Donald Trump''s slush funds is a criminal use of tax payer money for him to use for his own vindiciive purposes

 Chattanooga Times Free Press editorial

Times Opinion: Trump’s new slush fund is rank corruption — public money for lawbreakers and his corrupt pals.
The dollar amount in Donald Trump's

💲1.776 Billion slush fund memorializes this nation's revolutionary break from a king; if this agreement fully goes through, we might as well be returning to an unaccountable monarchy. The origin of this corrupt pot of cash for the president to pay himself, his family and his political allies, including January 6th, rioters and other democracy enemies, was his personal lawsuit against the IRS, which has been settled with the new agreement to create the slush fund.

If there has been one through line to the second Trump administration, it is the effort to relentlessly push the boundaries of what is possible or acceptable by an executive a little further out every day. This represents one major leap in the direction of authoritarianism — Donald Trump is directly raiding the public coffers to enrich cronies, not just via his corrupt business dealings and pseudo-bribes from foreign governments, but straight up getting checks from the public treasury.

Also, we must ask what this outcome ultimately incentivizes❓ It's hard not to read it as Donald Trump paying the foot soldiers in his failed 2021, coup for t

These convicted  insurrectionists have already ensured that they won't face criminal consequences for their attempt to end American democracy during their evil January 6th attacks on the Capitol. It is impossible to understand how Republicans continue to support evil Trumpzi-ism and his corrupt intentions. 

Trump has continuously intimated that he may attempt to run for a third term; this would of course be unconstitutional, but Trump has demonstrated that he places very little stock in that document.
The Anti-Weaponization Fund (aka "slush fund") being set up in the Department of Justice will have a five-person board answering only to the attorney general, who is now Trump's former personal criminal defense lawyer Todd Blanche in an acting capacity. There will be no congressional oversight and no public accountability. It's also not clear who can seek money, but as the Daily News pointed out, Rudy Giuliani and Eric Adams seem to fit the profile.

The message of these payouts is that those who violate the law, even those who engage in violence on behalf of Trump's agenda may, not only evade consequences but be compensated with public funds, a sickening outcome. In addition, the settlement reportedly has stipulations that the IRS will forever suspend inquiries into Trump, family members and companies over past tax non-compliance. What is that if not a direct license to keep even more public money pilfered via nonpayment, and a marker that the president and his inner circle are above the law❓

Police officers who defended Congress on January 6 are suing to stop this Anti-Weaponization Fund, 💢which would reward the mob who beat them. That seems like pretty good standing to us.

Congress, of course, should also probe this extraordinarily corrupt transactionk if it is ever able to shake itself out of its stupor and engage in the checks that it is supposed to have on the executive, who has busied himself weaponizing the government for his benefit while sapping Congress' own powers.

As shocking as this slush fund is, it should best be understood as one more test for what the administration can get away with. If that test is successful, it will absolutely not be the last time that Trump raids our taxpayer dollar💲 to bolster the MAGA agenda in direct contravention to the interests of protecting American democracy.

Donald Trump and maga Republicans illegal war of choice in Iran paid for by Americans paying higher costs on almost everything

Chattanooga Times Opinion: Americans continue to bear the cost of Trump’s chaos.

Last April, 2025, Donald Trump announced what will go down as one of the dumbest economic policy decisions in American history.

Nearly every economist told the president that tariffs imposed using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act were a loser — with disagreement coming mostly from how bad their impact would be — and the administration was warned the move was likely unconstitutional.

Trump pushed on anyway, causing Americans to spend millions more for goods.

Now, a year after Donald Trump's so-called Liberation Day tariffs began, it is time for the government to repay more than 💲166 billion in duties that were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court.

So much for making America wealthy again. 🙄

Even after being rebuffed by the court, Trump enacted new tariffs, which are expected to cost the average U.S. family more than 💲2,500 this year — a 43󠀥％ increase (➕ ) from the 💲1,745 average estimated during the first year of his second term, according to data recently released by the Joint Economic Committee.

