It is now almost certain that Donald Trump will be impeached by the House of Representatives. But unless you are a dedicated follower of the news, you might not have a full grasp of the situation. Here’s a brief summation of what’s going on.
First, the background to the infamous call that will likely be the cornerstone of the Articles of Impeachment.
- Russia invaded Crimea, which is the eastern part of Ukraine.
- Russians (or their surrogates) are still waging war in parts of Ukraine.
- For Ukrainians, this is an existential threat; they need all the military assistance they can get so they can survive as an independent country.
- Therefore, the Ukrainian president has to suck up to any American president in order to keep the military assistance flowing.
- Congress had previously appropriated hundreds of millions of dollars in military assistance to Ukraine, to help them fend off Russian aggression.
- But at the time of this call, Trump was holding back that assistance.
So when Trump dangles the military assistance in front of the Ukrainian president and then says, “I need a favor though,” what choice does the Ukrainian have, except to play along? He has no choice.
What was the “favor”? Was it for Ukraine to do more to confront our mutual adversary, the Russians? Did it have something to do with the European Union, human rights, or perhaps climate change?
HA!
No, the “favor” Trump wanted was for Ukraine to dig up dirt on Trump’s leading political opponent, Joe Biden.
And that is illegal. As the head of the Federal Election Commission bluntly stated in a letter:
“Let me make something 100% clear to the American public or anyone running for public office. It is illegal to solicit, accept, or receive anything of value from a foreign national in connection with a U.S. election.”
Why is it illegal? Because our lawmakers, going all the way back to the Framers of the Constitution, wanted to ensure that the U.S. President always puts the nation’s interests ahead of his (or her) own. When you accept a “thing of value” you are instantly compromised. Worse, when that country knows the president is doing something illegal, they have major leverage over the president.
It’s beyond illegal, it’s crazy. Here’s what Bill Taylor, a high-ranking career American diplomat in the Ukraine texted:
“As I said on the phone, I think it’s crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign.”
Taylor was deeply involved in the discussions. For him, this was obvious extortion. A shakedown.
And remember, from the earliest days of the Mueller investigation, Trump knew that getting foreigners involved in domestic elections was illegal; he cannot claim ignorance of the law.
Finally, please recognize that every line above can be expanded out to many pages of supporting details and explanations. I simply want to give you the most salient aspects of this deeply disturbing episode in what is already, by far, the most corrupt administration in modern American history.
Thanks for caring about the truth.
Ken
Sanity First! 
Hi Ken – I’ve read your latest blog with great interest. I know that politics is definitely a contentious subject and I respect your opinions. There is no question that Donald Trump is probably the greatest political enigma who has ever arrived on the scene in modern times. Donald Trump became President of the United States to the shock and bewilderment of probably, both Political parties. 90 % of the polls showed him losing to Hillary Clinton. From the day of his inauguration, the Democrats, supported by the Main Stream Media, have been trying to overturn the results of the 2016 election; currently now trying to impeach him during secret hearings.
Have you ever asked yourself, why and how, despite all the odds against him, did Donald Trump win? For three years now, except for a few Media outlets, virtually every newspaper and mainstream TV media outlet, have waged a tireless, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, a campaign of negative, biased reporting. Millions have been spent. If you watch and get your news and derive your opinions on current events from CNN, MSNBC or New York Post and the New York Times, of course, you would feel the way you do about Trump. How could you not? Yet, despite the Media’s war on Trump, since becoming President, the average annual middle-class income is up by $5,000 with the highest employment of Blacks, Hispanics and Asians ever. The fact is, unemployment is down to record level of 3.5%. I could continue to go on and on with other Trump policies that are benefiting our country today but that is not the overall purpose of my response.
I believe that had the results of the Muller report been released prior to the mid-term elections, the Republicans would have retained control of the House and things would be getting done in congress now. You and other like-minded people may not like him for a variety of reasons, some of which I would agree with, but, as long Trump is willing to fight against open borders, sanctuary cities, illegal immigration, high taxes and unfair global trade agreements that have cost the US millions of jobs and factory closures across our country in recent years, like the vocal and silent millions that support Trump now, be assured he will be re-elected by a landslide in November.
You were wrong about Obama and his accomplishments. He failed in his “transformational” attempt and was ultimately responsible for the emergence of Donald Trump to the political scene. You were wrong about Hillary Clinton and you are wrong about Trump. Trump will prevail in his attempt to derail the strangling tentacles’ of today’s political move toward Socialism. Trump will defeat whoever the Democrat nominee will be in November. Unfortunately, it’s not about “Sanity” it’s about the unbridled “Insanity” that is being perpetrated on the American people by one of the greatest political “witch-hunts” in American history, which is soon to be exposed.
Stay well, my friend. I always look forward to your political opinions and truly hope that one day we will both find common ground in what we mutually believe.
Shelly Dubow
Thanks for that Shelly.
I assume since you didn’t write about anything in the post that you agree everything was factual.