It appears Bolton's book undercuts Trump's defense

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bolton's team followed protocol.

Someone leaked during the review. This may have been expected by the Bolton team.

The review was known to the White House some time ago, which is why McConnell and Trump's team did their best to rush the trial: opening arguments in 2 days, no votes on witnesses or evidence, etc.

I expect Senators to vote for hearing witnesses, particularly Bolton, after this news. After all, you only need a simple majority. Just 4 Republican Senators.

The White House is considering trying to block Bolton from testifying, but I'm not sure that's possible.

If Bolton does testify, the Senate won't automatically vote to remove the President. This requires 67 votes, and is a much harder lift, even in the face of DIRECT WITNESS EVIDENCE. It's not circumstantial anymore! And the witness has credibility, and couldn't be further from a Democrat. He's not a Never Trumper either.

Even if the President is not removed, all this will not help the Republican side during the Presidential election.

If Arch-Conservative John Bolton implicates the president in live testimony before the Senate, and a secret vote were held, Trump would be out very quickly.

It has been known for a long time, before the House investigation even started, that if Senators were allowed to vote secretly, Trump would be removed in the blink of an eye. They all hate him. They're just afraid of the base, and afraid for their fundraising.

Let's focus on what's realistic here. Bolton actually has a shot at testifying, because Senators will perhaps wish to appear impartial. I'm not sure this changes the needle at all on removal votes, sadly. The witnesses will not be interrogated in public, everything will be behind closed doors, so Senators will just come out and pretend it wasn't that significant.

[Anonymous]

If Bolton testifies and the Senate still acquits, then it will be even worse for the GOP in November.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bolton's team followed protocol.

Someone leaked during the review. This may have been expected by the Bolton team.

The review was known to the White House some time ago, which is why McConnell and Trump's team did their best to rush the trial: opening arguments in 2 days, no votes on witnesses or evidence, etc.

I expect Senators to vote for hearing witnesses, particularly Bolton, after this news. After all, you only need a simple majority. Just 4 Republican Senators.

The White House is considering trying to block Bolton from testifying, but I'm not sure that's possible.

If Bolton does testify, the Senate won't automatically vote to remove the President. This requires 67 votes, and is a much harder lift, even in the face of DIRECT WITNESS EVIDENCE. It's not circumstantial anymore! And the witness has credibility, and couldn't be further from a Democrat. He's not a Never Trumper either.

Even if the President is not removed, all this will not help the Republican side during the Presidential election.

If Arch-Conservative John Bolton implicates the president in live testimony before the Senate, and a secret vote were held, Trump would be out very quickly.

It has been known for a long time, before the House investigation even started, that if Senators were allowed to vote secretly, Trump would be removed in the blink of an eye. They all hate him. They're just afraid of the base, and afraid for their fundraising.

Let's focus on what's realistic here. Bolton actually has a shot at testifying, because Senators will perhaps wish to appear impartial. I'm not sure this changes the needle at all on removal votes, sadly. The witnesses will not be interrogated in public, everything will be behind closed doors, so Senators will just come out and pretend it wasn't that significant.

No, they wouldn't vote against him even in a secret ballot. Even in that case, Trump would guess who voted against him, and take them down anyway. If they all voted against him, Trump would take the entire Republican Party down with him.

[Anonymous]

^ he’s taking the party down either way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bolton's team followed protocol.

Someone leaked during the review. This may have been expected by the Bolton team.

The review was known to the White House some time ago, which is why McConnell and Trump's team did their best to rush the trial: opening arguments in 2 days, no votes on witnesses or evidence, etc.

I expect Senators to vote for hearing witnesses, particularly Bolton, after this news. After all, you only need a simple majority. Just 4 Republican Senators.

The White House is considering trying to block Bolton from testifying, but I'm not sure that's possible.

If Bolton does testify, the Senate won't automatically vote to remove the President. This requires 67 votes, and is a much harder lift, even in the face of DIRECT WITNESS EVIDENCE. It's not circumstantial anymore! And the witness has credibility, and couldn't be further from a Democrat. He's not a Never Trumper either.

Even if the President is not removed, all this will not help the Republican side during the Presidential election.

If Arch-Conservative John Bolton implicates the president in live testimony before the Senate, and a secret vote were held, Trump would be out very quickly.