Small-business importers paid an average of 💲306,000 more per business in tariffs.

All for nothing.

A year of economic chaos just so Trump can go on a power trip. But that is what Trump's second term is shaping up to be.

Jeremy Siegel, professor emeritus of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, called Trump's tariffs the "biggest policy mistake in 95 years," alluding to the 1930, Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act.

The 1930, measure raised import duties on more than 20,000 goods by 50％ to 100％, aimed at protecting American farmers and industries from foreign competition during the Great Depression. 

But, it backfired, triggering retaliatory tariffs from other nations, causing a 26％ drop in global trade and worsening the economic downturn.

Trump's tariffs added about 💲20,000 to the price of a new home 🏠. They also increased the cost of clothes by 14％. Household furnishings, cleaning supplies and toilet paper are up  at least 5％.

Tariffs increased food prices on a host of items, including beef, up 16％, coffee up nearly 20％ and seafood up more than 6%.

The president claimed tariffs would magically revive American manufacturing. In fact, nearly 100,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs have been lost since the start of Trump's second term.

To add warmongering to injury, Trump's conflict with Iran added to the cost pressures on consumers. Gas prices jumped above 💲4 a gallon. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNN on Sunday that gas wouldn't drop below 💲3 a gallon until next year. 💢

Thanks to Trump's illegal war of choice in Iran and tariffs, consumer confidence dropped to its lowest level since 2014.

Meanwhile, Trump keeps threatening to commit war crimes in Iran, while his administration's diplomatic efforts amount to the Three Stooges, with the former hillbilly and former Marine Corps corporal Vice President JD Vance, Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and New York developer Steve Witkoff charged with negotiating peace.

Trump's shortsighted policies, rogue tactics, and erratic leadership have caused major allies to see the U.S. as unreliable and destabilizing. Trump is causing harm around the world, and yet expects the international community to help him out of the mess he created in Iran. Few allies have heeded his call.

For all his tough talk, America has never looked more incompetent or weaker.

In his concurrence with the high court opinion that Donald Trump exceeded his authority when he imposed sweeping tariffs, Justice Neil Gorsuch, a Trump appointee, reminded legislators of their responsibility to represent the people. 

Nevertheless, Republicans who control Congress have stood aside as Trump flails around with no clear plan.

Fortunately, many Americans are now paying attention. Trump and his policies are highly unpopular, and two-thirds of U.S. adults disapprove of his handling of inflation and the Iran war. Even the MAGA coalition is beginning to fray in the face of White House chaos and broken promises.

As the midterm elections approach, voters seem intent on sending the message that America can no longer afford the cost of an unchecked Trump presidency.

Donald Trump is a political failure along with is incompetent cabinet and cult loyalist followers. Impeach Trump Now

 

Chattanooga Times Fee Press Opinion: 

Americans continue to bear the costs 💲 of Trump’s chaos.

Donald Trump made yet another, among his many, terrible decisions; He unilaterally decided what will go down as one of the dumbest economic policy decisions in American history.

Nearly every economist told the president that tariffs imposed using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act were a loser — with disagreement coming mostly from how bad their impact would be — and the administration was warned the move was likely unconstitutional.

Trump pushed on anyway, causing Americans to spend 💲millions more for goods.

Now, a year after Donald Trump's so-called Liberation Day tariffs began, it is time for the government to repay more than 💲166 billion in duties that were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court.

So much for making America wealthy again.

Even after being rebuffed by the court, Trump enacted new tariffs, which are expected to cost the average U.S. family more than 💲2,500 this year — a 43% increase from the 💲1,745 average estimated during the first year of his second term, according to data recently released by the Joint Economic Committee.

Small-business importers paid an average of 💲306,000 more per business in tariffs.

All for nothing.

A year of economic chaos just so Trump can go on his evil power trip. But, that is what Trump's second term is shaping up to be. An insanity laced power trip.

Jeremy Siegel, professor emeritus of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, called Trump's tariffs the "biggest policy mistake in 95 years," alluding to the 1930, Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act.

