I hope Daily Kos readers are keeping up with what honest career government employees like Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman (Ukrainian speaking Director for European Affairs for the National Security Council), Kurt Volker (who worked in a volunteer capacity as the U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine until his resignation on September 27, 2019), Bill Taylor (formerly served as chargé d'affaires for Ukraine), Fiona Hill (a foreign affairs specialist and was an official at the National Security Council specializing in the former Soviet Union and Russian and European affairs) and others (see photo above). We may learn more about what others like Vice President Pence’s aide Jennifer Williams have revealing in their depositions and closed door testimony.
If you watch the two hour MSNBC block of Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O’Donnell’s shows you know that at Vindman, Volker, and Hill are true patriots.
If you don’t watch Rachel and Lawrence you need to be following this news elsewhere. You should understand what these people are illuminating about the criminality of what Trump and his associates Barr, Perry, Giuliani, Mulvaney, and Sondland (who Trump now claims he barely knows) did to extort Ukraine to sully the Biden’s reputation.
These individuals are proving their patriotism.
The Republicans are reading the same damning depositions and hearing the same testimony in closed door hearings.
Next week the Republicans will have to perform in live hearings and face these patriots and they will have an opportunity to question them.
It will be a challenge for them to come across as seekers of truth rather than Trump sycophants taking the American public for fools or, not to be snarky, utter idiots themselves.
Now that Jim Jordan has replaced Rep. Rick Crawford (see his tweet announcing his departure) and with Devon Nunes on the the Intelligence Committee it should be quite a show.
I recommend all of the Republicans read Benjamin Franklin’s thoughts on the U.S. Constitution:
In these sentiments, Sir, I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a general Government necessary for us, and there is no form of Government but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered, and believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in Despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic Government, being incapable of any other.
I doubt too whether any other Convention we can obtain, may be able to make a better Constitution. For when you assemble a number of men to have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men, all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests, and their selfish views. From such an assembly can a perfect production be expected? It therefore astonishes me, Sir, to find this system approaching so near to perfection as it does; and I think it will astonish our enemies, who are waiting with confidence to hear that our councils are confounded like those of the Builders of Babel; and that our States are on the point of separation, only to meet hereafter for the purpose of cutting one another's throats. Thus I consent, Sir, to this Constitution because I expect no better, and because I am not sure, that it is not the best. The opinions I have had of its errors, I sacrifice to the public good. I have never whispered a syllable of them abroad. Within these walls they were born, and here they shall die. If every one of us in returning to our Constituents were to report the objections he has had to it, and endeavor to gain partisans in support of them, we might prevent its being generally received, and thereby lose all the salutary effects and great advantages resulting naturally in our favor among foreign Nations as well as among ourselves, from our real or apparent unanimity.
Much of the strength and efficiency of any Government in procuring and securing happiness to the people, depends, on opinion, on the general opinion of the goodness of the Government, as well as well as of the wisdom and integrity of its Governors. I hope therefore that for our own sakes as a part of the people, and for the sake of posterity, we shall act heartily and unanimously in recommending this Constitution (if approved by Congress and confirmed by the Conventions) wherever our influence may extend, and turn our future thoughts and endeavors to the means of having it well administered. (Reference)
Here are the Republicans on the Intelligence Committee. Note that Will Hurd is a former CIA officer and the only black Republican in Congress.
- Devin Nunes, California, Ranking Member
- Mike Conaway, Texas
- Mike Turner, Ohio
- Brad Wenstrup, Ohio
- Chris Stewart, Utah
- Elise Stefanik, New York
- Will Hurd, Texas
- John Ratcliffe, Texas
- Jim Jordan, Ohio (Temporarily sitting on the committee for the duration of impeachment proceedings)
Is it possible that Will Hurd or other GOP members will deviate from the party line of defending Trump at all costs to the truth?
Will any of them them demonstrate that they are putting patriotism over politics? (Take the poll)
I say this to all Republicans including John Bolton and others who worked or currently work in the White House, and all GOP members of Congress:
let there be patriots amongst you.