot publish the book. Only a chronic TDDDDS sufferer can not see the difference.
Tell Collins and Murkowski,and all the high profile Republicans that didn't want witnesses or said Trump would never do anything like his "inappropriate" bribery attempt with funds approved by Congress. Trump's entire life has been lived in the "inappropriate" lane. From mistresses, bankruptcies, to bribery and cheating at all financial levels, then add that fact he bullies, lies and acts like teenage kid with his petty name calling. The man is a walking example of inappropriate that in his current position rises to the level of criminal.
Trumpp better get Mexico to pony up quick, cause he's gonna need that wall to imprison all of his detractors.
So, Adam Schiff, was right tRump wants all that do not bend the knee be investigated by Billy Barr. So much for love thy enemies tRump.
Trump committed his first act of revenge, he fired LtC. Vindman today.
Alexander Vindman: witness who spoke out against Trump fired from job Vindman escorted out of White House on Friday afternoon
Trump ‘decided to exact revenge’, says Vindman’s lawyer
Didn't this clown testify that he attempted to alter the Ukraine phone call transcript?
No he didn't. You can't believe everything the Trump cult tells you Jeremy.
Vindman testified that he tried to correct the transcript with the proper information left out if it-or separated from it- as the transcript was ferreted away and secreted on a secret white house server. Where it remains today.
Disgusting that no one who matters is outraged enough to go get that record! We are 'ruled' by chumps! And yes fourth estate I include it in the "chump' category. People are not fighting for the truth enough!
You should try taking grade school grammar. Did you see the "?" at then end of that sentence? That means I was asking a question.
"Vindman testified that he tried to correct the transcript"
So he DID attempt to alter an official document. And wonders why his career is over.
No he tried to properly CORRECT the transcript. It is the difference between right and wrong. And you can have your so-called, "truth" which is spin all you wish and it won't make it so. Eventually truth does get its boots on and that is when it runs the table.
So it is okay that Trump most likely altered it, but it is not okay for someone to try to present the actual phone record? How republican of you.
Which I answered, 3 days ago, in the very next comment in this thread Jeremy. Reading is fundamental.
WTF is your issue TODAY?
Wow, so you consider providing facts when someone else lied to be a bad thing, just like Trump does. And you have no problem with Team Trump creating a false official document. Your problem is with the honest person who provided the truth.
Who'da thunk it. Trump idolaters are allergic to the truth, it seems, just like their orange god is.
It wasn't an 'official document' until after is was reviewed and corrected by the appropriate directorates and agencies Jeremy. Vindman headed the Ukraine directorate and THAT is why he was on the call, along with Morrison, his NSC direct report, Jennifer Williams for the VP and Pompeo for the State Dept. It was his JOB to review and suggest changes to the call record. ANYONE who actually had enough curiosity to actually READ Vindman's testimony KNOWS that. You obviously aren't one of them.
Pretty sure he reported to the Pentagon this morning. Do you think that it is the practice of the JCS to allow someone who has done what you allege into that building? If you DO, don't you think that Vindman is the LEAST of our problems?
That can't be, you said he was fired.
Obtuse.
He did? So President Trump kicked him out of the military? I call bullshit.
But if spewing hyperbole like he was fired make you feel good more power to ya.
So Lt. Col. Vindman is still the Director for European Affairs for the United States National Security Council (NSC). Good to know. /s
Right because calling bullshit on things you are utterly clueless about is so much better.
that much is right.
“IT’S PAYBACK TIME”:
Trump is a paranoid. He knows what he is. His greatest fear is truth. His only defender is wealth.
Wealth, and his cultists who follow his every word as gospel.
Yeah, other people's wealth.
Note: I did not say or imply that 'the Trump's wealth' really belongs to him.
I would venture to add, as my own personal opinion, the 'the Trump' is an iota away from being broke arse, living on the float, totally dependent upon foreign sources of cash to maintain his properties and personal debts.
It would seem there's a lot of scared and paranoid hypocritical leftist liberal Democrats running around DC right about now.
the hangman they fear is of their own making,
every time they try to strike trump they only hit themselves.
