Did we forget the definition of “undisputed”? President Trump confessed! I mean Jesus, that seems like the critical point here. According to Oxford, ‘undisputed’ means “not disputed or called in question; accepted.” And undisputed is the right description. Nobody has coughed up evidence or sworn testimony that calls any part of President Trump’s actions into question. I’ve watched all the hearings, and while I haven’t read every transcript, I haven’t heard anyone, Republican or Democrat, introduce counterevidence. They don’t even have a decent counternarrative where Trump is innocent. (OK, Republicans keep trying out “Trump just hates corruption.” I just can’t stop giggling about that one.)
But nobody is saying that Trump is innocent. That’s what “undisputed” means.
The reason we’re not disputing the specifics because Trump commits most of his actions in public. Talk a guy who loves the camera too much. Even when Republicans try to dig him out, they know that Trump will blurt out the truth within a few hours. (Trump is a really crappy criminal. He really should get out of that whole ‘crime’ business.) So, while Republicans make a lot of noise and confusion, nobody is disputing the facts.
The investigation lists undisputed crimes because, at least so far, nobody has disputed them.
Nobody is saying that Trump didn’t strongarm Ukraine. The best Republicans get is to insist that the current testimony doesn’t prove Trump’s guilt strongly enough to convince them. Every witness testified that Trump withheld the military funds and the White House meeting. Nobody under oath jumped up and yelled, “No! Mister Trump is innocent!”
Sure, Republicans are attacking anything that moves. They pretend to hate the process, they dispute the witnesses, they dig for revenge against anyone and everyone. Again, Republicans are the party of bad faith. I’m almost shocked we haven’t heard GOP crowds yelling, “Off with their heads!” Protections for people’s rights? Forget that lovey-dovey stuff. I don’t care if you love career civil servants or hate them passionately, they’re supposed to be immune from political threats. Instead, cynical politicians are driving anyone who testifies against them out of office, out of the government, and sometimes out of their entire careers. I’m not linking because there are too many examples. Yes, that’s the dictionary definition of ‘corruption.’
But what the hell? Nobody – I mean, nobody – has said under oath that the charges aren’t correct and accurate. Nobody has sworn anything like, “Hey, Trump is innocent of that charge over there!” None of those braying Republicans have presented exculpatory evidence. The best they get is, “Hey! Look over there!”
Nobody disagrees; we haven’t disputed the impeachment charges.
Instead, we get Republicans shoveling simplified propaganda down our throats. Ranking Member Doug Collins is the new Devin Nunes. I wish him better luck, but it seems unlikely. He was basically following that same Republican pattern.
I briefly considered a “Spot that meme!” drinking contest, but you’d be dead in the first half-hour. I wondered if that was the point.
So we have a bunch of competent people saying Trump committed these crimes. Nobody has evidence that Trump didn’t exploit his office. Nobody is testifying that Trump acted differently. The White House is actively obstructing those investigations. And President Trump has confessed to most of the crimes in writing and/or on camera.
What else are we supposed to be waiting for?
Hey! Extra credit: Trump recently (and illegally) withheld the US military aid to Lebanon. When the press revealed that illegitimate hold, Trump immediately released those funds, too.
Wonder what his ask was there?
