The Cohen Testimony
I think he is coming off smarmy. He is trying to control the narrative with things that are not part of his personal experience (what has been in the news, what the Special counsel has found etc). He is making conclusions on his own when the particular facts are not in this record. I am the first one who wants to take this guy at face value but his regret and remorse is much less than his desire to trash the person he worked for gleefully for ten years.
No time to listen, but did read his statement this morning. Not much new there, and not a whole lot of substance. A lot of self-serving stuff.
Sure, we all know Trump is a bum. But that is not indictable. The evidence he has is also not substantive--Trump will easily say he wrote a check to him for personal services that had nothing to do with payoffs. Damned hard to disprove with what Cohen has shown so far.
The one thing that caught my eye is that he squarely testifies that Stone told Trump over the phone about the Assange leaks about to happen, and that Trump approved this. But even here this is not worth a lot unless Stone or someone else corroborates the call.
Overall this testimony continues to paint a bad picture of Trump, but so what? We all could see this plenty clearly already.
If he has something more substantive, it needs to come out now. Otherwise it is but a blip in the process.
Trump's base will continue to support him. They just have to hide behind the fake news excuse. Those who disapprove of Trump aren't learning anything new. I think the testimony is OK, but the Dems shouldn't overplay it. There is still worthy legislation to be pushed.
Cohen just did a beat-down on the "ranking member", from the GOP side (and what point does he think he's making with no suit jacket on) for making the hearing about Cohen instead of Trump.
South_Mountaineer said:
Cohen just did a beat-down on the "ranking member", from the GOP side (and what point does he think he's making with no suit jacket on) for making the hearing about Cohen instead of Trump.
Good. The GOP has sold its soul to Trump and now officially stands for nothing but the aggrandizement of their Dear Leader.
Cohen’s heartfelt testimony has done it for me. I am finally willing to admit I was wrong.
Seatrains are totally the way to go here.
I find that Cohen comes across in a more or less credible manner, and seems to have considerable remorse about letting his family down; whereas the Republicans sound like a bunch of sycophantic clones. His best line was when he pointed out that Repubs had not asked him one question about Trump, and that he used to do the same thing for Trump for 10 years that they were doing now to him.
ml1 said:
and in other news, the Pope is Catholic...
In today's world some would even disagree with that.
Jasmo said:
I find that Cohen comes across in a more or less credible manner, and seems to have considerable remorse about letting his family down; whereas the Republicans sound like a bunch of sycophantic clones. His best line was when he pointed out that Repubs had not asked him one question about Trump, and that he used to do the same thing for Trump for 10 years that they were doing now to him.
I suppose he could be lying. But at this point what on earth would he have to gain by lying? I guess the Trumpers will say Cohen is just looking for revenge on Trump. But lying to Congress (and I didn't see but I assume he was put under oath) seems like it would be a dumb way to do it. Why not just do an interview or write a book if he's looking for revenge.
Yes, everything Cohen says must be consistent with all available documents held by Congress SDNY and Mueller, or he will be subject to additional charges of lying again to Congress.
ml1 said:
Jasmo said:I suppose he could be lying. But at this point what on earth would he have to gain by lying? I guess the Trumpers will say Cohen is just looking for revenge on Trump. But lying to Congress (and I didn't see but I assume he was put under oath) seems like it would be a dumb way to do it. Why not just do an interview or write a book if he's looking for revenge.
I find that Cohen comes across in a more or less credible manner, and seems to have considerable remorse about letting his family down; whereas the Republicans sound like a bunch of sycophantic clones. His best line was when he pointed out that Repubs had not asked him one question about Trump, and that he used to do the same thing for Trump for 10 years that they were doing now to him.
Mesmerized by the hearing. Better than Nixon or Iran-Contra.
Can't for the life of me understand why no one points out, when R's say "You're a liar. How can we believe you?" that Sammy the Bull and Whitey Bulger committed multiple murders and were perfectly serviceable witnesses against others. That's just two.
Also giggled at R's when they tried to get Cohen to vow he won't seek book or movie deal.
"No."
Great point made by many: not one R has a question about docs Cohen brought.
I found it rather poignant that he pointed out that fanatical devotion to President Trump will only lead you to the same place he's in now - facing jail time.
Someone on Twitter just described it as the GOP are Ebenezer Scrooge and Michael Cohen is the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come.
I think he's more like Jacob Marley. Coming in to say his greed and ambition have led him on a path leading to prison, and warning other that blind loyalty to Trump will spell their doom.
Mueller might be the ghost if Christmas Yet to Come.
I haven't been able to listen to the whole thing. But Alexandia Ocasio-Cortez asked some good pointed questions without any grandstanding.
Watched it with a few interruptions and was surprised at how sympathetic he appeared. It made the GOP look wildly aggressive by contrast. AOC did get in some nice jabs.
Thought Jim Jordan's very personal attack on Elijah Cummings was horrid but I have an intense dislike of Jordan's rhetoric in general.
Heard a couple of things that could turn into something.
My heart did skip a beat when I heard Donny Jr. might have signed a check. The thought of Donny in an orange jumpsuit brought a smile to my lips.
me too. My dream would be for Trump to turn on Donny jr and little Weasley SIL and get them sent to jail. While he rots away alone in his stupid gold penthouse with no one, humiliated that no one cares about him or has any interest in him.
The exchange between Reps Cummings, Tlaib and Meadows was stunning to listen to. I did not hear the part where Meadows brought Lynne Patton out to stand behind him.
GL2 said:
Mesmerized by the hearing. Better than Nixon or Iran-Contra.
Can't for the life of me understand why no one points out, when R's say "You're a liar. How can we believe you?" that Sammy the Bull and Whitey Bulger committed multiple murders and were perfectly serviceable witnesses against others. That's just two.
My thought exactly. Valachi, et al.
The congressional mob hearings with mobsters being admitted as credible witnesses. It was due to those mobster, liars, thieves and murderers, that we learned of the organization of the mob. It helped to break the mob and lead to the creation of the RICO statutes.
mrincredible said:
The exchange between Reps Cummings, Tlaib and Meadows was stunning to listen to. I did not hear the part where Meadows brought Lynne Patton out to stand behind him.
It was so awkward when Meadows introduced her. I thought the response from Cohen was sincere. The whole thing looked awful and even stranger when Cummings defended himself passionately in the challenge by Tlaib. How could he not get how it would read? No matter how he intended it to play it smacked of "some of my best friends....
Elijah Cumming's closing remarks will go down in history as one of the most remarkable moments in the history of Congress. "We are better than that."
for all of my fellow progressives who think that any of these kind of revelations are likely to bring down Trump, I have one thing to say:
Who's watching? Opening statement almost over.
Republican attempted to postpone. Motion voted down.