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H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
Tue Sep 24, 2019, 02:49 PM Sep 2019

The Time to Break Silence

“The inspector general said he requested authorization to at the very least disclose the “general subject matter” to the committee but had not been allowed to do so. He said the information was “being kept” from Congress. These decisions, the inspector general said, are affecting his execution of his duties and responsibilities.

“Illinois Rep. Mike Quigley, a member of the panel, said Atkinson said that the complaint was 'based on a series of events.'”

https://www.apnews.com/48f63d46490a409ca20aecc1c4fdf573



I called a friend today. Actually, I called his office in DC, and he wasn't available. I wasn't surprised, because I know it's busy where he is.

I've only known him and his family for a couple of years. He is friends with an old friend, who I've known for 40+ years. When he decided to run for a seat in the House of Representatives, I was happy to contribute to and participate in his campaign. He won, which was very impressive considering he ran in a district with a large republican majority.

The number of registered Democrats in the district is even lower than those registered independent, which makes winning an election a lot of hard work. It was while engaging in that work that I came to know him better. We talked about the possibility of impeaching Trump for the Russian scandal, among other things.

For a variety of reasons, including thoughts on running for re-election, my friend has not publicly endorsed impeachment. I understand that. I appreciate his reasoning. And so while I have maintained regular contact with his office, I haven't said he needs to.

Until today. There comes a time, as Martin Luther King, Jr., said in his April 1967 speech “A Time to Break Silence” (aka “Beyond Vietnam”) that there comes a time when silence is betrayal. King was quoting the group Clergy and Laymen Concerned About Vietnam, though the quote is frequently attributed to him. C&LCAV had requested that King add his powerful voice to their movement.

This is not the first time that I have recommended the congressman change his position. Twice while he was campaigning, in answer to questions from the audience, he had said he would not vote for Nancy Pelosi for Speaker. Both times I said he needed to reconsider, and explained that Ms. Pelosi was working to put together a great legal team they would need if Democrats became the majority in the House. It's the type of team needed if Trump refused to cooperate with investigations.

Push has come to shove. I told the gentleman I was talking to that is essential the Democrats get the whistle-blower's complaint. Not just a White House transcript of the single phone call. I said that we can not settle for a “Stennis Compromise,” then realized that he was too young to know what I was talking about.

I'm hoping to hear back, at least from my friend's office, within the next 24 hours. Although they already have my contact information, the young man added it to my message to the Congressman.

We are in a tough fight. But the sociopath in the Oval Office has gone too far this time. And he needs to feel the consequences.

28 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The Time to Break Silence (Original Post) H2O Man Sep 2019 OP
I'm pretty sure he doesn't need Trump's permission to follow the law... Wounded Bear Sep 2019 #1
A question: H2O Man Sep 2019 #5
Absolutely! Wounded Bear Sep 2019 #9
Exactly. H2O Man Sep 2019 #10
The whistleblower has already offered to appear before the House Intel Committee FakeNoose Sep 2019 #20
Thanks! H2O Man Sep 2019 #21
No doubt, they will fight like rabid badgers... kentuck Sep 2019 #2
Yes, definitely. H2O Man Sep 2019 #6
The sentiment is mutual... kentuck Sep 2019 #11
The White House plan H2O Man Sep 2019 #12
Sounds about right. kentuck Sep 2019 #19
Yep. H2O Man Sep 2019 #22
Has that "urgent" status been refuted by IG? Hope not Laura PourMeADrink Sep 2019 #23
Well said, my dear H20 Man! CaliforniaPeggy Sep 2019 #3
Thanks, Peggy! H2O Man Sep 2019 #7
Yep. Time's UP. calimary Sep 2019 #18
Indeed, it has H2O Man Sep 2019 #28
K&R... spanone Sep 2019 #4
Thank you! H2O Man Sep 2019 #8
Just saw Mme Speaker being interviewed at some literary/arts do. She's absolutely masterful... Hekate Sep 2019 #13
Great! H2O Man Sep 2019 #15
"He's gone too far this time." Eyeball_Kid Sep 2019 #14
I believe that Nancy Pelosi was waiting for a critical mass. And now she has it. n/t CaliforniaPeggy Sep 2019 #16
No argument here ..... H2O Man Sep 2019 #17
Totally agree. Weakens the entire case to some degree. Laura PourMeADrink Sep 2019 #24
He already went too far but there is one difference Midnightwalk Sep 2019 #26
"A Time to Break Silence" Piasladic Sep 2019 #25
Thank you! H2O Man Sep 2019 #27

H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
5. A question:
Tue Sep 24, 2019, 03:02 PM
Sep 2019

Do you agree that they need the whistle-blower's complaint? (I'm hearing as I write this that they might get him to testify, which I think is essential.)

My friend was a district attorney. He holds Trump in utter contempt. I think he wanted to be sure they had the strongest case possible -- and now they do!

Wounded Bear

(58,442 posts)
9. Absolutely!
Tue Sep 24, 2019, 03:09 PM
Sep 2019

The House Intel Committee should get the full, unredacted text of the original complaint.

You don't let the defendant at trial edit the state's evidence.

I believe the law is pretty clear. The DNI SHALL submit the complaint to the Congress.

