Below is my column in USA Today on the effort to impeach President Joe Biden over his freezing of arms shipments to Israel. While one can strongly disagree with the policy or the motivation behind the action, it is not a high crime and misdemeanor in my view.
Here is the column:
After the two impeachments of former President Donald Trump, Congress seems to be on a hair-trigger for anything that can be plausibly, or even implausibly, defined as a high crime and misdemeanor. The latest example is the impeachment resolution introduced against President Joe Biden over his decision to withhold arms from Israel in an attempt to prevent an operation in Rafah to destroy Hamas’ remaining military units.
While there is much to question about Biden’s motivations and his means to pressure Israel, it is not an impeachable offense.
The sponsor of the impeachment resolution, Florida Republican Rep. Cory Mills, maintains that “President Biden abused the powers of his office by soliciting a ‘quid pro quo’ with Israel while leveraging vital military aid for policy changes. This egregious action not only compromised the credibility of the United States but also undermined the interests of our longstanding ally.”
On the surface, there is an obvious appeal for Republicans to use these grounds to impeach Biden. After all, in 2019, Democrats impeached Trump on the basis of a phone call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in which the president threatened to withhold military aid to that country. Democrats insisted that Trump used the threat to deny aid as a way to encourage Zelenskyy to investigate Biden for corruption in Ukraine.
Political analysts on the left and the right have acknowledged that Biden’s hardened stance toward Israel is due to his faltering poll numbers and the threat that he could lose Michigan and Minnesota in the upcoming election. A loss in Michigan, where the state’s large Muslim population has rejected Biden’s past support for Israel, would likely doom his chances for reelection.
Presidents often make decisions based on politics
Even assuming that Biden’s recent changes were motivated by politics in Michigan (which I believe is a fair assessment), it would not be a high crime and misdemeanor. Presidents routinely act out of political interests. Indeed, a democracy involves using one’s voting power to influence politicians like Biden to change policy. The more than 100,000 “uncommitted” votes in Michigan’s Democratic primary clearly spooked the Biden White House.
To impeach presidents for such discretionary conduct would make impeachment a type of “vote of no confidence” device used in countries like the United Kingdom. That is not the purpose of impeachment, which was meant to be a rarely-used measure to address the most egregious forms of presidential misconduct.
The recent resolution falls into a type of “just desserts” rationale for impeachment. I testified in the first Trump impeachment and opposed it on constitutional grounds. I warned Democrats that they would rue the day that they lowered the standard and short-circuited the process for impeachment.
At the time, I told the House Judiciary Committee: “President Trump will not be our last president and what we leave in the wake of this scandal will shape our democracy for generations to come. I am concerned about lowering impeachment standards to fit a paucity of evidence and an abundance of anger. If the House proceeds solely on the Ukrainian allegations, this impeachment would stand out among modern impeachments as the shortest proceeding, with the thinnest evidentiary record, and the narrowest grounds ever used to impeach a president. That does not bode well for future presidents who are working in a country often sharply and, at times, bitterly divided.”
Democrats were wrong then; Republicans are wrong now
After ignoring that warning, Democrats went a step further in the second impeachment in 2021 and used what I called a “snap impeachment” in an attempt to punish Trump for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Campus protests:Columbia cancels graduation ceremony because of student protests. It’s the wrong choice.
It would be an easy thing to say “well, turnabout is fair play, so a pox upon their house.” The problem is that this is the people’s house and we all are harmed by the destruction of the impeachment process. Democrats were wrong in 2019 and 2021 to impeach Trump, but yielding to the same political motives now is no virtue.
Ironically, the new impeachment resolution does precisely what Biden is accused of doing: using constitutionally bestowed powers for raw political purposes.
The White House has insisted that this latest effort is “ridiculous.” Except that isn’t ridiculous given Democrats’ past actions. But it is equally wrong.
In 2023, I testified in the Biden impeachment hearing and said that I believed that there was sufficient basis − and potential impeachable conduct − to justify an inquiry into the Biden corruption scandal. Without prejudging the outcome of that investigation, it was clear that, if proven, some of the allegations would meet the demanding standard under Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution.
