Well, they can't, not without losin' face.

They're in a hard place: can't move forward, can't fall back.

They can move forward just fine.

They win either way in this situation.

What we need is the dissolution of the Democratic Party -- for its prejudice. Replace them with a pack of assorted Republicans and Libertarians.

The persecution under color of law -- or purportedly so -- is what's known in psychology as a smokescreen. Every barely imaginable excuse is thrown up as a reason, but none of these is the real reason.

The real reason is they're trying to impeach Trump for not being -- well, her name does not pass my lips; not that Mistress of Corruption. This drives all the persecuters' prejudice; they have in aid of their shameful prejudice sucked up *all* the corruption and prejudice in Washington. For the time being, the Republicans can't have any.

Our draconian ("Written in blood, not ink!") Donkey Party solons exhibit a low and insufficiently democratic character. Winning an election fair and square against one of their own, their corrupted own, is no sort of actionable offense, but a tonic to the free Republic.

No, they can't.

Movin' forward means impeachin', which they can't do (cuz they got nuthin', sumthin' that would be painfully obvious to everyone once the mess goes senate-side).

Fallin' back means admittin' right now the whole mess is just a horse & pony show, sumthin' that would disappoint the rabid and mebbe cost dems seats.

And my employee sits pretty no matter what, gets another four in the oval.

*shrug*

It is what it is.

Absolutely they can. If they push forward and win, they win.

Even if they push forward and lose, they paint the senate as a rigged jury, and they have their base and moderates happy for the 2020 house elections. Which isn't a solid win, but it is better than being viewed as "too timid", which is how Pelosi lost control of the house back in her 2006 tenure.

The only way they can lose is to withdraw the inquiry.

What have they got nothin' of? The subject of the investigation has confessed, multiple times in public.

"Absolutely they can. If they push forward and win, they win."

Which, again, is why they won't proceed to an actual impeachment vote: they can't win, cuz they got nuthin'.

#

"The only way they can lose is to withdraw the inquiry."

Oh, they lose no matter what. Press forward, fall back, stand still: they lose.

But, as I say up-thread: we'll see.

##

"The subject of the investigation has confessed"

See? It's a Rorschach test again: you say he 'confessed' (to some high crime); I say he's just been doin' his job (and has been open and honest about it). We're seein' what we wanna see.

Even if things play out clear through to the senate and are concluded (one way or the other) we'll still see what we want to (cuz this is a 'political' drama, not a 'legal' one).

He said he didn't do "quid pro quo", he just asked for something in exchange for something. It's not a Rorschach test, it's a question of whether you can use Google translate.

"We do it all the time!"
 

Yep, ask smokin' joe about that: he's proud of how handled them ewe-crane folks.

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"he just asked for something in exchange for something"

That's the opinion of some folks, yeah. The proof of it, well, that's what the hearings are about, yeah?

Embezzlement is using company funds to pay for a personal product, gain, or favor. Does it really matter that the company, this time, is the government?

He (and his father Fred) have been doing this sort of thing his entire adult life. Only real question: is it flagrant enough (are the crimes broad enough) to justify impeachment?

If you're not intelligibly responding to me, don't quote me. plz thx

An author has little relevance. A sentence relevant to the topic is quoted.

The quoted sentence is an example of what can be called embezzlement. And an example of how what The Don has always done.

Please only post rational thoughts.

Embezzlement involves money, anything else is just theft.

"please post only rational thoughts"

ha ha! f%ck off, weirdo

He used public money, structures, and staff for private gain. That is embezzlement. And theft. And conspiracy.

Clearly crimes. But it may not be enough for impeachment.