Tag: Ukraine

2020, National Security, Senate, Trump January 22, 2020January 22, 2020

1am White House Counsel Meltdown | John Bolton Matters

Washington (GGM) Analysis | January 22, 2020
by Noreen Wise

In the wee hours of the morning, between midnight and 1:00 AM Wednesday January 22, 2020, the GOP suffered a significant unforced error.

Technically the error wasn’t unforced, but rather a knee-jerk response to Jerry Nadler’s exceptional presentation of irrefutable facts that were impossible to dispute. Nadler’s skillful ability to outline what appears to be Bolton’s critical knowledge, followed by the questions that only Bolton would be able to answer, left viewers feeling very confident that GOP Senators would be forced to agree to Bolton being subpoenaed, for how could they not? What could Cipollone and Sekulow possibly say in response to Nadler?

White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, then appeared at the mic. His obvious anger at being cornered, resulted in what could only be described as “deranged.” Cipollone demanded that Nadler apologize for what he said, and for his “lies.” His tone was that of alarm. This created cognitive dissonance for viewers, who were aware of the facts, and had followed the House Impeachment Hearings.

Jay Sekulow jumped up and took the mic. Perhaps it was one too many Red Bulls, or the late hour after a marathon day of conflicted debates, but whatever it was, Sekulow’s guard was down. He sounded shrill and panicked over Nadler’s compelling facts, and the significance of Bolton in the impeachment trial outcome.

It suddenly became abundantly clear that what McConnell never anticipated, was that the 12 hour day might create human vulnerabilities that no one can predict. Very scientific human vulnerabilities, such as the impact sleep deprivation has on our response to stress. Whatever it was, the outcome was significant and blatant.

Nadler’s focus on Bolton, during which he outlined impactful facts and questions, caused a major stress reaction in the White House counsel. Nadler seemed startled by the unexpected commotion.

John Roberts stepped in to admonish both sides, reminding everyone about where they were.

The takeaway? John Bolton matters. John Bolton’s testimony is absolutely critical and appears to be the very evidence that will hang Donald Trump, and result in his removal from office.

John Bolton must be protected until he can testify.

House, National Security, Trump January 16, 2020January 13, 2021

Devin Nunes: “Watch that flag, it’s going to fall on you.” | Projection

Washington (GGM) Analysis | January 16, 2020 by Noreen Wise

I’ve been waiting for this moment. The moment that Devin Nunes’ bizarre comment to me in the empty hall in Longworth House Office Building, would make more sense.

It was bright and early that Friday morning, November 15, 2019, the second day of impeachment hearings when fired Ukraine Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch shared her compelling testimony. While she was testifying, Trump ambushed Yovanovitch with threatening intimidation tactics launched at her through Twitter.

HillReport1-16-20b — Photographer Noreen Wise

Photographers and reporters, who were in the hall at the crack of dawn that day, were told to stand behind a specified line, with the exception of the media outlet given the coveted location in front of the door. Most independents decided to position themselves in the building lobby or along the other hallway. I had exceptional shots from the first impeachment hearing, so was looking for new opportunities and deduced this second hallway might have been emptied for a reason. I planned to wait here and see what unexpected encounters it might net.

The back hall, behind the line, was deserted. I was standing next to the American flag in front of Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley‘s office door, my Democratic blue coat on the floor at my feet. Three men approached. I recognized one immediately and scrambled to grab my big camera, accidentally hitting the setting knob (without realizing it) and quickly snapped as many photos as possible (so sorry for how they turned out). Nunes proceeded toward me. As soon as he was standing next to me, he turned and said, “Watch that flag, it’s going to fall on you.”

It was such a bewildering comment, that I was stunned, too startled to think of a quick comeback. In less than a minute, he was all the way down the hall and entering the hearing room. I racked my brain. What could this mean? The only logical deduction, was that it was a projection jab, a match for what Nancy Pelosi often refers to when she comments about the GOP’s strange accusations against her.

Definition of Psychological projection, wikipedia: “Psychological projection is a defense mechanism in which the human ego defends itself against unconscious impulses or qualities (both positive and negative) by denying their existence in themselves while attributing them to others. For example, a person who is habitually rude may constantly accuse other people of being rude. It incorporates blame shifting and can manifest as shame dumping.”

HillReport1-16-20c — Photographer Noreen Wise

My hunch is that my blue coat troubled his conscious, causing a visceral reaction. It seemed as though the only people attending the hearings were Democrats, everyone so cheerful and unified now that the impeachment proceedings were well underway. Maybe Nunes had a brutal Day 1, having to walk a very long hallway, lined with Dems jeering at

HillReport1-16-20a — Photographer Noreen Wise

him. Whatever it was that was rumbling through his mind when he saw me next to the American flag positioned above a blue coat in front of Congresswoman Presley’s door, caused him to blurt out a subconscious zinger.

The Tell Tale Heart immediately springs to mind.