The new allegations would not. Even if Biden were shown to be hampering Israel’s war to help him win Michigan, it would not be sufficient. The line between politics and policy has always been imprecise, if not imperceptible. All presidents are first and foremost political creatures. They often use the most noble sentiments to hide the most base interests.
There is a place to render a verdict on such cynical calculations, but it is not on the floor of the House. It is rather in thousands of polling places on Nov. 5.
Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @JonathanTurley
Presidents routinely act out of political interests.
JT, your university’s namesake wouldn’t likely agree that he did. That being said, political interests should have a direct and positive connection to our constitution and national interests. Biden has proven to be the antithesis of George Washington. Everything he does is politically motivated to the interests of the radical, America-hating left.
Jonathan: I agree. Disputes over military aid to Israel are not a basis for impeachment of a President. The impeachment resolution by MAGA Rep. Cory Mills is another attempt at pay-back over the two impeachments of DJT. The MAGA crowd in the House is mad about that and has sought some reason to impeach Biden. The first impeachment inquiry by Jim Comer, which you backed to the hilt, failed miserably. So now comes Mills and his resolution. It will also fail.
As to the rationale for the two impeachments of DJT we part company. The first impeachment involved DJT’s attempt to basically extort the Ukrainian president–telling him that he would not get military aid unless he dug up dirt on the Biden family–DJT’s likely political opponent in the 2020 election. That was using the presidency for private political purposes and a legitimate basis for articles of impeachment.
The second impeachment of DJT was not a “snap impeachment”. DJT tried to to overturn a legitimate election by instigating an insurrection. It was an attempt to stop the peaceful transfer of power to create a virtual dictatorship. That was an attack on our basic Democratic institutions and the House would have been derelict had it not impeached DJT!
As to Impeachment 1, Trump had a legitimate concern about why an important Ukrainian energy company was paying vast amounts (for nothing apparently) to a member of Biden’s family. All of us should have that concern.
As to Impeachment 2, Trump acted legally in contesting the election. Have you already forgotten 2000?
“Israel couldn’t care less about the suffering that it is inflicting on the Palestinian people.”
Assume that’s true.
Why does the Left keep evading the obvious solution: Hamas surrenders unconditionally.
Turley is likely technically correct on all the details; but the Republicans are fighting an asymmetrical war against the Democrats who have the ethics of Hamas. Therefore, I say go ahead and impeach him. The genie is out of the bottle and if you don’t think the Democrats won’t do it again and again, then you would believe that Hamas would adhere to a cease fire.
Alank said: “Turley is likely technically correct on all the details”
Turley IS correct – this was an accurate and well-reasoned analysis. But you do have a point. I am not quite ready yet to come around to your way of looking at our politics, but it won’t take much more outrageous misconduct on the part of Democrats and Deep State Republicans for me to arrive there. At that point, I’ll be hoping for a revamped version of the Boondock Saints to surface and take on crooked politicians.
Biden’s action “is not an impeachable offense.” (JT)
JT took the same principled action then (with Trump) as he takes now (with Biden).
You’d think that the Left would stop smearing JT with: He’s a shill for this-and-that.
Or is it that a man of integrity is so rare in this culture that most people have no idea what they’re looking at?
Except it is a false equivalence. Evidence of borderline extortion vs vague accusations of decisions based on polling. Those are nowhere near the same thing.
To compare the two demonstrates his LACK of neutrality.
If Democrats tried to impeach Trump because he authorized billions to go to Trump supporting farmers during his presidency through the Farmers to Families Food Box program, that would be more reasonable comparison.
Evidence of borderline extortion
You are so blinded by hate, you refuse to acknowledge there are lots of other motivations.
With Ukraine, Trump was using the aide as leverage forcing Ukraine to get a handle on the corruption. Letting them know, that he knew, and things would improve or else.
One of Trumps accomplishments in office was exposing the State Dept as overpaid, under performing dilettantes.
They think the can talk away problems. But Trump is a true negotiator. He intuitively, knows how to present a deal the other side believes they, got the better of Trump. In Tump’s deals, both come away as winners.
Trumps talks with Ukraine, was laying ground work for a larger gains in the diplomatic arena.
