Republicans break into secure testimony

[Crossroads Inc.]

Yes, this is actually happening

washington post

Over the past two weeks, several Republicans not on those committees have tried to get access to the secret depositions and transcripts of those meetings, but this is the largest group to attempt it.

As of early Wednesday afternoon, the number of remaining noncommittal Republicans remained in the secure room where Defense Department official Laura Cooper was scheduled to testify. She was reportedly slated to discuss the issue of delayed military aid to Ukraine.


Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Florida Democrat, said the sit-in has derailed Ms. Cooper’s testimony and it was unclear when it would start again. Ms. Cooper was not in the room at the time, she said.

Democratic lawmakers leaving the room said those that entered the room brought their cellphones, which is against the rules for a secured area.

“In short they have compromised the security of the room,” Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell said. “Many members, dozens of members brought in electronics. And they not only brought in their unauthorized device, they may have brought in the Russian and Chinese with electronics in a secure space.”

“They had no regard for the witness or making sure we can continue to hold the president accountable and ensure we can get to the bottom of this,” Ms. Wasserman Schultz said. “If they don’t have a leg to stand on when it comes to the substance of evidence, they have to argue process.”

So we can add “harassing witnesses” and “compromising evidence” to the list of things the GOP doesn’t actually care about?

[Ace Pace]

As has been said in this forum by many people, the GOP congress fundamentally does not care about governance but only about power. They won't hesitate to hurt the functioning of the government for their own short term needs.

But the stupidity of congresscritters is supposed to be never surprising.

[ray245]

As has been said in this forum by many people, the GOP congress fundamentally does not care about governance but only about power. They won't hesitate to hurt the functioning of the government for their own short term needs.

But the stupidity of congresscritters is supposed to be never surprising.

And it has been rewarding for them to do so in all these years. Politics rewards those that cared the most about power rather than governance.

[madd0ct0r]

Do you think they expected this to work or just be a posture for the base

[TheFeniX]

Do you think they expected this to work or just be a posture for the base

There's already a dozen GOPers with access to the testimony and records. It's all posturing. I mean, they WILL be going public with what they've found, only protecting the identity of the whistleblowers and some other things. So this is being played up for the narrative "LOOK, we MADE THEM GO PUBLIC! We forced the coup into the daylight! TRUE HEROES, WE!" Basically, taking credit for the sun rising each day. Politics 101 stuff.

EDIT: I say this because people are fucking dumb. I'm still trying to explain to some conservatives around here the concept that Clinton was impeached, but not removed from office. You know, because people can't fucking google basic info on shit they claim to find SUPER important. Can't waste time on that when there's alt-right memes to like on Facebook.

[ray245]

Do you think they expected this to work or just be a posture for the base

There's already a dozen GOPers with access to the testimony and records. It's all posturing. I mean, they WILL be going public with what they've found, only protecting the identity of the whistleblowers and some other things. So this is being played up for the narrative "LOOK, we MADE THEM GO PUBLIC! We forced the coup into the daylight! TRUE HEROES, WE!" Basically, taking credit for the sun rising each day. Politics 101 stuff.

EDIT: I say this because people are fucking dumb. I'm still trying to explain to some conservatives around here the concept that Clinton was impeached, but not removed from office. You know, because people can't fucking google basic info on shit they claim to find SUPER important. Can't waste time on that when there's alt-right memes to like on Facebook.

And the Republicans know all they need to do to appeal to their base. Politics is a game of knowing how to best appeal to the base supporters and the Republicans are damn good at it. They know that despite how much accusation you can throw at them for being immoral, if they win the elections, that is all that matter at the end of the day.

[TheFeniX]

And the Republicans know all they need to do to appeal to their base. Politics is a game of knowing how to best appeal to the base supporters and the Republicans are damn good at it. They know that despite how much accusation you can throw at them for being immoral, if they win the elections, that is all that matter at the end of the day.

I think it's more complicated than that. Even the dumbest Republican has to know it wasn't the re-energized base that got Trump elected in 2016. It was that and a number of other factors, like the voters in areas that were considered solidly Republican but helped push Obama into office in 2008 (in a landslide, mind you) for numerous reasons. This plan doesn't just appeal to the GOP base. It's designed to get swing voters to believe the GOP is actually the party concerned with justice (and focusing on helping Americans, rather than just attacking their political rivals) while the DNC is too busy holding witch-hunts behind closed doors.

Right now, the impeachment is dominating the news everywhere. Trump IS going to be impeached. So the damage control here is to make it look like the impeachment was a pure political process (which, hilariously, it IS) and that the DNC had to lie, cheat, and steal to try and remove a Best President from office. And the GOP senate had to swoop in to save the day. And then set themselves up to say "We stopped an injustice. The DNC wasted thousands of hours and millions in tax payer money: DRAIN THE SWAMP!"

Thing is, last I checked: Congressional approval among moderates (where it's been the lowest since ever) is actually UP since details about the impeachment started coming to light. Swing voters are feeling the Impeachment IS "something getting done in Government," so the GOP is in desperation mode here. The testimonies have been labelled as "not good" from ardent Trump supporters in the GOP. So basically, they got to get voters too look past the facts of the situation, downplay their impact ("well, it's not REALLY quid pro quo!"), and focus on procedure type bullshit and make voters wonder if this was really worth the time.

tl;dr: People outside the DNC and GOP base matter here and making them ignore the facts and focus on getting them to believe this is a witch hunt and it being done behind CLOSED DOORS, and politics can't get anything done! is the takeaway. On another note: it's possibly a way to tell GOPers in the Senate who may/may not consider impeaching: "stay in line, we'll do anything to derail this and you."

Should be fun to watch.