The 1930, measure raised import duties on more than 20,000 goods by 50% to 100%, aimed at protecting American farmers and industries from foreign competition during the Great Depression. It backfired, triggering retaliatory tariffs from other nations, causing a 26% drop in global trade and worsening the economic downturn.

Trump's tariffs added about 💲20,000 to the price of a new home. They have increased the cost of clothes by 14%. Household furnishings, cleaning supplies and toilet paper are up at least 5%.

Tariffs increased food prices on a host of items, including beef, up 16%, coffee up nearly 20% and seafood up more than 6%.

Donald Trump claimed tariffs would magically revive American manufacturing. In fact, nearly 100,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs have been lost since the start of Trump's second term.

To add warmongering to injury, Trump's conflict with Iran has added to the cost pressures on consumers. Gas prices jumped above 💲4 a gallon. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNN on Sunday that gas wouldn't drop below💲3 a gallon until next year.

Thanks to Donald Trump's illlegal war of choice in Iran and tariffs, consumer confidence dropped to its lowest level since 2014.

Meanwhile, Trump keeps threatening to commit war crimes in Iran, while his administration's diplomatic efforts amount to the Three Stooges, with Vice President JD Vance, Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and New York developer Steve Witkoff charged with negotiating peace.

Trump's shortsighted policies, rogue tactics, and erratic leadership have caused major allies to see the U.S. as unreliable and destabilizing. Trump is causing harm around the world, and yet expects the international community to help him out of the mess he created in Iran. Few allies have heeded his call.

For all his tough talk, America has never looked more incompetent or weaker.

In his concurrence with the high court opinion that the president exceeded his authority when he imposed sweeping tariffs, Justice Neil Gorsuch, a Trump appointee, reminded legislators of their responsibility to represent the people.

Yet, the Republicans who control Congress have stood aside all while Trump flails around with no clear plan.

Fortunately, many Americans are now finally paying attention. Trump and his policies are highly unpopular, and two-thirds of U.S. adults disapprove of his handling of inflation and the Iran war. Even the MAGA coalition is beginning to fray in the face of White House chaos and broken promises.

As the midterm elections approach, voters seem intent on sending the message that America can no longer afford the cost of an unchecked Trump presidency.

Donald Trump and hypocrites in White House violate God's first Commandment: "No Strange Gods Before Me"

Opinion letter published in the Chattenooga Times Free Pess

I am shaking my head in disbelief.

"I am the Lord Thy God"

Exodus 20:2 is the opening statement of the Ten Commandments, establishing a covenant relationship between God and His people.

"There shall be no strange God's before me"....
🙄 In the last couple of weeks I have seen an ugly Donald Trump post depicting himself as Jesus Christ. JD Vance, who has been a Catholic for about 10 minutes, arrogantly insulted Pope Leo XIV by telling him to be "careful" talking about theology. Pete Hegseth, apparently thinking he was correctly quoting Ezekiel 25:17 in a Pentagon service prayer, instead quoted "Pulp Fiction." ❗

White House (fake female bogus shaman) spiritual advisor Paula White compared Trump to Jesus (OMG "no strange God's before me"💢). 

Now Trump is picking a fight with the Pope Leo, admonishing him to "get his act together." 

I was raised as a mainstream Protestant but now rarely attend church, so I am the last one to claim any level of Biblical literacy. But, I am appalled and offended.  They are hypocrites❗

From Nancy Bishop in Ooltewah, Tennessee

Donald Trump and maga Republicans are wrong to confuse Trump's evil Iran war with Christianity

Donald Trump's incoherent actions, attitude concern readers for the nation’s future: Opinion published in the Chattanooga Times Free Press: Apostle Matthew 5-9: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God"  

War is not Christian and not in any way evidence of Patriotism❗

Not Christian nor American:  I find this version of "Christianity" that insists God is blessing Donald Trump's illegal Iran war, that prays for "bullets to find their target," that promotes bombs as God's instruments, to be repulsive, reckless and irresponsible. 