Iran will use its nuclear bomb on Israel if they don’t destroy it first. We are on the brink of a conflagration never seen on earth. Biden funded.
No, the act by Biden was not impeachable but simply a symptom of his sheer stupidity and almost total moral cowardice. Tinged by his previously obvious racism and antisemetism. Polls in Gaza have shown, prior to this war, support in Gaza for Hamas at about 70-75%. It’s only because Israel is Jewish that so much of the rest of the world wants to place constraints on Israel when they were attacked and 1200 of their people killed. They have the right to fight the war to a lawful conclusion of eradicating Hamas. This is a right guaranteed by the UN Charter. Just like the Russians, Americans, Britons, French, Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Norway, India, Australia, New Zealand, and China did to Germany, Italy, and Japan in WW2.
There was much discussion then about strategic bombing killing civilans. It was considered moral to kill civilian workers who made the engines of war whether it was in Europe or Japan. You can rebuild equipment but it takes about 20 years to regrow a worker.
Dresden was a war crime because it failed to even meet those criteria.
Gaza is almost totally urban and urban fighting is always bloody no matter how far back you go. Whether it was Roman’s fighting thru the streets of Carthage or Germans and Russians in Stalingrad.
The people of Gaza made their choice long ago and they have allowed Hamas to take billions of dollars in aid and make a massive tunnel fortress of Gaza and they still support and help build the engines of war.
They are as bad as the Japanese in WW2 whose leadership convinced the civilians to fight to the death, or even throw themselves off cliffs in Saipan with their infants and children rather than be captured by the American “Devils”.
Pull those films out someday and look at that footage.
None of this is new. All you need is an authoritarian regime with a captive audience and captive educational system and you get abominations as a result.
Get real people, study history, it’s all there
I’m afraid Turley is wrong when he writes that Trump threatened to withhold military aid on the call with Zelensky. To refresh my memory I just reviewed the transcript, and he simply did not say that. The Democrats made this up. It is too bad that Turley is purveying this disinformation.
Generally, I agree with him that there are no grounds for impeachment here, though I wonder if a case could be made under the Impoundment Control Act.
That having been said, the Republicans are not wrong to apply to the Democrats the same standard that the Democrats applied to them, until deterrence is restored.
Finally, what is going on with Comer’s impeachment investigation? In particular, did they get all the documents they requested regarding Biden’s unilateral decision to withhold previously approved loan guarantees until Shokin was fired, and if so what did they show? The State Department talking points and memo that have been made public say that Biden “will sign” them, but he refused to do so.
Trump admitted to withholding military aid to Ukraine…
His reason for that was inconsistent, which is par for the course. He first said it was to stamp out corruption in Ukraine, however, which is directly tied to the Biden quid pro quo reading of the call transcript. Only after he was under the threat of possible impeachment did he say the reason for withholding military aid was because Europe wasn’t paying its fair share.
Come on, man. It was pretty obvious.
You ignore the FACT Congress passed legislation, and Obama signed into law, that Aide to Ukraine could not be delivered until an investigation showed Ukraine was meeting the anti corruption guidelines in place. This particular tranche of aide had passed that investigation. But the President has the plenary power to demand further investigation. Withholding that aide was well within the Power of the President.
Stupid Biden!!! Talk about a waste! Freezing can damage the components of many weapons systems, particularly thru condensation. That could really mess up something with computerized parts, like a Patriot missile. Plus, what about the carbon footprint of the energy required to freeze all those weapons??? And, if people touch the frozen metal, they could get frostbite! Here are some scientists showing what can happen if you freeze shotgun shells and pistols.
At least republican house leaders have resisted the the temptation to for retribution for the Trump impeachments. I like the investigations, I think they have done more harm to the president and democrats than an ill thought out impeachment. I am sure democrats will repay them by impeaching the next republican president (when they have the house) for blowing their nose.
I imagine, Turley, that there is not much traffic anymore on the high road that you consistently take. For those of us who care about outcomes, that is now a luxury. The day has come that they were warned they would rue, just like the judicial filibuster. Democrats are nothing if not improvident. They never look beyond the next election, which each time they hope will be the last, entrenching them in power forever. At this point, anything is justified that perturbs, disrupts, or discomfits the Left.
