"Listen to Sondland and you'll understand why America elected Donald Trump president to get rid of people like Sondland."
It only took a nanosecond for Twitter to erupt with reminders for Mr. Bozell that in fact, Donald himself had hired Mr. Sondland to be the U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, after Sondland's $1 million donation to Donald's inaugural committee. Realizing his mistake, Bozell deleted the tweet. As we always say around here, however, screenshots live forever:
Copying this tweet instead of retweeting it because right-wing stalwart Bozell might delete it when he realizes he’s saying Trump took money from Sondland and appointed Sondland to save the country from people like Sondland. pic.twitter.com/EI2Jxvn7Zb— Mark Jacob (@MarkJacob16) November 20, 2019
He’s a Trump donor appointed to that position by Trump but other than that good tweet https://t.co/seIpylts6w— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) November 20, 2019
exactly! which is why Trump hired Sondland after receiving $1-M donation for inaugural from him https://t.co/Z95DdG1mnh— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) November 20, 2019
This isn't even close to being the most important thing coming out of the Impeachment Hearing today. It just struck me as interesting. Back to Mr. Sondland for a moment, and forgive me for resorting to a cliché, but Donald is currently throwing him under the bus:
Gordon Sondland is currently testifying under oath that he knows the president quite well and talks to him candidly and feels friendly enough doing so to use profanity. https://t.co/RWf9t9UPqh— Shane Harris (@shaneharris) November 20, 2019
About those notes. Yes, this really is the president's hand holding the president's notes:
Written with a sharpie. Didn't spell the name right. And I seriously doubt if it's his final word on the matter either. @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/mpUFLZQass— Brian J. Karem (@BrianKarem) November 20, 2019
And wouldn't you love to know what Mr. Sondland is thinking:
That picture, from The Post's Matt McClain, is really terrific. https://t.co/FH1xjnLe1w pic.twitter.com/h7jeT9OPoW— Philip Bump (@pbump) November 20, 2019
This is very smart because I can confirm that when you delete a tweet it is gone forever. https://t.co/K3ft30hUqQ— Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) November 20, 2019
And one more thing. Prior to today I had never heard of Bryan Gividen, either. He's a conservative, a "pro-religious liberty, pro-life, would snort Cocaine Mitch's judicial confirmations if I could, kind of conservative." In a fascinating tweet thread he explains why conservatives should support impeachment, and as you read the tweets, note that he's not just talking about impeachment by the House, but also about removal by the Senate: "We're talking about Mike Pence becoming President." Here's the thread:
I am a pro-religious liberty, pro-life, would snort Cocaine Mitch’s judicial confirmations if I could, kind of conservative.— Bryan Gividen (@BryanGividen) November 20, 2019
I will explain exactly once why conservatives should support impeachment based on what is publicly available and undisputed.
At this point, there is no question that President Trump directed U.S. officials to withhold security funding to the Ukraine so Ukraine would investigate the Bidens. That is the kind of abuse of the President’s authority we should not tolerate.— Bryan Gividen (@BryanGividen) November 20, 2019
So it is absolutely clear what we are talking about: the President used hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer money as a bargaining chip to make a foreign country investigate his rivals. That is a textbook play from dictators who are trying to keep power.— Bryan Gividen (@BryanGividen) November 20, 2019
“But the Bidens were corrupt!” No clue if this is true, but I don’t care. Americans don’t outsource their investigations of political rivals to foreign countries, especially ones that are themselves full of corruption and especially not with strings attached.— Bryan Gividen (@BryanGividen) November 20, 2019
“But the President has authority over foreign policy!” You’re right, but the President is also accountable for how he uses that authority. And when he begins using it to target Americans to entrench his own power, the Constitution says Congress should act.— Bryan Gividen (@BryanGividen) November 20, 2019
“But the President really has authority over foreign policy!” Again, you’re right. But if Donald Trump made the “foreign policy call” to turn over the White House to Vladamir Putin, do you really think we couldn’t stop him?— Bryan Gividen (@BryanGividen) November 20, 2019
“Democrats are just trying to overturn the 2016 election.” True that a bunch of Ds would impeach Trump if he had sneezed during the oath of office. But stupidity doesn’t excuse stupidity. We’re asking whether President should be impeached, not whether Democrats are consistent.— Bryan Gividen (@BryanGividen) November 20, 2019
“But what about ma’ judges (or abortion or religious liberty or the 2nd Amendment)?” First, realistically, we’re talking about Mike Pence becoming President. He will be as good as Trump was on all of those issues.— Bryan Gividen (@BryanGividen) November 20, 2019
We Americans often take for granted what our security and freedom mean. In recorded history, few have had it as good as we do for as long as we have. A President willing to sell out Americans for his own power threatens what so many have built & fought & bled & died for.— Bryan Gividen (@BryanGividen) November 20, 2019
“But I hate the Democrats.” Even if you do, realize that targeting Americans and selling out national security don’t end with them. Don’t doubt for a second that if Ted Cruz had tried to primary Trump, he’d be next.— Bryan Gividen (@BryanGividen) November 20, 2019
Don’t support impeachment because you like the Democrats. Support impeachment because you fear that Donald Trump’s abuse of the presidency threatens your freedom.— Bryan Gividen (@BryanGividen) November 20, 2019
That’s it. This is the most overtly political tweet I am likely to have ever. Doubt it will move the needle for anyone, but who knows! Maybe if more conservatives speak out, we can move the needle.— Bryan Gividen (@BryanGividen) November 20, 2019
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