Those evil descriptors don't begin to address the issue that this is neither the values representing Christianity nor the values we have traditionally held dear as Americans.

And did I mention, this has bypassed Congress, has ignored our very Constitution and has come in direct conflict with international law❓ Who have we become that we are not hearing more dissent? Why are we not absolutely resolute in insisting our lawmakers in Congress take back their rightful role in the co-equal branches of government❓

Tragically, so much is at stake. Truly, this is much more than one's political affiliation. This is an issue that should matter to every single American. This is about our values and morality and our willingness to hold those who are conducting this current war to a standard that reflects our values and morality. 

Handwringing doesn't cut it. Insistence and persistence are our friends in making our voices heard and our expectations clear to our lawmakers and to those who are tasked with leadership.

From: Rev. Kate Stulce in Harrison, Tennessee

Governor Gregg Abbott wastes time signing illegal and cruel anti-immigration documents

Echo editorial published in the Chattanooga Times Free Press

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is up to it again, signing an unlawful new state law to make crossing into the country illegally a state misdemeanor. We don't expect it to last much beyond when the ink has dried.

Regular readers might recall that, for well more than a year now, we've been warning that Abbott's immigration demagoguery wouldn't stop and in fact would only intensify as long as he faced few consequences for it. New Yorkers are unfortunately and probably most familiar with his hyper-grandiose busing of thousands of innocent migrants north to the city, arguably the genesis of the broader wave of arrivals that has come to dominate political life here.

The stunt was done without any real coordination or notice because, from the start, the governor didn't care one bit about the health and safety of the real human beings on those buses, including many families with children, instead seeing them as opportune tools for his posturing.  Yet, that was far from Abbott's first border antic, and this recent move to wrest away control of immigration away from the federal government — for many reasons the only level that legally has a policymaking and regulatory role — has plenty of bravado precedent.

His insistence on inspecting commercial vehicles coming into the state from Mexico this April — in partial duplication of the inspections already done by federal customs personnel whose job it actually is to do so — snarled trade with our largest trade partner and almost triggered an international incident. Undeterred by the fiasco, he did it again a month later.

His Operation Lone Star began in 2021, as a series of state law enforcement and National Guard deployments to the border region, largely for show but occasionally to arrest migrants on the strained reasoning of trespassing on private property. The effort quickly became a disaster, leading to the suicide deaths of several troops, but Abbott just expanded it further, eventually adding buoys and razor wire that seemed designed to maim or kill migrants, and which eventually appear to have fulfilled that purpose.

At least that time the federal government took action, suing Abbott and eventually getting an appeals court to order him to take down his floating barrier, but the man in Austin just keeps churning out his drivel (slobber).

Let's be crystal clear that no state has any conceivable ground to stand on in attempting to criminalize entry without federal inspection. Similar state laws, including some infamously passed in Arizona more than a decade ago, were struck down.

Texas' attempt will turn out no differently, because for a century and a half, the ability to regulate immigration has been vested exclusively in the federal government, a fact that probably wouldn't bother Abbott much if it cut in the other direction; we imagine that if (New York) Governor Kathy Hochul set up her own checkpoints along the Canadian border with laxer entry standards than those required by federal law, Abbott would be screaming.

Of course, Abbott knows this, but he doesn't really care because he wins either way. Either the law stands and he gets to use more state power against helpless migrants, or it gets struck down and he gets to get rabble-rouse about how his tough-on-immigrants plans are getting foiled by liberal judges. Everyone else, of course, loses.

The New York Daily News

Groups sue over new Texas law that lets police arrest migrants who enter the US illegally.

Senator Marsha Blackburn alert: Assuming she knows how to read!

Question: Let's clear up the right wing hypocrisy:

If you protect lives (aka "pro-life"), then why do you not protect children from gun massacres and automatic weapons? Opinion echo letter published in the Chattanooga Times Free Press newspaper, in Tennessee.  

Pro-Life hypocrisy!

Tennessee's right wing Senator Marsha Blackburn should find some literate person to read for her the message in this constituent's letter to the editor:

Behold! It's the Greek icon "Medusa" doing a Senator Marsha Blackburn impersonation!

