It appears Bolton's book undercuts Trump's defense

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

That’s how every book from famous (“famous”) people is launched. They’ve been leaking stuff about Jessica Simpson for weeks, and you’ll be able to buy the book soon too. It’s like you’ve never noticed the process somehow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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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.

Given more than half of Trump's "followers" are Russian bots, it seems like having that "turn against yu" isn't that big a deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I wouldn't be surprised if some enterprising Bar members filed a complaint this morning against Trump's attorneys. All of them.

[Anonymous]

State TV (aka Fox)

Steve Hilton assured viewers he had “read the full report”—I have no clue to what he is referring—and that it did not change anything of substance, but “you can be sure that the impeachment fanatics on establishment state TV will be obsessed with this tomorrow.”


-Heather Cox Richardson


If you are a regular Fox viewer and that is shaping your wordview, this underscores just how madly you are being lied to and brainwashed. Pick another source.

[Anonymous]

Bolton has to be subpoenaed to testify. I hope people realize this. He’s done all he can by saying he’ll comply with a subpoena. It’s now up to the Senate to decide to subpoena him.

However, apparently Roberts can also subpoena people and it takes a 2/3rds majority to overrule him. Let’s home he exercises that right if it comes down to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bolton has to be subpoenaed to testify. I hope people realize this. He’s done all he can by saying he’ll comply with a subpoena. It’s now up to the Senate to decide to subpoena him.

However, apparently Roberts can also subpoena people and it takes a 2/3rds majority to overrule him. Let’s home he exercises that right if it comes down to it.

Doubtful. He just wants this to go away.

[Anonymous]

What is the probability that Bolton will do interviews with the press today?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the probability that Bolton will do interviews with the press today?

He likely is hoping to just be subpoenaed by the Senate. The more interesting thing to watch is how Trump's lawyers approach their defense, given this development. It's hard to say "the President did absolutely nothing wrong" when you have Bolton saying things like this, but maybe they'll just count on enough Americans being flat-out delusional or just not paying attention to the news?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the probability that Bolton will do interviews with the press today?

He likely is hoping to just be subpoenaed by the Senate. The more interesting thing to watch is how Trump's lawyers approach their defense, given this development. It's hard to say "the President did absolutely nothing wrong" when you have Bolton saying things like this, but maybe they'll just count on enough Americans being flat-out delusional or just not paying attention to the news?

I guess they will just say that it is impossible to impeach a president. Good news for future presidents that want to commit crimes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the probability that Bolton will do interviews with the press today?

He likely is hoping to just be subpoenaed by the Senate. The more interesting thing to watch is how Trump's lawyers approach their defense, given this development. It's hard to say "the President did absolutely nothing wrong" when you have Bolton saying things like this, but maybe they'll just count on enough Americans being flat-out delusional or just not paying attention to the news?

Fox will help as much as it can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bolton has to be subpoenaed to testify. I hope people realize this. He’s done all he can by saying he’ll comply with a subpoena. It’s now up to the Senate to decide to subpoena him.

However, apparently Roberts can also subpoena people and it takes a 2/3rds majority to overrule him. Let’s home he exercises that right if it comes down to it.

Doubtful. He just wants this to go away.

What has he done other than that one time he talked about decorum, after Collins passed him a note of some kind?

[Anonymous]

I'm weary of Bolton's testimony. I mean, if he's really anti-Trump, all he has to do is give an interview to someone in the press.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the probability that Bolton will do interviews with the press today?

He likely is hoping to just be subpoenaed by the Senate. The more interesting thing to watch is how Trump's lawyers approach their defense, given this development. It's hard to say "the President did absolutely nothing wrong" when you have Bolton saying things like this, but maybe they'll just count on enough Americans being flat-out delusional or just not paying attention to the news?

Will this be covered on Fox, OAN or talk radio?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He has to be called as a witness. The Senate's verdict loses all credibility otherwise.

So why didn't Shiff call him?

What changed? He wasn't needed in the house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm weary of Bolton's testimony. I mean, if he's really anti-Trump, all he has to do is give an interview to someone in the press.

Instead of "anti-trump", don't you really mean "if he has important truths to convey" or something like that? This is about finding the truth, not about likeing/disliking another person