Poor Donald... I would wager the State of New York will still be pursuing his ass and his assets and not generally giving two shits about whatever crimes he manages to weasel out of at the federal level. :)

I was wrong on one point though..

Don't sell yourself short, sunshine; you were wrong on way more than "one point."

My sources had initially identified the "whistle blower" as "Erica Ciaramella"... Which is why I continued to use the "she" pronoun..

Well, you did do that over and over... so much so I was forced to refer to you as "stuck on stupid."

Apparently, I misheard when the name was relayed to me..

It's not easy functioning on a single brain cell prone to believing whatever conspiracy theory wingnut lunacy it sees and intent on spewing it all back on another man's reality-based column; we here in Weigantia are infinitely aware of your problem. *laughs*

Who could have POSSIBLY predicted this would happen!!???

Everybody... since it's knee-jerk normal for an appeals court to give a temporary stay when orders to produce materials are appealed; it's standard operational procedure. The stays generally last a short duration so the appeals court can review the appeal. Same shit, different day. :)

Is anyone surprised that the Democrat plant, the so-called "whistle blower" is a connected at the hip to Brennan and Schiff...

You mean like conjoined triplets?

It's not a "so-called" whistleblower, Mike. It's a whistleblower who followed the longstanding rules to file a whistleblower claim. The QAnon crowd (chocked full of Tea Party wingnuts/your gullible ilk) have been floating his name for almost three weeks now along with all kinds of "don't panic" and "it's happening" predictions that include the ever-present words "Durham" and "any day now."

The QAnon loons are also claiming that it wasn't Lt. Col. Vindman that testified at all yesterday... nope!... it was his identical twin brother who testified... the old "evil twin" conspiracy theory bullshit is a nice touch.

Everything that has been found to date is now tainted and inadmissible..

Your serious? Heh. :)

If Trump doesn’t resign, he won’t be able to work it so he is pardoned for his crimes!
Trump may be stupid enough to believe his money will keep him out of jail because he has been able to avoid it thus far, but I am guessing even he isn’t THAT stupid! He wants that pardon... he NEEDS that pardon!

Of course, the pardon powers of the president are not necessarily absolute when it comes to crimes a person has not been convicted of at the time the pardon is granted, as the courts have never been tasked with answering that question.

Trump can try to pardon himself, but that will fail. So the best chance he has at avoiding federal criminal charges will definitely be if he resigns before he can be impeached.

Trump looks our for Trump! He doesn’t have any loyalty to the Republican Party and does not care how he damages them in his quest to save himself.

Hallowe'en column is now up! Enjoy, everyone...

:-)

-CW

Oh stuff it - I wouldn't put it past republicants to randomly run names up the flagpole just in case they get it right.

But even if Ciarmella was the whistleblower, so what? Were the Republicants so dumb that they thought that there were no democrats still working in the White House?

Besides, all of the details have now been confirmed by other (more senior) aides. You're too late.

Republicans participating in the restricted inquiry hearings have been asking witnesses about Ciaramella and repeatedly injecting his name into the deposition record, angering Schiff and Democrats, who sources say are planning to scrub the references to Ciaramella from any transcripts of the hearings they may agree to release.

Dumbocrats tried to hide Ciaramella and protect him so he couldn't be deposed..

THAT is all over with now!!! Schiff-head LIED about contacts with Ciaramella!! Schiff-head and Ciaramella are joined at the hip!!! :D

Democrats have royally scrooed da pooch!!! :D

Oh what a glorious day!!! :D

Ciaramella left the Trump White House soon after Mueller was appointed. Attempts to reach Ciaramella were unsuccessful, although his father said in a phone interview from Hartford, where he is a bank executive, that he doubted his son was the whistleblower. “He didn’t have that kind of access to that kind of information,” Tony Ciaramella said. “He’s just a guy going to work every day.” The whistleblower's lawyers did not answer emails and phone calls seeking comment. CIA spokesman Luis Rossello declined comment, saying, “Anything on the whistleblower, we are referring to ODNI.” The Office of the Director of National Intelligence did not respond to requests for comment.

Democrats are SOOOO toast!!!! :D

Determined to keep the whistleblower's identity secret, Schiff recently announced it may not be necessary for him to testify even in closed session. Republicans argue that by hiding his identity, the public cannot assess his motives for striking out against the president. And they worry his political bias could color inquiry testimony and findings unless it’s exposed.

Yep.. Schiff-head tried to silence the GOP and protect his stooge/plant..

But, to no avail..

Everyone knows who he is now..

Nothing but a Democrat Trump/America hating stooge...

Democrats have totally lost... :D

Also, Ciaramella huddled for “guidance” with the staff of House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, including former colleagues also held over from the Obama era whom Schiff’s office had recently recruited from the NSC. (Schiff is the lead prosecutor in the impeachment inquiry.)

Yep..