Last night, upon listening to Rachel Maddow’s stunning interview with Lev Parnas, and hearing the many shocking details involving DOJ’s William Barr, as well as Devin Nunes, the November 15th comment suddenly makes more sense. In fact, Lev Parnas mentioned in his interview with Rachel how shocked he was to hear Nunes basically lie during the hearings, when Nunes knew that people like Lev could verify his involvement.

“It’s hard to see them lie like that when they knew what was going on.” ~Lev Parnas

Lev’s use of “being on the team” in his interview sums up Nunes to a “T.” Three years of Nunes rolling around in the mud on Trump’s Team, while subconsciously knowing all the while that he was blatantly shunning his duty to the oath of office, yet deep in his soul he seemed to be aware that this twisted, reckless journey would result in him falling on his sword.~

House, National Security, Politics, Trump November 13, 2019January 7, 2020

Cards Are Stacked Against Trump | Impeachment Exit Begins

Washington (GGM) Analysis | November 13, 2019
by Noreen Wise

After today’s opening public hearing, it’s mind boggling that Trump hasn’t resigned already. He now has everything stacked against him. And all of the typical lifeboats he’s used in the past to save himself from drowning — Russian Mob money, Deutsche Bank, criminal enterprise thuggery — have been cut off. So what exit strategy is trump concocting as the noose tightens?

The answer to this question that immediately pops into my mind is almost too scary to think about. Do Trump and his loyalists have something sinister planned? I personally fear that they do, but hopefully Department of Homeland Security is way out in front on this.

Being inside the hearing room today, and watching everything first hand, made it seem much more personal. I became acutely aware of the sacrifices William Taylor and George Kent were making for their country and the American people. This resonated in a profound way. An inspirational way that made me realize we’re all called on to do the same. Stand up, do what’s right, no matter what the cost may be.

There are endless news casts that are recounting the blow by blow play of the first two witnesses —Ambassador William Taylor, and Ukraine expert Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Eastern Europe and the Caucuses George Kent. These valuable pieces include weighty new evidence, as well as an extensive history that provides the public with the appropriate context in which Trump & company executed Trump’s shakedown strategy.

But by the time I left the hearing room at 1:30 PM on this first day, the impeachment evidence against Donald J Trump was already rock solid and crystal clear. Trump is guilty. In fact, it’s so self-evident that the House will have no choice but to impeach the 45th President of the United States of America.

The key takeaways for me though, are less about the facts (that thankfully I don’t have to memorize, but rather can easily refer to) and more about the quality of the content :

Chairman Adam Schiff’s opening statement was exceptional. He clearly outlined the lens he was using to oversee the hearing. The Constitution and the Rule of Law. Period. It’s that simple. Cut and dry.
The two witnesses are like no others that I’ve ever seen or heard before. They’re incredibly skilled at tough discussions. This seems to be a big part of their professional life, tough negotiations with foreign leaders, many of whom are not necessarily allies. They’re also highly intelligent and were able to pick up on the fact that Nunes and Jordan were trying to undermine their testimony. They maneuvered perfectly, and phrased their replies expertly. It was impressive.

What became obvious during these antagonistic interactions though, is that this must have been very similar to what was going on behind the scenes during Trump’s shakedown timeline. Trump and Giuliani were trying to snake their way around rock solid diplomats who were ten times smarter than both of them. Diplomats who know how to maneuver and to block…. which is why we’re in the midst of impeachment hearings. Thus, not only do they know how to maneuver and block, they know how to win. They make me proud to be American again. They are exhibiting the very traits that resulted in the United States of America becoming the most powerful nation in the world. Their testimony is a testament to who they are, and what the State Department is all about. I can now see why America has been the bright light shining on the hill for other countries in the world to aspire to be like.
If all of the witnesses we’ll be hearing from work for the State Department, they likely will all have this same adeptness. So, a list of witnesses of this caliber, becomes a solid concrete wall that seems impossible to knock down, leap over, or tunnel under.

And then there’s Majority Counsel Daniel Goldman. I’ve never seen anyone like him before. I must have missed the article about the Majority and Minority counsel who were added to make everything smoother. He’s an expert, straight out of Central Casting. His tone is neutral and diplomatic. An excellent public speaker. All who hear him, trust him. He sets the bar, and in so doing, the Minority Counsel immediately falls below it. When I left the hearing, I was shaking my head wondering how the Minority Counsel Steve Castor could have been selected for his position. But then I worried that my low opinion of Steve Castor was formed in comparison to Mr. Goldman. The difference between the two is extensive. Trump must be panicked.

So, Adam Schiff has created a fierce, solid wall using the Constitution and the Rule of Law, and he too is straight out of Central Casting. The witnesses are a second wall. Mr. Goldman a third. So now, Trump is completely surrounded by unmovable walls, while he’s treading water in the deep blue sea without a lifeboat or lifejacket, sharks at every turn, in the middle of a hurricane.

Is this checkmate?