Dear Editor: I find myself puzzled by recent events and right wing "labels".

Why do Republicans call themselves "pro-life", falsely claiming they are committed to protecting the lives of unborn fetuses. Yet, those same people don't care enough about protecting children in schools from being massacred by demanding for changes to laws about how killers access automatic weapons. These crazy right wing extremists protest abortions, sometimes to the point of violence at clinics, yet will not  ban assault rifles or make it harder to obtain a gun. Oh yeah. I know — it's all about the Second Amendment.

But does anyone really believe that those 18th century authors, who wrote that amendment, had in mind what we live with now, because of the proliferation of guns? Guns kill innocent people. If it's important to you right wing extremists to protect unborn lives, then start agitating to protect children who are already here.  

Letter from Cathy Dreger in Chattanooga, TN 

Senator Marsha Blackburn is an Idiot fan club! Just click "like"!

Taaaa-daaaa! I was delighted to find a social media page titled "Marsha Blackburn is an Idiot". Check it out!

Bennett cartoon published in the Chattanooga Times Free Press 

So, my series about Blackburn's incompetence is not an original idea! I'm glad to be like minded with 300 plus people who support the Marsha Blackburn is an Idiot social media page with "like".

This blog is my own first in a series of echoes titled "Blackburn is an Idiot", or "BIAI".  In my opinion, Blackburn's wrong-minded supporters are zealots who practice snake worshipping, believe the earth was created in seven days, aka, "creationists" and that evolution never happened (reference Scopes Monkey Trial*).  These weird constituents are the right wing Tennessee idiots who elected BIAI. Unfortunately, she has delivered for them.  In other words, "Stupid Is As Stupid Does", or #SIASD is the BIAI slogan.

Following is an opinion echo, published in the Williamson Herald, in Franklin, Tennessee.  A ray of BIAI hope beams from this opinion. At least, some Tennesseans are not among Blackburn's weird BIAI cult. 

Letter to the Editor: Disgusted by Blackburn

It is deeply disturbing to be reminded that our state of Tennessee is represented in the U.S. Senate by someone so willing to fan the political flames that keep our country divided by writing propaganda.

 
Please allow me to fact check BIAI, to correct the falsehoods she spews in her op-ed articles. 

In fact, contrary to her uninformed position, Critical Race Theory (CRT) has not been taught in Tennessee's public schools. Furthermore, what BIAI claims as “the left”, are not making an effort at “brainwashing” kids or “shaming” white children in our state/country’s schools. 

Moreover, CRT does not actively encourage discrimination, nor does it “segregate people into two main categories: oppressors or victims.”

Check out the best selling book "How to be an Anti Racist" by Ibram M. Kendi.

CRT “at its core” (to borrow Mrs. Blackburn’s words) IS about understanding inequality and racism in America and encouraging debate about how it should be addressed. It IS based on the idea that racism is a part of our everyday lives as it is embedded into our legal systems and policies. And, as such, people who do not intend to be racist may, inadvertently, make choices that fuel racism.

It is about outcomes, not only individuals’ own beliefs. And, it calls for these outcomes to be studied and rectified. Clearly, there is much room for debate about how outcomes can be rectified, but we should welcome such debate, not stymie it. We need to broaden our children’s world view, not narrow it.

Mrs. Blackburn points out the voice she hears from only one parent (but, of many other idiots, I’m sure). Yet there are also many parents who believe — as my wife and I do — that our kids are very capable of critically considering many ideas. We believe it is important that they are exposed to these kinds of ideas and that they should be encouraged to consider the implications of our history, both the good and the bad, including how it has informed both our historical and current laws and policies. This is why we are so concerned by the law recently passed, in Tennessee (SB 0623: Tennessee passes bill to withhold funding for schools teaching about systemic racism)
and by propaganda like Mrs. Blackburn (aka #BIAI) is spreading.

Parents need to show up at school board meetings to protest this discriminatory bill. But we need to show up to make sure that our kids are allowed to learn about institutionalized racism. 

