Every American should be watching the impeachment investigation. The realities of jobs, family, and other responsibilities preclude that for most. And that’s too bad because when it comes to the health of this American democracy the importance of this hearing cannot be overstated. This is a test for our democratic experiment.
Can Americans put on their citizen hat and then watch and weigh evidence? Are they open to altering their views? Do they demand that their representatives seek out the truth over necessarily reinforcing what their respective parties think? Other eras have been tested and passed – at least eventually. Will we?
So if you did not get to listen or watch yesterday, here is my read on the big takeaways:
- Just the Facts, Ma’am. Ambassador Taylor and Mr. Kent did what diplomats do. They were measured, boring, and reasoned. They did not go beyond the facts as they understood them and those facts spell trouble for the United States. President Trump’s priority with Ukraine was retribution for perceived election slights in 2016 and to cast dispersion on Biden for 2020.
- Motive. Motive. Motive. Democrats and Republicans agree the President can change foreign policy course. But motive is key. He can’t do so to advance his electoral interests over the country’s security. The diplomats provided evidence that is precisely what President Trump has done. He picked himself over his country.
- You don’t get it both ways. Republican members of Congress decried hearsay – these witnesses were not in the room! (though new, more direct evidence emerged) However, the White House and the State Department, at the bequest of the White House, has directed senior officials not to testify and refused to release materials. Again, you don’t get it both ways.
- Timeline. But the hold on Ukrainian aid was lifted! True. But the timeline indicates this was precisely when the White House was made aware of the Whistleblower complaint. This is akin to breaking up with my boyfriend right after my husband found out and expecting new jewels come our wedding anniversary.
- Diplomacy. Republicans made repeated reference to places where President Zelensky publicly said he did not feel bullied by President Trump to publicly announce Ukraine was investigating the Bidens. Uh, okay. Your country has been invaded, you have an active front, you’re working to legitimize your election, and your lifeline wants a favor though… Power imbalances, people. The shakedown only works if the subordinate has no other recourse.
- Solemn v Circus. The Democrats largely came out forwarding concerns of the republic. The Republicans largely came out forwarding the concerns of President Trump. Compare the opening statements of Congressmen Schiff (D-CA) and Nunes (R-CA) to see this illustrated in stark terms.
- Sacrifice. Congressman Malony’s (D-NY) questioning of Ambassador Taylor was stop-cold striking. Fifth in his class at West Point and elected to enter the Infantry at the height of Vietnam. Ambassador Taylor described being most proud of his “Combat Infantryman’s Badge” humbly saying too, when asked, “There was a Bronze Star. There was an Air Medal.” This should have reminded the Republicans who, precisely, many of them have been disparaging.
- “In fairness, this irregular channel of diplomacy, it’s not as outlandish as it could be,” [Republican lawyer] Castor said to Taylor. “Is that correct?” That happened. It really happened. It might say it all. The lowest bar is what the Republican lawyer was arguing.
That’s the big stuff. The stuff that should resonate for years. But some short-term impacts too:
- He’s the Base-ist. Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH) is a Trump man through and through. He rallies and buoys the #MAGA crowd. His yelling, demeanor, and constant diatribes do nothing but repel Americans who have not yet made up their mind though.
- Nunes had a bad day. His opening dispersions and demonizations were in stark contrast to the steady, measured diplomats. His statement after the break was confusing at best – because some Ukrainian officials didn’t want Trump to win in 2016, after Trump said he was open to Russia keeping Crimea on the campaign trail, the President was justified in withholding aid? Huh? Some Ukrainian officials stated a preference that was not Trump. But the logical conclusion Nunes painted but did not complete was that despite the aid being in U.S. interest according to Congress and State, Trump was justified in withholding it because some Ukrainian officials did not support him in 2016. Exactly, no.
- Lawyers > Politicians. Can I get some bipartisan agreement here? Let the lawyers do the questioning and skip the five minutes for each member.
- Disingenuous. That which the Whistleblower alleges in their memo has largely been borne out. But, despite the Whistleblower law, Congressman Jordan hollered about wanting to interview this individual. He knows the protections of the Whistleblower statute. And all the faux outrage at Chairman Schiff for his parody of the phone call between Presidents’ Trump and Zelensky? Spare me. We have all read Trump’s twitter.
- And another thing on hearsay… I read the summary of the call (not a transcript). It is from the White House, Trump calls it “the perfect call.” Acting Chief of Staff Mulvany says to “get over it” as the quid pro quo is business as normal. The White House, President, and Chief of Staff all directly shared the violation. Not hearsay.
So do I think Democrats carried the day? Yes.
But we all lost.
Deeply concerning issues were centerstage for the country. The bias of balance is when one assigns “both sides had points” or “both sides landed punches” when the weight of yesterday’s evidence is that the Democrats were forwarding the concerns of the country and the Republicans were but advancing the interests of President Trump.
So I’ll keep watching. I can be convinced that yesterday’s takeaways need not be the conclusions I, and others, ultimately reach. We owe that to standards of evidence. I want the Democrats to be wrong. The alternative is exactly what the Founders feared – a President looking to enrich himself at the expense of the country. But if that is where an honest read of the evidence takes us then patriots follow.