December 11 at 11:55 PM ·
While the president’s motives in seeking Ukrainian investigations are a matter of dispute, his actions are clear from the public record.
During Monday's impeachment hearing, Republican lawyer Stephen Castor denied that Donald Trump had asked his Ukrainian counterpart to investigate former
Ronald A Guillemette
Ronald A Guillemette There can be no dispute that Trump's reference to the Bidens was self-serving and political in nature. From an ethical standpoint, Trump would have to recuse himself from any discussion of the Bidens. The use of diplomatic authority could only be legitimate from a national interest, not a personal interest. Some of the trolls responding below are trying to argue extortion for political self-interest is standard operating procedure; that's rubbish.
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The Cato Institute
23 hrs ·
Last year, the U.S. asked South Korea for a hefty 50% increase in financial support to cover some of the costs of basing 28,000 troops on South Korean territory before settling on a $925 million, one-year deal that marked an 8.2% increase from the previous year. President Trump, evidently dissatisfied by this sum, upped the ante this year and is demanding $5 billion—a 500% increase.
Alliances should not be sacrosanct, but requesting 500 percent more from South Korea isn't a smart strategic move.
Ronald A Guillemette We aren't in the protection business, It's time to end the empire.
Marco Rubio at one time was the poster boy of the 2010 Tea Party rebellion. One of the few benefits of Trump's 2016 hostile takeover of the GOP was putting an end to Rubio's POTUS fantasy. Will shows Rubio is desperately trying to find a home in Progressivism Lite. https://t.co/qm6y2EVrWT— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 8, 2019
It's so demoralizing to see one of my favorite Congressmen reduced to partisan ranting. All impeachment does is to find a finding of probable cause of Presidential misconduct. There's not just probable cause but compelling evidence. Massie should be ashamed of himself. https://t.co/ioHwd18I0G— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 10, 2019
I wonder if patrons will be screened for bringing in substitute bananas for rotting fruit.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 10, 2019
I told Santa I didn't believe in climate change alarmism. #WhyIGotALumpOfCoal— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 10, 2019
Santa confused me with a Virginia state politician. #WhyIGotALumpOfCoalhttps://t.co/phc9kYWtB1— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 10, 2019
Santa noticed there was nothing burning in my fireplace. #WhyIGotALumpOfCoal— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 10, 2019
I told my younger siblings there is no Santa Claus. #WhyIGotALumpOfCoal— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 10, 2019
I told Santa I needed something more predictable for energy use than solar or wind. #WhyIGotALumpOfCoal— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 10, 2019
I work for Ebenezer Scrooge. #WhyIGotALumpOfCoal— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 10, 2019
I wasn't aware that defense attorneys appear before grand juries, the analogy to impeachment, but I guess Harvard Law taught you constitutional law. The House isn't trying Trump; it is merely determining if there's reasonable evidence for a trial. The evidence is compelling.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 10, 2019
It's sad that it's come to this. Trump brought this upon himself and will become the first POTUS impeached this century. An ethical man would not whore the powers of the Presidency for his self-interest. Unfortunately, there's no chance of conviction. #ArticlesOfImpeachment— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 10, 2019
Some attempt to excuse Trump's extortion of Ukraine for self-serving political reasons as merely no more than any bargaining has political objectives. But it really depends on the nature and extent of benefits, e.g., trade may benefit Trump's interests but are benefits exclusive?— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 10, 2019
So Trump would probably benefit politically from a "fixed" NAFTA deal, but do the trade benefits disproportionately accrue to business interests of Trump and his associates? The separation of powers, i.e., Senate approval of trade pacts, provides a check on self-serving outcomes.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 10, 2019
#YouKnowItsFakeWhen Fox News claims it's fair and balanced.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 10, 2019
I knew that Trump was going in this direction when he quoted that he was the "King of Israel". https://t.co/FOSbBCnPHy https://t.co/rc33Do3raL— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 11, 2019
If you thought Jews were unhappy when Romans mocked Jesus as "King of the Jews", imagine what they think over someone calling Trump King of Israel.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 11, 2019