Now Biden is bribing Israel with a promise of another $1 billion of weapons. The UNI party, of course is slobbering all over themselves, knowing the are positioned to funnel 10% into their personal charities, NGO’s and businesses (James Biden needs a new pair of shoes!)
Turley can’t even make the point that withholding bombs from Israel is neither a crime nor misdemeanor without putting the Fox spin on the reason. Turley claims that Biden is trying to curry favor with undecided voters in Michigan instead of even mentioning the stated reason—unnecessary and lopsided killing of civilians. The UN says that Israel is engaging in genocide. A substantial number of people both here and abroad agree. The majority of the tens of thousands of Palestinians who have been killed are women and children—not Hamas.
It’s also clear that Israel couldn’t care less about the suffering that it is inflicting on the Palestinian people. It won’t even let in outside aid to alleviate the starvation it is causing. Turley tries to defend Israel by claiming that bombing Raffa is calculated to clear out a Hamas stronghold—where’s the proof?
What is clear is that Israel is hellbent on killing as many Palestinians possible and in getting revenge. The thousands of women and children who have been killed aren’t Hamas. The US is not bound to provide the tools for vengeance and genocide and would be complicit if we ignored what Israel is really doing. Israel doesn’t care what the US’s position is. Defense is one thing and vengeance against innocent people is another. Putting a purely political spin on Biden’s decision is just another example of why I have lost any respect for Turley. He can’t even make the point that withholding instruments of killing is not a crime or misdemeanor without engaging in political rhetoric—something he ironically accuses Biden of doing.
unnecessary and lopsided killing of civilians
War was declared, Israel is responding. The dead are the result of the actions of the Palestinian people. International reporting last week exposed the casualty numbers as massively inflated. Civilian death is the price of war.
What is abhorrent is the Palestinian people, slaughtering civilians in their homes. Raping and murdering hundreds of females from age 8 to 80, and baking infants alive in the kitchen ovens.
Life is Tough, tougher if you are a murderous Palistinian
The Palestinian people are not all Hamas any more than the American people are all MAGA. The leaders of the Palestinian people are The Palestinian Authority. Hamas is a terrorist group. Even after Israel kills enough Palestinians to satisfy its blood lust, it still insists on controlling Palestinians , it won’t get out of the West Bank and intends to take more of the Gaza Strip. Do you think that all of the deaths of women and children and Israel controlling Palestine won’t give rise to another terrorist group, supported by Iran and others? The only hope for lasting peace is a 2-state solution—Netanyahu won’t even consider that. Why should the US finance genocide and stealing land?
Move to Gaza and make a difference Gigi or whatever you are today. You could really make a difference, pick up arms and fight your good fight. Kisk those Jews off that “stolen” land! You poor pathetic creature you.
The few hostages that managed to get out of Palestine alive, disagree with you. All of them said the people of Palestine are indistinguishable from hamas. You can take up your warped view of reality with the few hostages, not murdered by Palestinians.
Of course releasing all the hostages, would have ended the war. Palestine refused to release the few surviving hostages.
“Defense is one thing and vengeance against innocent people is another.”
You were silent when animals cooked Jewish babies in microwaves, during a ceasefire.
“The majority of the tens of thousands of Palestinians who have been killed are women and children—not Hamas.”
Gigi, when will you get your facts straight? The majority of people killed were terrorists, civilians used as shields or civilians killed by misfired Hamas rockets. All you have to do is break the numbers down and ensure the numbers you get are reasonably accurate. The inflated number of Gazan deaths is now recognized, Israel has done a fantastic job of protecting civilians.
“What is clear is that Israel is hellbent on killing as many Palestinians possible ”
Only a buffoon can make such ridiculous comments. In WW2, the US firebombed Japan and, in a single day, killed more Japanese than the total number of Gazans killed. Israel can release more firepower so that if it didn’t care about the civilians, the war would be over. Biden’s denial of weapons can lead to more civilian deaths.
