There’s crime, then there’s crime against our own Constitution.
By the way, you could write a case for impeaching individual 1 on toilet paper, and if you laid it all out in a line, it would stretch from Mar-a-lago to the moon!
What’s your point Rall ? What Trump did is a series of serious crimes, not just something improper. Over a period of two months he tried to force Ukraine, a nation under threat from Russia, to announce an investigation into the Bidens – by withholding money appropriated by Congress for Ukraine. The reason he did so was not some sudden desire to root out corruption in Ukraine. It was because he wanted to taint his likely contender and steal the 2020 elections. He was doing great harm to the US and Ukraine. He was a the same time letting Russia off the hook for 2016 ( and possibly 2020) election meddling.
The US Government doesn’t give away money to be kind. They use it to buy influence, to secure natural resources that are wanted in our country, to keep countries as our allies in case of war etc. So, money given to other countries by our government is not really charity. It’s bribe money, and the idea is to benefit the USA. Ideally, what’s good for the USA is good for its’ people, but that could be debated.
We were helping Ukraine to defend itself against Putin’s Russia, which is, despite #45’s vile toadying, our enemy. Joe Biden’s efforts had in fact been to support anti-corruption.
Congress designated funds to go to the Ukraine. The president has no right to interfere with that in any way.
But #45 withheld the funds (which they needed, since they are being INVADED by Russia) because he wanted them to make up crap about his political opponent to help him in the 2020 elections. That’s extortion, pure and simple.
To make sure he could get away with his corrupt extortion, he fired the diplomat who was there to FIGHT corruption, coming up with some insane excuse (she didn’t hang up his picture? Well, besides that being incredibly inadequate as an excuse, it wasn’t true. The White House hadn’t sent it!).
When this went public, then #45 disgorged the money – which, remember, he had no right to even slow down in the first place.
Attempted bribery is a crime. Attempted extortion is a crime. That’s it.
I’m sure the GOP appreciates the assistance in portraying Trump’s actions as totes normal and legal. They probably never realized there were people willing to do this for free.
The perfect is the enemy of the good (whenever it salves one’s sense of aggrieved butt-hurt about governmental policy decisions). The USA (all governments in Perfect World, actually) should never act on international issues until each and every last domestic injustice is absolutely squared friggin’ away.
Nice job, Ted, of trying to make the narrative about foreign aid, rather than about Trump extorting a foreign head of state for his personal benefit. But you just be you, Ted.
Zelensky was elected in April of 2019. He was elected on an anti-corruption platform. There is nothing, anywhere to say he is corrupt. He was a comedian prior to the election. But asking a foreign government to interfere in our elections? Corrupt.
This isn’t surprising, given that Rall had to resort to working for Russian propaganda outfit ‘Sputnik News’, after the local dailies couldn’t sustain cartoonists.
I remember when Ted Rall was a pretty good, astute and funny political cartoonist. Now he’s gone off on this “false equivalency” thing that he harps on nearly every day.
No, Ted, our two major political parties are NOT alike, not even remotely.
Because he points out that both things are wrong doesn’t mean he’s saying they’re equivalent. The US, with its all war all the time foreign policy, it’s arms sales and incitement of proxy wars has done considerably more damage to the world and the environment than has the Orange Buffoon. In a sick way he is the personification of the American Way.
79nysv over 4 years ago
How many Americans would that money saved, how many children won’t go hungry ?
Daeder over 4 years ago
There’s crime, then there’s crime against our own Constitution.
By the way, you could write a case for impeaching individual 1 on toilet paper, and if you laid it all out in a line, it would stretch from Mar-a-lago to the moon!
shakeswilly over 4 years ago
What’s your point Rall ? What Trump did is a series of serious crimes, not just something improper. Over a period of two months he tried to force Ukraine, a nation under threat from Russia, to announce an investigation into the Bidens – by withholding money appropriated by Congress for Ukraine. The reason he did so was not some sudden desire to root out corruption in Ukraine. It was because he wanted to taint his likely contender and steal the 2020 elections. He was doing great harm to the US and Ukraine. He was a the same time letting Russia off the hook for 2016 ( and possibly 2020) election meddling.
Alberta Oil Premium Member over 4 years ago
Was that really cold cash.. or credit to purchase American armament?? Big difference!
Diane Lee Premium Member over 4 years ago
The US Government doesn’t give away money to be kind. They use it to buy influence, to secure natural resources that are wanted in our country, to keep countries as our allies in case of war etc. So, money given to other countries by our government is not really charity. It’s bribe money, and the idea is to benefit the USA. Ideally, what’s good for the USA is good for its’ people, but that could be debated.
Motivemagus over 4 years ago
Wow, Ted, nice distortion here.
We were helping Ukraine to defend itself against Putin’s Russia, which is, despite #45’s vile toadying, our enemy. Joe Biden’s efforts had in fact been to support anti-corruption.
Congress designated funds to go to the Ukraine. The president has no right to interfere with that in any way.
But #45 withheld the funds (which they needed, since they are being INVADED by Russia) because he wanted them to make up crap about his political opponent to help him in the 2020 elections. That’s extortion, pure and simple.
To make sure he could get away with his corrupt extortion, he fired the diplomat who was there to FIGHT corruption, coming up with some insane excuse (she didn’t hang up his picture? Well, besides that being incredibly inadequate as an excuse, it wasn’t true. The White House hadn’t sent it!).
When this went public, then #45 disgorged the money – which, remember, he had no right to even slow down in the first place.
Attempted bribery is a crime. Attempted extortion is a crime. That’s it.
mommadillo over 4 years ago
I’m sure the GOP appreciates the assistance in portraying Trump’s actions as totes normal and legal. They probably never realized there were people willing to do this for free.
lsnrchrd.1 Premium Member over 4 years ago
The perfect is the enemy of the good (whenever it salves one’s sense of aggrieved butt-hurt about governmental policy decisions). The USA (all governments in Perfect World, actually) should never act on international issues until each and every last domestic injustice is absolutely squared friggin’ away.
tims145 over 4 years ago
Nice job, Ted, of trying to make the narrative about foreign aid, rather than about Trump extorting a foreign head of state for his personal benefit. But you just be you, Ted.
halvincobbes Premium Member over 4 years ago
Zelensky was elected in April of 2019. He was elected on an anti-corruption platform. There is nothing, anywhere to say he is corrupt. He was a comedian prior to the election. But asking a foreign government to interfere in our elections? Corrupt.
kentmarx36 over 4 years ago
Trying to argue in defense of the Weasel while saying he is a crook? INTERESTING.
Uncle Joe Premium Member over 4 years ago
This isn’t surprising, given that Rall had to resort to working for Russian propaganda outfit ‘Sputnik News’, after the local dailies couldn’t sustain cartoonists.
Flatworm over 4 years ago
I remember when Ted Rall was a pretty good, astute and funny political cartoonist. Now he’s gone off on this “false equivalency” thing that he harps on nearly every day.
No, Ted, our two major political parties are NOT alike, not even remotely.
mattro65 over 4 years ago
Because he points out that both things are wrong doesn’t mean he’s saying they’re equivalent. The US, with its all war all the time foreign policy, it’s arms sales and incitement of proxy wars has done considerably more damage to the world and the environment than has the Orange Buffoon. In a sick way he is the personification of the American Way.