We need to make sure our school board members understand that we know this teaching does not imply that white kids are demonized. Rather, we believe it is important that our kids are allowed to consider ideas in a broader context. Our kids are very capable of critically considering these kinds of ideas, and they need to be given the opportunity to do so.

Sincerely,

Tony Caudill,  in Franklin, Tennessee

*A misdemeanor, punishable by fine in Tennessee, to “teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible....

It's time to formally launch the #BIAI fan club! 

https://www.facebook.com/MarshaBlackburnIsAnIdiot

Donald Trump's Coronavirus denial to wishful thinking

https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/opinion/letters/story/2020/apr/02/letters-editors/519745/
How can Trump's (cult) base still support him?
An opinion letter echo published in the Chattanooga Times Free Press in Tennessee: 

Trump failed to take action in advance to protect America from the coronavirus, joining with Hannity and Limbaugh that this was all a political conspiracy, i.e., coronavirus is no worse than the seasonal flu. He suppressed coronavirus testing.

Trump varies from denial to wishful thinking, having said the coronavirus is "very well under control." The stock market responded by hitting the skids.

Contrast Trump on this with Britain Prime Minister Boris Johnson warning citizens that coronavirus would spread throughout the United Kingdom, and all should be prepared to lose loved ones.

Surely even Trump's base of support will hold him accountable.
From John Bratton, Sewanee, Tennessee

Tennessee echo - US military deserves a competent potus- #IMpotus45

Another Tennessee echo opinion letter published in the Chattanooga Times Free Press:

Trump owes Russia (kompromat!); putting US military at risk
Donald Trump proudly brags about his criminal behavior, including compromising the security of our entire nation. 

His supporters, Sen.Marsha Blackburn and (fake!) AG Bill Barr, happily applaud these actions.

Donald Trump is the worst kind of deplorable human that can walk on the planet. He is a self-serving, self-aggrandizing criminal who hates democracy because it means equal rights for minorities and women.

Yes, we are a divided country because, just like during our first Civil War, nearly half of Americans admire, support and endorse obviously despicable policies led by a misogynist, racist criminal.

But I am concerned for those serving in the military and those who are contemplating serving. Serving in theighest devotion to country. Because the Trump Organization allegedly owe military is an expression of the hs Russia/Putin hundreds of millions of dollars, and Trump is the commander in chief, our military is now serving Putin's interests with full support of Republican voters.

Do you have a loved one serving in the military? 

Think about it. Donald Trump is the military's top commander who could possibly send your loved one in harm's way for no other reason than to pay down his debt to Putin. In the 2020 elections, D=Democrat, R=Russian.

Jonathan D. Nessle

A Tennessee echo opinion might make covfefe sense- Donald Trump babble

When outright lying isn't effective - Gish Gallop: A technique used during debating that focuses on overwhelming an opponent with as many arguments as possible.  (Soooo...maybe this topic is the real meaning behind "covfefe", the Trumpziim neologism?)

Tennessee Chattanooga Times Free Press

Outright lying is not the only way to deceive in public discourse. For more than 2,000 years, those who care about getting the truth have universally agreed on a number of fallacies that have nothing to do with an issue being discussed. 

In such cases, the purpose is to win the argument, not to get at the truth.

Examples of this were on full display by the Republican minority in the House Judiciary Committee's first impeachment session. Here are a few of their misleading tactics:

They used arguments against the persons testifying rather than against what they were saying. Whatever might be said about those testifying (good or bad) has nothing to do with the validity of their testimony.

Several threw out the red herring of investigating Hunter Biden. Whatever could be discovered about Biden's activity (good or bad) has nothing to do with what Donald Trump did or did not do.

Others used what is known as the Gish gallop. The tactic is to talk nonstop in the effort to overwhelm without regard to accuracy.

Some appealed to pity ("look how badly we're being treated").

Those who used these tactics were not discussing in good faith.