I see Obama left at least his pen, if not his phone, for Trump to find. It's time to put an end to the imperial Presidency (especially since Trump thinks he's also King of Israel).— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 11, 2019
"Judaism"
Political correctness should not be a criterion for Person of the Year; Time Magazine has become irrelevant. There is no virtue in engaging in climate alarmism, of making a case for feckless government expansion at the expense of people's standard of living.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 11, 2019
"Time Magazine"
I chose Independent Congressman Justin Amash as my Man of the Year, the only consistent conservative who has taken on Trump. Of course, you could fit my blog readership in a phone booth with room to spare.https://t.co/b5ns8GAcjG— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 11, 2019
Trump is a corrupt political whore, willing to abandon our Bill of Rights, extend socialism in the military, spend our grandchildren's taxes on a bloated budget with unconstitutional expenditures and missions. https://t.co/6QgTBk3P2t— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 11, 2019
Let's be clear: this minor child has deliberately lectured to international heads of state. Freedom of speech is not unilateral; she is not exempt from criticism. Aspergers is not an excuse.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 12, 2019
This is beyond apples and oranges, and I'm a NeverTrumper. Barron has not inserted himself into a global policy debate and criticized global leaders.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 12, 2019
Congratulations to the British people for reaffirming the Brexit principle of Subsidiarity. It's sad so many leftists preferred serfdom to an unaccountable European bureaucracy and economic illiterate leftist/Statist "leadership". The US must make a free trade pact a priority.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 12, 2019
CAGW is an equal opportunity judge of political waste and corruption. Pelosi and Harris have won the last two porker of the year "honors". Four of the 6 nominees this year are women. So much for women being more frugal with the power of the purse.https://t.co/GP2FNIt6Jt— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
My vote went to Pelosi. It's hard to find anyone more at fault for massive spending, deficits, and waste than the Speaker of the House. (You could also add Trump, who had promised to retire the national debt in 8 years and has actually expanded it on his watch.)— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
British leftists are matching the idiocy and denial of Hillary Clinton supporters in 2016. Maybe Corbyn will spend the next 2-3 years coming up with excuses for his loss, maybe blaming American or Russian interference in the election.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
"Boris Johnson"
Don't be an idiot. Trump's obstruction of justice in the Russia probe and abuse of foreign relations authority by demanding Ukraine investigate his political rival Biden were violations of the Constitution, not partisan fabrications. In fact, Trump lost the midterms.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
Thatcher was the best British prime minister in modern British history. This is actually high praise for Johnson.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
You are just like the economic illiterate American leftists who champion government monopoly incompetence. We had moronic parasites who claimed opposing government monopoly for healthcare was a vote for letting people die. Government is a leading cause of death.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
Hopefully American Democrats will realize that nominating a Sanders or Warren against Trump will result in a fate similar to Corbyn's. The answer to government failure is not to supersize it or surrender to a remote continental bureaucracy.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
"Boris Johnson"
This is a case of being careful of what you wish of. The obstruction in Parliament is what led to this outcome. Progressives always overestimate their popular mandate. Now they find themselves in an even weaker position.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
"Boris Johnson"
Obama was the most unqualified, incompetent, worst POTUS in recent American history; he lost both chambers of Congress. Any Democrat would have won in 2008, and he won 2012 with fewer electoral and popular-percentage votes— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
What the fuck is the moron Huckabee talking about?— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
"No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice". There is no fine print qualifying that. No, he's not entitled to redo his first term because he got himself impeached (his fault).
