Pirate's Cove

What is the Democrats narrative these days, anyhow? They had run with quid pro quo, but, after poll testing it in focus groups, they switched to bribery. Especially since Americans will surely learn, if they don’t already know, that quid pro quos are the way politics, especially international ones, are done. And then they might want to know why Trump wanted Joe Biden investigated, and, really, why he wanted investigations in Ukraine, as they relate to the Russia Russia Russia investigation. But, if their narrative is bribery…

(Breitbart) Turner took a moment during Tuesday evening’s hearing to blast the hearsay evidence that Democrats have largely relied on – and used – as a basis for their entire impeachment inquiry:

A lot of people talking about their perceptions, their beliefs – their feelings even – what they heard and their understandings and their thoughts. Ambassador Taylor, Mr. Kent, Ambassador Yovanovitch, and Lieutenant Colonel Vindman had conversations with each other and with other people and all had a whole bunch of hearsay.

But I can assure you this boils down to just one thing. This is an impeachment inquiry concerning the President of the United States, so the only thing that matters – besides all these people talking to each other and all their feels and all of their thoughts and understandings – it really only comes down to, what did the President of the United States intend, what did he say, and what did the Ukrainians understand or hear.

The Washington Post is claiming that the three witnesses undercut Trump’s defense. But, all they had was perceptions and feelings, no actual, substantive proof. I think the Post (and lots of other outlets) missed this part

Rep Mike Turner: “So I get to ask you. You had a meeting with the President of the United States, and you believe that the policy issues he raised concerning Ukraine were valid, correct?”

“Yes,” Volker said.

“Did the President of the United States ever say to you that he was not going to allow aid from the United States to go to the Ukraine unless there were investigations into Burisma, the Bidens, or the 2016 elections?” Turner asked.

“No, he did not,” Volker said.

Oops. It’s kinda funny that Democrats are upset that Trump would want an investigation into the 2016 elections, isn’t it? Do they have something to hide?

Did the Ukrainians ever tell you that they understood that they would not get a meeting with the President of the United States, a phone call with the President of the United States, military aid, or foreign aid from the United States unless they undertook investigations of Burisma, the Bidens, or the 2016 elections?

“No, they did not,” Volker said.

Turner noted that Volker’s answers essentially dismantled the Democrats’ entire case for impeaching Trump.

“Pretty much, Ambassador Volker, you just like took apart their entire case,” Turner said.

Double oops.

Nothing went particularly well for Democrats yesterday, as it was all about beliefs and feelings, just like it has been going. There really is nothing that makes you go ZOMG, impeach! Unless you are a hardcore Democrat. Up today is Gordon Sondland, who is now being called the most important witness, as the previous Most Important Witnesses have flamed out.