Boyce Brawley

No #IMpotus45 witnesses will exculpate Donald Trump under oath - GOP Senators must face the truth

Associated Press (AP) echo report published in the Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee) by Colleen Long, Mike Balsamo, Eric Tucker, Laurie Kellman, Alan Fram, Zeke J. Miller and Matthew Daly in Washington, who contributed to this report.

Since the AP report was published on November 13, 2019, the following headline was released in Time.com:
Ukraine Ambassador Bill Taylor, a Key Player in the Impeachment Inquiry, to Leave Post

Obviously, Donald Trump has zero witnesses who can give testimony under oath to exculpate his guilt in the Ukraine quid pro quo impeachment #IMpotus45.

Impeachment witness says Trump asked about Ukraine probes

WASHINGTON (AP) — For the first time a top diplomat testified under oath Wednesday that Donald Trump was overheard asking about "the investigations" he wanted Ukraine to pursue that are central to the #IMpotus45 impeachment inquiry.

William Taylor, the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine, revealed the new information as the House Intelligence Committee opened extraordinary hearings on whether the 45th president of the United States should be removed from office.

Taylor said his staff recently told him they overheard Trump when they were meeting with another diplomat, Ambassador Gordon Sondland, at a restaurant the day after Trump's July 25, 2019, phone call with the new leader of Ukraine (Volodymyr Zelensky) that sparked the impeachment investigation.

The staff explained that Sondland had called the president and they could hear Trump on the phone asking about "the investigations." The ambassador told the president the Ukrainians were ready to move forward, Taylor testified.

The hearing Wednesday was the first public session of the impeachment inquiry, a remarkable moment, even for a White House full of them.

It's the first chance for America, and the rest of the world, to see and hear for themselves about Trump's actions toward Ukraine and consider whether they are, in fact, impeachable offenses.

An anonymous whistleblower's complaint to the intelligence community's inspector general — including that Trump had pressed Ukraine's president to investigate Democratic foe Joe Biden and Bidens' son and was holding up U.S. military aid — ignited the rare inquiry now unfolding in Congress.

The country has been here only three times before, and never against the 21st century backdrop of real-time commentary, including from the Republican president himself. The proceedings were being broadcast live, and on social media, from a packed hearing room on Capitol Hill.

The session unfolded in measured, quietly dramatic tones. Taylor, a former Army infantry leader, his voice weathered after a 50-year career in foreign service, paused for sips of water during what he acknowledged was a lengthy recitation of facts. It took 40 minutes.

The scene, with Republican questioning still to come, was offering the credibility that Democrats wanted to set the stage and sway public opinions, but Trump still offered counter-programming.

Moments after the hearings began, his Trumpzi reelection machine sent out an email blast: "FAKE IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS HAVE BEGUN! ... I WANT TO RAISE 3 MILLION DOLLARS IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS."

At the start, Rep. Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the Intelligence Committee, outlined the question at the core of the impeachment inquiry -- whether the president used his office to pressure Ukraine officials for personal political gain.

"The matter is as simple and as terrible as that," said Schiff of California. "Our answer to these questions will affect not only the future of this presidency but the future of the presidency itself, and what kind of conduct or misconduct the American people may come to expect from their commander in chief."

Republicans lawmakers immediately pushed Democrats to hear in closed session from the anonymous whistleblower.

Schiff denied the request at the time but said it would be considered later.

"We will do everything necessary to protect the whistleblower's identity," Schiff declared.

The top Republican on the panel, Rep. Devin Nunes of California, accused the Democratic majority of conducting a "scorched earth" effort to take down the president after the special counsel's Russia investigation into the 2016 election failed to spark impeachment proceedings.

"We're supposed to take these people at face value when they trot out new allegations?" said Nunes, a top Trump ally. He derided what he called the "cult-like atmosphere in the basement of the Capitol" where investigators have been interviewing witnesses behind closed doors for weeks. Transcripts of those interviews have been released.

(MoooooveOn stupid!) Nunes* called the Ukraine matter a "low rent" sequel to the Russia probe. "Democrats are advancing their impeachment sham," he said.