FakeNoose

(32,356 posts)
20. The whistleblower has already offered to appear before the House Intel Committee
Tue Sep 24, 2019, 04:01 PM
Sep 2019

Schiff just announced it about an hour ago. The whistleblower's attorney has contacted him, they're working out the details. I believe the testimony will be behind closed doors for obvious reasons. They still need to preserve his/her anonymity.

H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
6. Yes, definitely.
Tue Sep 24, 2019, 03:05 PM
Sep 2019

Trump saying he has ordered the transcript to be released reminds me of Nixon saying he would have Senator Stennis transcribe the tapes.

Hey!!! I'm glad to know and converse with you at this strange, historic time!

kentuck

(110,950 posts)
11. The sentiment is mutual...
Tue Sep 24, 2019, 03:11 PM
Sep 2019

By agreeing to release the transcript tells me there is a whole lot more to see. One thing we know for sure - he cannot be trusted to tell the truth or to act in good faith.

H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
12. The White House plan
Tue Sep 24, 2019, 03:17 PM
Sep 2019

is to release it, then refuse to budge on anything else. Trump will whimper that he has already cooperated, but the Democrats are on a witch hunt. How original.

I'm assuming Trump's team knows that he fucked up badly.

kentuck

(110,950 posts)
19. Sounds about right.
Tue Sep 24, 2019, 03:48 PM
Sep 2019

But I am inclined to think it is all a diversion for something much larger.

We need to hear from the whistleblower. We need to read the complaint that the IG considered "URGENT". In their parlance, that means it is a threat to our national security.

H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
22. Yep.
Tue Sep 24, 2019, 04:23 PM
Sep 2019

I'm confident that there is more. Much more. We are seeing the tip of the icecube, as the old saying goes.

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,310 posts)
3. Well said, my dear H20 Man!
Tue Sep 24, 2019, 02:55 PM
Sep 2019

Your reasoning is right on, and I hope your friend will listen, and act accordingly.

It is indeed time to break silence; in fact, I believe we are past due to do it.

H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
7. Thanks, Peggy!
Tue Sep 24, 2019, 03:07 PM
Sep 2019

My older son just contacted me, and said he'll be here tonight to celebrate. I think that good people across the country will be! (Of course, at my age, "partying" is pretty mild. But if I did consume alcohol, by golly, I'd have two beers tonight!)

H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
28. Indeed, it has
Tue Sep 24, 2019, 07:11 PM
Sep 2019

taken a long time. Things should be interesting for the rest of 2019, and even moreso next year!

Hekate

(90,202 posts)
13. Just saw Mme Speaker being interviewed at some literary/arts do. She's absolutely masterful...
Tue Sep 24, 2019, 03:18 PM
Sep 2019

..at answering only the questions she wants to answer in the moment. The interviewer really really really wanted to have a preview of this afternoon's caucus, but no. She did say something I did not know: before she was Speaker, she was Adam Schiff -- that is, she was ranking member on that same committee, and privy to all the information thereunto pertaining, which she still gets as a courtesy.

Quoted Ben Franklin on whether we were to have a Monarchy or a Republic: "A republic, if we can keep it." We don't have a monarchy, she said -- and clearly she intends to do her part to retain the US as a republic.

That's enough to be going on with until this afternoon. .

H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
15. Great!
Tue Sep 24, 2019, 03:22 PM
Sep 2019

Today is a Good Day. I'm happy that I have the opportunity to spend it with Good Friends like you, here on my favorite internet forum!

Eyeball_Kid

(7,410 posts)
14. "He's gone too far this time."
Tue Sep 24, 2019, 03:18 PM
Sep 2019

Really? Why hadn't he gone too far the time before this one. Or the time before the time before? Or... on and on...?

There are SO MANY FELONIES to count! And THIS time, he's gone too far? Are we now witnessing the real results of "normalization"? He can't eat a baby on national TV, but he can rob the Treasury of billions?

H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
17. No argument here .....
Tue Sep 24, 2019, 03:24 PM
Sep 2019

I agree 100%. I've advocated impeaching Trump since he took office. I know that he has gone way, way too far, and that allowing him to do so makes the tasks of repairing our constitutional democracy much more difficult.

 

Laura PourMeADrink

(42,770 posts)
24. Totally agree. Weakens the entire case to some degree.
Tue Sep 24, 2019, 04:56 PM
Sep 2019

There's something very powerful about acting swiftly as close in time as possible to the crime. It's not mandatory of course, but it is optimal.

Midnightwalk

(3,131 posts)
26. He already went too far but there is one difference
Tue Sep 24, 2019, 06:09 PM
Sep 2019

I agree he already committed felonies and impeachment has taken too long.

This time he has declared that he can and did abuse the power of the office to go after his leading opponent in the 2020 election. He would do the same to whoever the leading candidate is.

Some people thought that removing him in the next election was an alternative to impeachment. I wanted an impeachment investigation (I even predicted it would happen late summer).

It’s hard to argue that we can count on winning the next election when trump announces he will use all the power of the presidency to stay in power.

I would agree he already cheated to win in 2016 but it is even more dangerous when he admits to using the power of the presidency to cheat in 2020

I’m just glad this was enough to get the ball rolling. Finally.

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