It has been known for a long time, before the House investigation even started, that if Senators were allowed to vote secretly, Trump would be removed in the blink of an eye. They all hate him. They're just afraid of the base, and afraid for their fundraising.

Let's focus on what's realistic here. Bolton actually has a shot at testifying, because Senators will perhaps wish to appear impartial. I'm not sure this changes the needle at all on removal votes, sadly. The witnesses will not be interrogated in public, everything will be behind closed doors, so Senators will just come out and pretend it wasn't that significant.

No, they wouldn't vote against him even in a secret ballot. Even in that case, Trump would guess who voted against him, and take them down anyway. If they all voted against him, Trump would take the entire Republican Party down with him.

I think they would ALL vote against him, and that Trump would not be able to retaliate at all, but it's useless to speculate since it will never happen.

[Anonymous]

Dear White House,
So you are reviewing my book? Well, it better skate on through. You don’t like what I wrote? Well, you’ll like it even less if you try to stop it, and I’m forced to give the details to the senate during a trial. Pick your poison, and do it quick. I’d hate for anymore details to come out. It would be a shame for 4-5 republican senators to feel like they just can’t ignore my testimony. Tick tock mother F@ck£rs.
Love,
JB

[Anonymous]

Trump admin got the book for review on 12/30/19 - Trump attacked Iran's military leader (who Bolton despised) on 1/03/20...

[Anonymous]

Some good questions here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some good questions here.

Oh hey here’s one answer:

[Anonymous]

Bolton’s book went live on Amazon tonight.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0847FZRBF/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=The+Room+Where+it+Happened+bolton&qid=1580096266&sr=8-1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bolton's team followed protocol.

Someone leaked during the review. This may have been expected by the Bolton team.

The review was known to the White House some time ago, which is why McConnell and Trump's team did their best to rush the trial: opening arguments in 2 days, no votes on witnesses or evidence, etc.

I expect Senators to vote for hearing witnesses, particularly Bolton, after this news. After all, you only need a simple majority. Just 4 Republican Senators.

The White House is considering trying to block Bolton from testifying, but I'm not sure that's possible.

If Bolton does testify, the Senate won't automatically vote to remove the President. This requires 67 votes, and is a much harder lift, even in the face of DIRECT WITNESS EVIDENCE. It's not circumstantial anymore! And the witness has credibility, and couldn't be further from a Democrat. He's not a Never Trumper either.

Even if the President is not removed, all this will not help the Republican side during the Presidential election.

If Arch-Conservative John Bolton implicates the president in live testimony before the Senate, and a secret vote were held, Trump would be out very quickly.

It has been known for a long time, before the House investigation even started, that if Senators were allowed to vote secretly, Trump would be removed in the blink of an eye. They all hate him. They're just afraid of the base, and afraid for their fundraising.

Let's focus on what's realistic here. Bolton actually has a shot at testifying, because Senators will perhaps wish to appear impartial. I'm not sure this changes the needle at all on removal votes, sadly. The witnesses will not be interrogated in public, everything will be behind closed doors, so Senators will just come out and pretend it wasn't that significant.

No, they wouldn't vote against him even in a secret ballot. Even in that case, Trump would guess who voted against him, and take them down anyway. If they all voted against him, Trump would take the entire Republican Party down with him.

I think they would ALL vote against him, and that Trump would not be able to retaliate at all, but it's useless to speculate since it will never happen.

Someone who can turn the base against you with a single tweet will always be a danger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trumps OWN people are leaking, trying to save the Republic and the Senate GOP just looks the other way.

+1

[Anonymous]

Who leaked is going to be what Republicans fixate on, but really, folks, the big news here is the content of the book. Bolton is as close to the heart of the beast as you get--I mean, Fox News made him. No chance this could change some minds?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who leaked is going to be what Republicans fixate on, but really, folks, the big news here is the content of the book. Bolton is as close to the heart of the beast as you get--I mean, Fox News made him. No chance this could change some minds?

Anything's possible, but they've already admitted there was a quid pro quo and nobody cared. Their basic defense is unchanged. No big deal and whatabout Biden.

[Anonymous]

Interesting that Bolton has the same agent as Comey and the roll out is coming in the same manner--leaks.

Also, interesting that Amazon put up the pre-sale right after the story broke.