That is called "stinkin thinkin" if you remember the phrase. Here is another: "Be careful, you don't cut off your nose to spite your face." —Now figure that one out related to this stream of consciousness!
ya should have explained that to the dems before operation hurricane crossfire became operation hurricane boomerang
you do understand that fisa court works both ways right?
this summer will be fantastic
"half the people behind the russia investigation will be going to jail"
Independent voters! Are you all following this stinkin thinkin? Conservatives are 'drunk' on abuses of power and money.
Conservatives, "Be careful, you don't cut off your nose to spite your face."
it is called justice. it is what we voted for and it will be served.
nothing can stop it. just another promise kept.
but don't worry, besides the "resistance" I expect a few rhino's "never trumpers" to be caught up in it all as well.
so, good fun for everyone.
as I said above... the dems already did that and we do thank them for that.
yepp... stinkin thnkin is when an outgoing president uses the power of govt to bring down the president elect.
people are going to pay for that.
nothing you or anyone else on this site can type will change a single vote
@11.1.4 - INDEPENDENT VOTERS ARE YOU SEEING THIS?!!!
Stinkin thinkin. That's all. Let me add: If this country is STUPID enough to let Impeached President Donald Trump rape it without registering its outrage, then we are SCREWED.
How the heaven do you know that? People defect all the time. After all, the Never Trump republicans just added Senator Mitt Romney after the Trump "faithful" tore him a new one. Now you're just blustering.
I have some news for you, even old "good and tight" Lindsay Olin Graham will squeak and turn on Trump if he sees a benefit in it among thieves.
Sorry, but the Democrats have already done that...
What Ed-NavDoc? Care to elaborate?
LOL people are not stupid enough to believe the lefts bs anymore.
the left has been attacking trump since the day he announced he would run. the crap they threw at him before the election was outrageous, and yet, he still got elected. and now you think a phone call to investigate the bidens is going to change their minds about something? come on... LOL
the people who ignored the left's accusations before the election in 2016 are not going to start believing the left now or any time soon. most likely never again
like it or not, every failed attempt by the left to bring him down has only made him stronger and the left weaker.
that is true enough, the left will be screwed. no doubt about it. everyone else will be fine.
cheers
I based that statement on having followed the actions of people like Pelosi, Schiff, Nadler, and others during the recent impeachment proceedings. Just my own personal opinion, nothing more.
Well, I see you are still on the fence about it being a sure thing. Okay, this is not a good look: Stop projecting.
What say you, Ed-NavDoc, . . .how are you relative to humility and revenge acts? Here is a hypothetical. Let's say one day you found yourself heisted up on your own petard by some political opponent who caught you in an act of corruption of your office, and after all is said and done you are surprisingly, excitingly, free to continue your primary job with full duties and responsibilities intact would you:
accusing others of that which ya do. too predictable
what cracks me up is the left thinks today is any different than 2016 and by impeaching him on bs charges it will change something... y'all never learn. just keep trying the same bs over and over,
trump will wear that impeachment/acquittal like a battle-scar / badge of honor and he will get re-elected because of it
but trump is the least of the lefts worries. many socialists will refuse to support anyone not far far left and many moderates will never support a socialist/communist over trump.
have a great night
Hey Truth! Will you hurry up, finish getting dressed, and head out into the streets?!!
Sorry. The Magic Eight Ball I fake voted you up—happened on the way to the "Reply." I must be rattled or something. Just kidding.
Get real! Impeached President Donald Trump is a lost cause you all prop up so it won't wander out into political traffic and get its block knocked off. Perhaps, somebody needs to focus less on undermining the 'Headcase' and instead go after its ridiculous 'movement' itself.
acquited for life
try as you might, patriots win. nothing can stop us.
but hey, if ya need something to do? go for it... LOL
"Patriots" - humph! Y'all need to get a life in reality and stop with this unreality promotion tour 'trump-a-phants' are benefited to promote.
we got one.
and in this reality, our country will never become a socialist/communist shit hole
we simply will not tolerate it.