A WELL-DOCUMENTED Trump/America hater..

This is going to totally decimate the Democrat's case against President Trump..

The vote tomorrow??? Democrats will DEFINITELY lose now.. :D

But the name of a government official fitting that description — Eric Ciaramella — has been raised privately in impeachment depositions, according to officials with direct knowledge of the proceedings, as well as in at least one open hearing held by a House committee not involved in the impeachment inquiry. Fearing their anonymous witness could be exposed, Democrats this week blocked Republicans from asking more questions about him and intend to redact his name from all deposition transcripts.

Yep.. Democrats are petrified that they will lose it all..

I was wrong on one point though.. My sources had initially identified the "whistle blower" as "Erica Ciaramella"... Which is why I continued to use the "she" pronoun..

Apparently, I misheard when the name was relayed to me..

But the secret is out..

This "whistle blower" is nothing but a Schiff-head/Brennan stooge...

Is anyone surprised that the Democrat plant, the so-called "whistle blower" is a connected at the hip to Brennan and Schiff...

Everything that has been found to date is now tainted and inadmissible..

Very nice rundown!

Section 4 deals with what the Judiciary Committee will do next, and this is where the new rules are hinted at, but not explicitly stated. The first two paragraphs, (a) and (b), vaguely lay out what this means (note: I have no idea why these paragraphs only merit lower-case letters rather than Roman numerals, as in the previous sections).

You sneaker! (my highest praise) Great catch! What do you want to bet that this means the Judiciary Committee wrote this particular portion of the resolution using a different numbering template?

Still, you've got to give credit to the House Dems... their representatives on the various assorted committees seem to have a flair at doing something the Chief Executive hasn't demonstrated he has any ability whatsoever to do: compose the written word in coherent fashion and spell!
_____

Of course I know Obama said not to "dis" spelling... virtually assuring that I would do it just because I can if I decide to. ;)

I don't think the Republicans would offer up a resignation letter unless they were prepared to go Full Monty and vote for conviction.

I really should.. I mean.. Ya'all are going thru some real traumatic times, what with ya'all LOSING to President Trump at **EVERY** juncture...

So, I really should be more compassionate and understanding...

On the other hand.. I treat people as they treat me...

So...

PPPPPPPFFFFFFFFFFFBBBBBBBTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT :D

41% of Democratic voters said Biden has the best chance to beat Trump, unchanged since a poll conducted after the Houston debate.

Yea, DEMOCRATIC voters.. :eyeroll:

You DO realize that it's Independents and NPAs who decide elections..

Right???

And that lead is SHRINKING...

And do I **REALLY** have to remind you how HILLARY lead Trump in the polls!!???

REALLY!!???

BBBBWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA

I'd be shaking in my boots if I were you.

I *AM* shaking in my boots...

WITH LAUGHTER!!!

BBBWWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I noticed how you ignore how badly you were bitch-slapped with the Mueller Report ruling, eh? :D

You lose again.. JUST as I predicted you would.. :D

They will not allow candidates or pacs etc. to purchase/run ads.

The CEO's rationale is here: https://twitter.com/jack/status/1189634360472829952

It all depends on how effective the public hearings are and if the "approve impeachment" numbers keep rising.

A wrinkle in this is the degree to which other Repubs are entangled. Some of them are going to have to go down too. So it's complicated.

Pelosi knows what she is doing with the Impeachment Resolution. This resolution is a rake, specifically a well designed muck rake compatible with modern media formats.

Boldly mixing metaphors here, it's also kind of like bob sled run, designed to quickly get thru all the loops and hairpins in watchable fashion. There are bound to be a few entertaining crashes, but most nearly everything is going to end up the bottom.

"Gosh Mr. Peabody, how can that be?"

"It's obvious, Sherman, The House is well known for its gravity."

Pelosi is not attempting to win a conviction of Trump in the Senate, it will never come to that. She attempting to force the Senate, most specifically the Republican majority, to march into the White House with a resignation letter for the President to sign....with the helicopter revving up on the White House lawn, golf clubs in the hold. "It's over buddy, you are toxic and we can't and we won't even try to ignore or deny it. We just can't be friends with you any more. It's nothing personal."

It's a good plan, Nixon provides a precedent and it seems to have a reasonable chance of succeeding. It will definitely be "must see TV" - must see YouTube - must read Tweets.

Maybe this what The Framers intended. Not that it matters.

55% of Democratic voters said Hunter Biden’s ties to Burisma Holdings would have no impact on their vote in 2020.

32% of Democratic primary voters back the former vice president as their first-choice candidate, unchanged since mid-September.

41% of Democratic voters said Biden has the best chance to beat Trump, unchanged since a poll conducted after the Houston debate.

Biden’s Edge Over Trump Wanes, Polling Shows

Former VP leads the president in a hypothetical matchup by 5 points, down from 11-point advantage in June
https://morningconsult.com/2019/10/30/bidens-edge-over-trump-wanes-polling-shows/

What's this???