"22nd Amendment"
Personally I don't think Hunter Biden is relevant to the issue of Trump's impeachable misconduct. But the partisan charges of hypocrisy aren't relevant; Biden isn't held accountable to voters, and Gaetz could argue lessons from his experience.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
#MattGaetzDUI
The predictions of a political backlash against Trump's well-earned impeachment are grossly exaggerated. One can argue that a simple majority doesn't support it, and independents don't favor it & Democrats may have issues explaining its pursuit less than a year before election.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
But according to 538, a narrow (2-pt.) plurality of Americans favor impeachment, and Trump's job approval is just below 42%--below than his second-place vote percentage in 2016. Unpopular candidates can win, e.g., Blagojevich had a 36% approval less than a year before reelection— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
According to RCP, Biden leads Trump with an average of 7.7 pts in Michigan, 4 in Wisconsin, and 7 in Pennsylvania. He has less than a 1% lead in TX and trails in FL, GA, and NC. Nationally Biden leads by almost 10 pts. and Trump has won only 2 of dozens of head to head polls.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
According to RCP, Biden nationally has won or tied nearly every Democratic primary poll since mid-October, overall by an average of 10.7 points. I'm pointing this out primarily to counter GOP pundits dismissing Biden as a likely challenger to Trump. Biden is seen as electable.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
One should never underestimate the favorability factor. Granted, Biden is marginally net unfavorable (vs. Trump's -18): cf 538. But America may be fed up with an erratic, volatile high-maintenance Presidency who seems more interested in Twitter and starting trade wars.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
I have respect for Brion McClanahan's scholarship in American history. But his dismissal of Trump's politically corrupt self-serving abuse of foreign relation authority as an impeachable offense is not reasonable or respectable. There is no acceptable excuse to raise Biden's name— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
CPA's cannot invest in the companies they audit; judges have to recuse themselves when facing a conflict of interest. Jeff Sessions had the integrity to recuse himself. And yet Trump abuses foreign relations to go after a political rival; since when is he above the Constitution?— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
I'm sure Republicans will find whatever disingenuous excuse they can imagine to justify Trump's whoring the Constitution. So what if he intended to use leverage of military aid to get dirt on Biden? It's not like he succeeded in his extortion; he released the aid, didn't he? BS!— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
What did America expect in electing Trump? He was in the real estate development business and tried to buy off public officials as the cost of doing business. He argued in the 2016 debates he had bought off his competitors, as if the john is more ethical than his whore.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
a politician among Jesus' disciples #ThingsNotInTheBible— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
Jesus preaching socialism #ThingsNotInTheBible— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
Trump as the King of Israel #ThingsNotInTheBible— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
This is not Francis I.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
- The Good Samaritan— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
- Go and spread the Good News to all nations
QED
True, God loves all sinners and is willing to forgive sins.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
However, homosexual behavior is condemned.
Jesus specifically named Simon Peter as His Successor, the first Pope.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
OK, the Judiciary Committee voted, on a partisan basis, to approve and forward to the House article(s) of impeachment. But impeachment requires a vote by the full House, and that hasn't happened yet. #Impeached— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
You economically illiterate hack! Obama did NOTHING to improve the economy. We had the slowest recession recovery in US history with subpar growth. The SOB literally doubled the unsustainable national debt and created vast growth-crippling uncertainty.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
The only jobs you have created is for your own lawyers. You are a corrupt bastard who has abused the Presidency for your own self-serving purposes. The economy is resilient enough to shake off your and Obama's meddling, including your tariffs/taxes on the American people.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
Trump: "I would like you to do us a favor though because our country has been through a lot and Ukraine knows a lot about it...The other thing, There's a lot of talk about Biden's son, that Biden stopped the prosecution...so if you can look into it." https://t.co/876WCIqWa9 https://t.co/ldpmhGIvGh— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
Wow. Trump announced a trade deal with China, and Wall Street basically yawned in response.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 13, 2019
For readers who don't know, I publish daily in my political blog (see profile link). There are things that can't be contained in a series of tweets. There is nothing new in this post, but I think it's a readable summary of the Zelensky call kerfuffle.https://t.co/baEvCgyfkx— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 14, 2019
Heck of a job, Pope Frankie!https://t.co/RT19zVu2LB— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 14, 2019
From the People's Republic of California DMV Department of Censorship:https://t.co/Nt0ZxL5WR4— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 14, 2019
The GOP flunked Constitution 101 #TheTestResultsCameBack— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 14, 2019
#TheTestResultsCameBack and you scored less on the citizenship test than the undocumented migrant.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 14, 2019
I understand why Dems are worried about Bloomberg. He might win all those Dem billionaire votes. #DropOutBloomberg— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 14, 2019
Friendly reminder, Donald Trump was a Democrat.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 14, 2019
Sorry. You didn't make AGT.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 14, 2019
I thought, just as Clinton was called 'the first black President' (Toni Morrison), this was a mocking reference to Trump's quoting someone calling him the King of Israel. #FirstJewishPresident— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 14, 2019
God damn parasitic economic-illiterate socialist professional Statists like Bernie Sanders and Cherokee Lizzie. #FirstJewishPresident— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) December 14, 2019