Both Taylor and the other public witness, George Kent, a deputy assistant secretary at the State Department, defied White House instructions not to testify. They both received subpoenas to appear.

The veteran foreign service officers delivered heartfelt history lessons about Ukraine, a young and hopeful democracy, situated next to Russia but reaching out to the West.

Kent, in his opening remarks, directly contradicted a core complaint against Joe Biden being raised by allies of the White House, saying he never heard any U.S. official try to shield a Ukraine company from investigations.

Kent acknowledged that he himself raised concerns in 2015 about the then vice president's son, Hunter Biden, being on the board of Burisma, a Ukraine gas company. He warned that it could give the "perception of a conflict of interest." But Kent indicated no one from the U.S. was protecting the company from investigations in Ukraine as Republicans have implied.

"Let me be clear; however, I did not witness any efforts by any U.S. official to shield Burisma from scrutiny," Kent said.

The career diplomat did not go into detail about the issues central to the impeachment inquiry, but he voiced his concerns with them.

"I do not believe the United States should ask other countries to engage in selective, politically associated investigations or prosecutions against opponents of those in power, because such selective actions undermine the rule of law regardless of the country," he said.

So far, the narrative being unspooled in weeks of investigations for the inquiry is splitting Americans, mostly along the same lines as Trump's unusual presidency. The Constitution sets a dramatic but vague bar for impeachment, and there's no consensus yet that Trump's actions at the heart of the inquiry meet the threshold of "high crimes and misdemeanors."

Trump calls the whole thing a "witch hunt," a retort that echoes Nixon's own defense.

At its core, the inquiry stems from Trump's July 25 phone call with Ukraine's newly elected president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy when he asked the Zelenskiy for "a favor."

Trump wanted the Ukraine government to investigate Democrats in the 2016 election and his potential 2020 rival, Joe Biden, all while holding as leverage military aid the young democracy relies on as it confronts an aggressive Russia.

The anonymous whistleblower first alerted officials to concerns about the phone call. The White House released a rough transcript of the conversation, with portions deleted.

Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was initially reluctant to launch a formal impeachment inquiry. But she pressed ahead in September after the whistleblower's complaint.

Over the past month, witness after witness has appeared behind closed doors to tell the investigators what they know.

Whether Wednesday's proceedings begin to end a presidency or help secure Trump's position, it was certain his chaotic term had finally arrived at a place he could not control and a force, the constitutional system of checks and balances, that he could not ignore.

Unlike the Watergate hearings and Richard Nixon, there is not yet a "cancer-on-the-presidency" moment galvanizing public opinion. Nor is there the national shrug, as happened when Bill Clinton's impeachment ultimately didn't result in his removal from office. It's perhaps most like the partisanship-infused impeachment of Andrew Johnson after the Civil War.

*Devin Nunes Demands Satirical Internet Cow Stop Making Fun Of Him… Or Else

Donald Trump is defined by his afinity for despots - echo letter

Trump has co-opted the GOP completely- echo opinion published in the Chattanooga Times Free Press.  

#IMpotus45

Maine Writer- Actually, I would subtitle this opinion letter instead as, "the Growing Old Party" is now co-opted by the 73, year old (b. 1946)  #IMpotus45.

It has never been a matter of if, but when, President Trump would be impeached. He cheated and lied in his business and personal life. He was a corrupt businessman, and he is a corrupt president. He has tried to play the victim during this process when he has no one to blame but himself.

What he has played is the American people, especially his base, and the Republican Party has let him get away with it. Meanwhile, Trump is being played by every despot and autocrat in the world, and he is too narcissistic and naïve to see through it, even while they are laughing at him. His handshake and photo op diplomacy has been a "disaster," to use one of his favorite words in his limited vocabulary.

I watched both the Nixon and Clinton impeachment hearings, and I have watched almost all of Trump's hearings. Congress could distinguish fact from fiction during the Nixon and Clinton hearings and were able to vote with country and the Constitution as its lodestar, not the next election.

By Rebecca Rochat