January 20, 2020--Hunter Biden & John Bolton

The current fight among senators is about whether or not to call witnesses during the Trump impeachment trial.

If he could get away with it (and he may), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell would exclude any testimony and this afternoon would get the trial over with after an hour's debate and a voice vote to dismiss the whole thing. In other words, not only no witnesses but no trial. Next.

The Democrats of course want what they are calling an "open and fair" trial with witnesses and testimony.

If there are to be witnesses, the Republicans have indicated they want to cross examine Congressmen Adam Schiff, the Democrats' lead investigator, and Joe and Hunter Biden.

The Democrats have said no way. Adding that they want to gather the testimony of acting White House Chief of Staff, Mick Mulvaney, Rudy Giuliani, and especially John Bolton, Trump's former National Security Advisor who called the Trump machinations in Ukraine a "drug deal." 

Both sides are dug in and there seems to be no way out.

I have a suggestion--

Rather than resisting subpoenaing Hunter Biden the Democrats should agree to calling him as part of a Bolton for Biden deal. Better, with, as he claims, nothing to hide, Biden himself should indicate that not only would he agree to appear but wants to testify--"Give me 24 hours notice and I'll be there."

Not a bad tradeoff. Republicans get to interrogate Biden and the Democrats get Bolton, who has signaled he has a "story to tell." The fact that he has a $5.0 million book deal suggests it's quite a story.

December 3, 2019--Lindsey to the Rescue

Up for reelection next year, poor Lindsey Graham is so afraid he will be defeated and thus need to find a real job, seemingly with some reluctance but with less than gentle prodding by best-selling author, Don, Jr. and Fox's Lou Dobbs, he has agreed to take the lead in defending Trump in the Senate after he is impeached by the House. 

Yes, that same Trump who, during the 2016 campaign (Graham was a nomination-seeker himself but never managed to rise above 1 percent in the polls) after Trump mocked him mercilessly, calling him a "nut job" and even giving out his private cell phone number, Lindsey responded by telling it like it is--calling Trump out for being a "a race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot"--in spite of all this GOP bad blood, Graham discovered enough Republican religion to agreed to begin his craven defense of Trump by trashing his old best friend, Joe Biden, who he once, choking up, said is “as good a man as God ever created.”

He used to say the same thing about his old best friend, John McCain. But that was then and this is Trump time.

Graham is so into his new role, as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he has already begun an investigation of  Joe and Hunter Biden.

Since he will be available for duty 24/7 and being a U.S. senator is a part-time job, since more than anything else Graham loves being on TV--check that, he loves even more caddying for Trump--perhaps in addition to the Biden witch hunt he can work in a few more investigations. 

I know he's busy so here's a get-started list--

Investigate Ivanka Trump's business dealings in China.

Find out which foreign government bailed out Jared Kushner's failed Manhattan real estate deals.

Probe how Donald Junior's recent book rose to the top of the best sellers list.

Discover how Jared and Ivanka qualified for security clearances.

Get Trump's draft records to see which foot had the bone spur that kept him from serving in Viet Nam.

To be fair and balanced--

Discover where Hillary Clinton's 30,000 emails are and while at it locate her server. Hint--it's not in Ukraine.

Find out what Hillary Clinton was doing the night our embassy in Benghazi was attacked.

Finally answer the question who killed Vince Foster.

November 20, 2019--The Bidens: It's Spine Time

I'm deep into following the House of Representatives' impeachment hearings. 

One thing that is clear is that more and more of those called to testify are feeling the need to amend their testimony. Including some yesterday. This is all to the good. It gets us closer to the truth and coming clean is good for the soul. It also is good for keeping one from being prosecuted for perjury.

Shouldn't Joe and Hunter Biden be thinking about doing a version of this?

If they have nothing to hide, if everything was above board about Hunter's well-paid work for Burisma, the Ukrainian gas company, to clear the suspicions, wouldn't it be smart to ask to testify? I mean politically smart.

Just ask to show up and answer the questions, including those of Devin Nunes, the ranking member who has embraced every conceivable conspiracy theory.

Swatting him aside would put the lie to this line of paranoia and assure father Joe a clear path to the Democratic nomination. It would also be good for the soul.

And, if he and his son are not telling the whole truth, it would also get that on the record so Democratic voters can move on.

September 30, 2019--Ukraine Fall Out

We should stay focused on the House of Representatives' move toward the impeachment of Donald Trump. That is obviously the most important and promising news of the last two, three years.

But also of consequence is the effect it will have on the 2020 election. Concern that it could tip things in Trump's direction was the primary reason Nancy Pelosi was so reluctant to proceed. She remembered how Bill Clinton's approval rating went up while his impeachment unfolded.

So what should we expect?

Unlike Trump, Clinton was in his second term and the economy was booming. Not as currently primarily for wealthy people. So, I am not expecting to see Trump's number rise. In fact, in just the one week since Ukraine Gate was exposed they appear to be plummeting.

Expect then to see Trump take a political hit. Enough, perhaps, to upend his reelection chances.

What then about the Democrats?

I am anticipating that as we get deeper into all that was going on between Ukrainian officials and oligarchs and Trump, his children Giuliani, Paul Manafort (remember him?), and many others there will be much more fall out. Ukraine, after all, is primarily a place known as a money laundry.

Fairly or not, therefore, expect to see Joe Biden driven from the race.

Again, fairly or not expect to see his son Hunter Biden dragged deeper into the mess. Does anyone believe that if his last name wasn't Biden he would have been invited to serve on the board of Burma Holdings, a Ukrainian natural gas producer?

He served on that board from 2014 to 2019, which happens to be among the same years that his father was Barack Obama's Vice President. That didn't hurt his employment prospects.

We know that Trump will hammer away at this. Who could expect him not too. It is teed up for him.

And so Joe Biden will have to leave the race because Democratic voters really do care about draining the swamp. And to make the case that Trump made the swap swampier, Biden needs to not be our nominee. He is already being characterized as part of the problem. By Democratic activists. And as a result he has little chance of being nominated. 

By remaining in the race he will only further sully his reputation.

The main political beneficiary? That's easy--Elizabeth Warren.