With a growing Gaza population, show us where the genocide is. All intelligent people know that Hamas wishes to inflict genocide on the Jewish people. Do you want to sound unintelligent? Israel is fighting a defensive war against those who pledged to kill all Jews.
It’s right where the U.N. says it is.
Here’s the latest:
The U.N. humanitarian agency, citing Gaza’s Health Ministry, says 7,797 children and 4,959 women were killed in Gaza as of April 30.
Those figures, however, only account for 70 percent of deaths fully identified.
The U.N. says Gaza’s Health Ministry has been able to fully identify 24,686 deaths out of more than 35,000 people the ministry says have been killed in the Gaza Strip.
U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq says Gaza’s Health Ministry is still working to fully identify 10,000 or more deaths. Based on the identities confirmed so far, though, the U.N. now says about 52 percent of those killed have been women and children.”
And, of the men killed, not all of them are Hamas. And, these figures do not include bodies buried under the rubble. Then, there are the starving people, especially children, whose nutritional needs aren’t being met–they are suffering damage mentally and physically from protein and calorie malnutrition. . Children and others with chronic health conditions cannot get medications they need or leave Gaza. There was a story on the news last night about a young girl with a neurological condition who health has seriously backslided–she is bed-bound because she can’t get medical help. Before, she could walk, talk and play. Not any more. And, how about the hostages? Their families want Israel to stop the bombing and allow in aid. Netanyahu, drunk with power and blood lust, refuses even their pleas. He ignorese the UN and the United States. Then, there’s the fact that rebuilding places for people in Gaza to live will take decades. Israel insists on controlling everything, including their water supply–who’s the monster here? Whose hate and greed are driving this instability?
I know you get your information from MAGA media, and one of their recent themes is exactly what you wrote. Israel’s relentless genocide, refusal to leave the West Bank (which it has populated with 700,000 Israelis, despite condemnation from the UN), refusal to allow aid into Gaza, and refusal to allow the Palestinian people the right of self-governance will only spur more terrorist groups even if it could eliminate Hamas, which it cannot. Many of them have already fled to Arab countries.
The U.N. says Gaza’s Health Ministry has been able to fully identify
This is the same UN that is funneling $millions to hamas through NGO’s? The casualty numbers are greatly exagerated.
If they are not. I, for one don’t care. Palestine started a War, Israel needs to end it and kill all hamas.
Obviously, the Israelis need to kill more women and children, and men and combatants, too. The Gazans still have some fight left in them, and killing people is what ends wars. The Gazans voted for Hamas, so I have little sympathy for them. Bombs away!
Gigi, the UN has been dishonest. They criticize Israel, not the terrorists, and not Iran. UN employees worked with Hamas, and now we see this https://justthenews.com/government/state-houses/israel-releases-video-armed-men-united-nations-complex-rafah?utm_source=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter
You hate America and the West, wishing to see its strength weakened.
“7,797 children”
How many of those children were old enough to fire rockets and weapons, killing people? How many of those women were working alongside the terrorists? How many of those women and children died as human shields? How many were killed by Hamas rockets that fell on the Gaza side of the border? How accurate are their numbers? You lack critical thinking skills, demonstrated in every post and every paragraph.
“especially children, whose nutritional needs aren’t being met”
Blame Hamas, who steals the food. Blame Egypt for not permitting the transfer of food from their side of the gate. Blame Hamas for targeting an entry path for food.
“–she is bed-bound because she can’t get medical help”
Blame Hamas for using the hospitals as centers for weapons, terrorists and missiles. Blame Hamas for keeping the IDF away when the IDF meticulously kept Shifa Hospital open while fighting terrorists and installing generators.
” Israel insists on controlling everything, including their water supply–who’s the monster here?”
Why does Gaza have to depend on Israel for water? What happened to their water supply and sewers? Hamas used the pipes to create missiles to fire on Israel. You are very ignorant and are a more significant cause of Gazan’s suffering than any Israeli soldier who is trying to protect Israeli women and children from being murdered by Hamas. You forget October 7, when there was peace.
“I know you get your information from MAGA media.”