Appeals court temporarily blocks release of Mueller grand jury material to Democrats
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/appeals-court-temporarily-blocks-release-of-mueller-grand-jury-material-to-democrats

Who could have POSSIBLY predicted this would happen!!???

Oh... Wait.. :D

It's funny.. For someone who ya'all claim I am ALWAYS wrong..

I, more often than not, nail it.. Dead on ballz accurate.. :D

Aside to JL..

as for the democratic nightmare, i'll leave that to michale, as he predicts it every day and calls it "fact" ;p

Yep.. And I am factually accurate a HELLUVA lot more than I am wrong.

As this latest prediction PROVES.. :D

Peace out... :D

Come on. You can say it. It's ok, they know.
~my cousin vinny

JL

http://www.chrisweigant.com/2019/10/28/pelosis-surprising-move-to-hold-vote-on-impeachment-inquiry/#comment-148270

JOL pix are coming along nicely.

What freakin' TIME is it? Gotta get to bed...

Spooktastic stories are looming soon ahead... stay tuned...

:-)

-CW

It's historical. Nixon and Clinton got the opportunity, so Trump will too. But only when it hits the Judiciary Committee, who will decide on its own who to call as a witness. Schiff will continue to operate as "the cops" who don't allow any due process to the accused, as they put together their own case. Happens every day, in other words.

You're right, though -- the whole House process is akin to a grand jury, where the accused has ZERO rights to "due process," and that this is much more appropriate for the Senate (trial) phase.

OK, to everyone else, I'm downloading (slowly... very slowly) Jack O'Lantern pix, so I'm going to try to answer some comments reaching back a few days.

-CW

Why would this happen now? Due process occurs during the trial portion, the House is not putting the president on trial — the Senate does that. I did not believe that the president had any part in the House’s determining what will be included in the Articles of Impeachment. Criminals do not get to participate in determining what charges they will be indicted on, and I cannot see why the president would be allowed involvement either.

Looking forward to details...

Then I guess the discussion point is how to beat Trump; how to make a persuasive case to half the country that Democrats today have a better way.

Of course, the economy is key and Trump already gave his play away on that - 'Oh boy, if those do nothing Democrats get in then kiss your retirement savings good-bye; can everyone say depression?'

So, Democrats are going to have to counter that in a very, very effective way and it may take a bit of a history lesson. I think some sane Republicans - not necessarily of the congressional variety - may be brought on board to help hammer the message home.

I think Democrats have to do that and a whole lot more AND they have to do it in a very, very non-partisan way. In other words they have be very inclusive and not the least bit divisive.

(There, I fixed it for you and added a bit more! )

Then I guess the discussion point is how to beat Trump; how to make a persuasive case to half the country that Democrats today have a better way.

Of course, the economy is key and Trump already gave his play on that - Oh boy, if those do nothing Democrats get in then kiss your retirement savings good-bye; can everyone say depression?

So, Democrats are going to have to counter that in a very, very effective way and it may a bit of a history lesson. I think some sane Republicans - not necessarily of the congressional variety - may be brought on board to hammer the message home.

I think Democrats have to that and a whole lot more AND they have to do it in a very, very non-partisan way.

Nice breakdown of the rules. Repubs will whine every step of the way but I agree that the substance Americans will be presented with will drown weak-ass process arguments.

I'm gonna guess that you mean: place. Well, the first step is the defeat of Trump, because you'd never de-polarize the place otherwise. Then you'd consciously and deliberately develop a bunch of bi-partisan stuff that had languished, to establish a good working relationship.

To this end, we'd need some healing, because Trump's high numbers among republicans means that there are actually few that we could work with otherwise. Forgive them, they know not what they do.

I got a kick out of the way you'd say, "but Republicans do that all the time, so we can ignore it", or words to that effect throughout. True.

In a very general sense, not having to do with Trump or his impeachment, per se, how do you think your country is going to move on from where it is today, politically speaking, to a better place?

In other words, what kinds of things need to happen in order to move toward a less divided and less polarized?

As you can probably tell by the final paragraph there, I'm already getting into the Hallowe'en spirit. Pumpking-carving is about to commence.

For the rest of the week, the schedule here will be: hopefully Wednesday at the regular time, my annual Hallowe'en frightfest article will appear. If dealing with the pumpkins and the photos and all the rest of the formatting takes too long, this may slip to later Wed. evening or even early Thursday. But hopefully it'll be up roughly 24 hours from now.

This article will stay up for all of Thursday and most of Friday, as I'll be taking Hallowe'en off (and getting our regular FTP article together, of course). So there really will only be two more articles this week, but one of them is a fun one and one is the weekly FTP, so hopefully people won't be too disappointed.

In closing, just let me say:

Boo!

-CW