You got an "our" country all by y'all selves? And, who is talking about socialism anyway, except y'all? —Reality check.
matters not how we got it... we will be keeping it at any cost required.
the left can complain all they like. but they can not stop us.
there is no legislation that can be passed that will change it.
and no way for an amendment to pass the states.
the socialists agenda is a dead dream walking
if sanders wins the democrats primary? they have zero chance at winning the presidency.
go bernie
if a moderate wins the democrats primaries the socialists will be pissed and the dems have zero chance at winning the presidency
so no matter which way things go... winning is just not happening for the dems
the left knows they can't beat trump that is why they fabricated that impeachment bs,
Well, we're done here. I have no reply to a fake socialist charge anyway for y'all. As for people staying home or voting: it is all us to people anyway—you won't be able to predict it. Meddle and interfere y'all will. Of that I have no doubt! Y'all have already began.
ya mean like trying to impeach a political opponent with fabricated bs during an election year? sounds fun enough... LOL but we are not demonrats so not happening, and don't be expecting any un-named sources either.
besides, no need for interference... the left is going to eat itself during the primaries. it has already started. all we have to do is sit back, watch, and laugh.
History has already recorded the impeachment of President Donald J. Trump for eternity. It will be a reminder of sorts for all future presidents who do not wish to bear the burden to walk in power and humility, both. Something Impeached President Donald J. Trump can not do even now.
Hold those thoughts of a democratic party future, for all the comfort it can give you. Happy Valentine Day!
Even the GOP senators aren't stupid enough to pretend it was fabricated BS. They agree that what Trump did was inappropriate - they just pretended not to think it reached the level of impeachment, since they're so afraid of Trump's retaliation - which is not an unfounded fear.
It goes to demonstrate the false bravado coming out of The Magic Eight Ball's comments of recent. He wishes us, liberals, to be psyched out by that which they can't even dare to speak power to! TM'Eight Ball's projections are all this is! Trump's got them all tucked in right nicely under his cushion.
Happy Valentine Day! Big-Ups.
.... and his acquittal.
funny how the left keeps forgetting that part... LOL
history is written by the winners. the left are the losers and that asterisk by trumps name will remind the future generations of the lefts bs. other than making the left look inept, exposing the bidens to investigations, trump's poll numbers going up and trump raising almost a billion dollars, .that impeachment accomplished nothing. overall. it was a good day for trump and the gop.
tell your leftwing friends... thanks
History is written by events: Winners and losers, respectively. That's all. Incidentally, time and events for Donald are marching steadily ahead even as I write this. Let us continue watching to see what the end will be!
ya got that much right.
trump2020 is not even a problem.
HA!
Only in your wildest dreams! Because otherwise, it looks like he will most likely be your president for another four years....
,'it looks like he will most likely be your president for another four years.'
That would be a horrific nightmare
That's your opinion and believe it or not, I respect your right to it. As I have said before, despite what some people think, I am really not that great of a Trump supporter. I just like the current choices from the Democrat side a lot less. If a viable 3rd party candidate steps up, I may very well vote that way. I did the last election. Personally, I see the nightmare in having someone like Bernie or Warren win the election.
You get what's out there to choose from. None of us sitting on the side-lines are SPECIAL. Impeached President Donald Trump is a nightmare, and you can't even admit it only because it does not interfere with your daily life obviously. However, you should be able to feel for others who are being oppressed into political cuppy-holes and boxes simply because some ASS thinks they have a right to have it all or run the table on others.
Moreover, Impeached President Donald Trump might have been a remarkable president if he was not predisposed to be a compulsive liar and arrogant knuckledragger. This nation, this world, needs a great leader or even a set of great leaders, instead we got this: A man so vulgar that he can't stand to be told no, and he wants to rule over subjects in fear of his "presence." One can only wonder what that says about the control he exerts on his wife/children/family/extended family.
And, some of you imagine we can do well to have four more years of this? 15,000 plus lies and counting. What's the goal in a new four year administration of lies, misleading statements, obfuscations, obstructions, and half truths?
You know, the weirdness is, Ed-NavDoc you seem to navigate detestable traits in Trump better than you would permit it in others in politics or 'nearby.' How can that be? Surely, you would not allow anybody you love or know to tell you 15,000 plus lies, . . . or would you?