Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Trump Impeachment Hearings (day 1) Bill Taylor, George Kent


Full video of Trump Impeachment Hearings (Day 1) | NBC News


The House Intelligence Committee holds its first public hearing in President Trump's impeachment inquiry. Witnesses include Bill Taylor, Acting U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, and George Kent, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State.

I graduated high school in 1973.  By then I’d already had enough science classes to understand the fundamental facts of Anthropogenic Global Warming.  Not that it’s tough to do, since though the details get impossibly complex, the fundamentals are quite straightforward and accessible to any intelligent person engaged in a good-faith learning effort.  
In the decades since observed changes on Earth have proven the scientists correct in their concerns and their science.  (I’m happy to debate that point, if anyone wants to question it.)
In these decades I have watched Republican leaders get ever more unhinged from physical realities, facts and well understood scientific truths - as they strayed further and further into self-certain self-delusion.  Today we see where that has lead our GOP leaders.
I submit that the cornerstone of GOP success, (besides convincing themselves they have God in their back-pockets), is their ruthless amoral manufacturing of doubt through whatever means necessary, misdirection, deception, hostile bullying a la wrestling coach Rep. Jordan, ridicule a la Rep. Nunes, and slander all the way around.  
There’s an angry totalitarian self-certainty and a willingness to engage in dirty tricks that someone like me simply can not comprehend.  I wonder what ever happened to FAIR PLAY?
For the documented historical record of how the weaponization of doubt unfolded under our lazy noses. Please read Merchants of Doubt and The Republican War On Science.  They’ll provide the background to help you better understand the deception that seems to be succeeding beyond everyone's expectations.  Remember they are playing for keeps. 


This is so important and the future is already going to be tough enough, now we are supposed totally suspend principles of honesty, respect, fair-play, dignity, sense of mutual humanity stuck on a shrinking planet.  Mean we had really ought to learn to work together instead of constantly refining our ability to destroy others.

It's all pretty academic, but is is important a I am a child of this Earth and my time, so I want to start my own modest collection of YouTube videos and some articles, as we watch this unfolding democratic crisis.  Adding new posts as life allows.   
(edited, November 25, 2019)
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The House Intelligence Committee holds its first public hearing in President Trump's impeachment inquiry. Witnesses include Bill Taylor, Acting U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, and George Kent, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State.
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George Conway: I'm 'Horrified' And 'Appalled' That The GOP Has Come to This 
MSNBC | Aired on 11/13/19.

George Conway joins Brian Williams and Nicolle Wallace to discuss the US Constitution, President Trump and the president's actions in regard to Ukraine.  Neal Katyal joins the conversation.


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Rosenberg: Ukraine Is Under Attack, Their People Are Dying and Trump Wants Something In Return
MSNBC | Aired on 11/13/19.

Chuck Rosenberg, Nicolle Wallace, Brian Williams, George Conway and Neal Katyal discuss the toll halting security assistance would have on the Ukrainian people. Aired on 11/13/19.


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Fox Judge urges Republicans to impeach Trump in viral speech 
Brian Tyler Cohen | Nov 12, 2019

Fox News' Judge Napolitano just urged Republicans to impeach Trump in an incredible speech.


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Then there’s the GOP Representative Gym Jordan (I’m simply according him the same lack of respect he shows others ) seems this is nothing more than another wrestling match to win at all costs, honesty and truth be damned.  I found his screaming self-righteous theater terrifying because of how the Democrats seem to wilt in front of it.  Never calling them directly on their dishonesty.  

Then when they had the chance during the Republican efforts to debate the Biden motions, the Democrats slammed the door on another wonderful prime-time teaching moment.  Why not finally let the GOP talk themselves out and then show the evidence?  I don't know.  But I sure know what they think! 

The inability of Democrats to take advantage of such window's of opportunity  is horrendous to witness.  It's no wonder public opinion isn't changing - Democrats still haven't figured out they need to speak directly to that 35% - nothing else will do.  IF YOU AREN'T CHANGING MINDS YOU ARE LOSING!  (updated Nov. 25, 2019)

Curiously I found an article, from a fashion writer of all things, that did a wonderful job of accurately summarizing the man and his performance that I witnessed today.


By Robin Givhan | Washington Post Fashion Writer | 11/13/19

…  Jordan, in his pale blue shirt and yellow tie, began his questioning Wednesday afternoon by rereading Taylor’s previous testimony, racing through his own statements that stood in for questions and interrupting the witness when he attempted to respond. Jordan stared at Taylor over his reading glasses. 
Jordan yelled at him and then nodded impatiently when Taylor managed to utter a few words. The congressman made references to “church prayer chains,” which served as a reminder that he is the sort of man for whom religiosity and righteousness are always front of mind. 
Jordan began at least one sentence with “No disrespect …” which always means that disrespect is forthcoming. It came in the form of a smirk. By then, Jordan’s first five minutes were up.
When he got into the ring for his second round, Jordan was speaking so fast that he was swallowing his words. It was an “invesgashun," not an investigation. 
“It didn’t happen! You had to be wrong,” he yelled at Taylor. It was a double accusation, not a statement of fact. 
It was a jab and then an uppercut. One could practically see the foamy sweat of pugilism dripping from Jordan’s brow. 
Taylor was resolutely nonplussed.
When his fellow Republicans put Jordan in for a third round, he skipped the questions altogether and just delivered a monologue on the injustice of the entire proceeding.
The congressman had come to pummel the witnesses, not to interrogate them. It doesn’t matter whether any of his punches landed or whether his opponent fought back. 
The man in the shirtsleeves was prepared to shadowbox to the death.   

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By Michael D. Shear  |  Nov. 13, 2019


Witnesses testified that President Trump pressured a foreign power to help him win re-election during historic hearings that previewed an intensely partisan battle.

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Trump Impeachment Hearings Highlights
By Ainara Tiefenthäler and Nilo Tabrizy

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Key Moments during the 11/13/19 Impeachment Hearing (day1)




William B. Taylor Jr., the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine, and George P. Kent, a senior State Department official in charge of Ukraine policy, are testifying before the House Intelligence Committee for the first public hearing of the impeachment inquiry into President Trump.

More from The New York Times Video:  http://nytimes.com/video

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How Bots Ignited False Voter Fraud Claims In Kentucky & What Means For 2020 | The 11th Hour | MSNBC | Nov 12, 2019


The New York Times explains how false information quickly spread on social media during Kentucky's recent gubernatorial, and how those concerns could show up again in the 2020 election. Clint Watts reacts. Aired on 11/11/19.

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“Messing with the enemy” 

Surviving In A Social Media World Of Hackers, Terrorists, Russians, And Fake News


Book Summary
A leading cyber-security expert looks at the misinformation campaigns, bogus news, and electronic espionage operations that have become the cutting-edge of modern warfare, offering recommendations for strategic protections at individual and national levels.

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GOP talking points full of untruths, Anderson Cooper finds

CNN | Nov 12, 2019

CNN's Anderson Cooper fact-checks Republican's talking points ahead of public hearings held by the House as part of an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump.

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The House Republicans’ Impeachment Defense Is Full of Holes

By John Cassidy  |  November 13, 2019  |  The New Yorker

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White House Sends Impeachment Talking Points to Democrats, Then Tries to Recall Them

By Niraj Chokshi | Sept. 25, 2019


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Column: Trump’s perfect phone call, and nine other GOP-approved impeachment talking points

By REX HUPPKE | CHICAGO TRIBUNE | OCT 09, 2019


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