Where do you get your information? Sources that were continuously wrong on most major political issues. I don’t use Fox, which isn’t MAGA. There are many other news sources far more accurate that are available and provide the best information possible. Much of the information comes from actual videos of on-the-ground action, people on the ground, intelligence sources, etc. When that information gets to WAPO, it is spun into left-wing news that continues to be wrong.
” refusal to leave the West Bank “
Why should Israel leave Judea and Samaria? Historically, it is the home of the indigenous people, the Jews and when Britain divided its mandate, most went to a Palestinian state, Jordan, leaving the rest for Israel. In 1948, Jordan illegally occupied Judea and Samaria. You can look at the laws passed after the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the treaties that were agreed upon, even by the US. If the Palestinian leadership had its way during WW2, all the Jews would have been exterminated, and Europeans would be speaking German.
Stop talking about many things and concentrate on one or two in-depth items. You can’t do that because you would expose your ignorance if you tried.
Why don’t they simply do the math?
“The U.N. humanitarian agency, citing Gaza’s Health Ministry, says 7,797 children and 4,959 women were killed in Gaza as of April 30.
Those figures, however, only account for 70 percent of deaths fully identified.”
Because its BS, but it doesn’t matter because every single dead gazan is a direct result of ahole hamas rich dudes in qatari hotels using those bodies for a PR war and IDIOTS like you fall for it. You are a sicko.
George, in an election year, timing is everything. I don’t think Republicans are desperate, plenty of fruit to pick from.
Biden’s new order on immigration allows 4,000 per day. He has already allowed 9M in, 4000 per day is roughly another 1.46M. That on topof the 30M that were already here, get ready to rumble. Oh yeah, nothing impeachable…
I do not want to see this go any further.
This is just plain dumb.
Leave Biden alone and he will bumble, stumble from one disaster to the next.
In the meantime Iran has developed a thermonuclear weapon they intend to use to destroy Israel, thanks to joey.
You mean like passing the Infrastructure Act, COVID Relief Act. Inflation Reduction Act, Chips Act, Ukraine Relief Act , getting the lowest unemployment rate in decades, and a record number of Americans having health insurance? Oh, and then there’s coordinating opposition to Russia with our NATO and EU Allie’s with Sweden and Finland wanting to join. Is this bumbling and stumbling you’re referring to?
Gigi, instead of repeating the names of bills that sound good, why not repeat what those bills actually do? For the most part, they are destructive and destroy the middle class. Along with being a lawyer and in the medical field, were you also an economist?
S. Meyer,
As she has demonstrated multiple times, she does not read past the headline of the jobs report. She just touts the same “Unemployment” DNC talking point while ignoring the much more accurate metric measure of the Household survey.
You beat me to the punch! So often, Democrats use their support of some bill as a substitution for actually doing what needs to be done. Gee, so being for the Inflation Reduction Act is the same as reducing inflation. I sure wish it was so, but it is a Beauty Contestant answer, ala “I am for ending World Hunger, and ensuring that every child in the world has their very own personal stuffed Rainbow Unicorn to cuddle with!” (Big Teeth Smile!)
The Infrastructure Act is going to cost us more money for electricity.
There never should of been a COVID Relief Act.
The Inflation Reduction Act clearly did not do anything about inflation. Biden even said he wished he never called it that.
The Chips act, there is a problem: There is not enough energy to power many of those plants with Biden’s green agenda.
The Ukraine Relief Act is funding a war no one wants.
You really need to learn how to read a job report. The Household survey shows that more Americans are working two or even three jobs to make ends meet. Wages are not matching inflation. It now costs $12,000 more a year just to maintain their standard of living. More Americans are being forced to turn to credit cards to make ends meet due to Bidenflation to the record tune of over $1trillion dollars, with 1 in 5 saying they are near maxing out their credit.
The Affordable Care Act, which even Democrats admitted was not affordable, and they had to change it. Biden had nothing to do with that.
What meaning full opposition to Russia has Biden coordinated? All those sanctions did not work. For that matter it accelerated the BRICS into BRICS+ and now there is talk of the BRICS+ introducing a decentralized currency called The Unit in 2025. This will allow countries to trade in this currency outside of the US/West SWIFT banking system. No longer needing to participate in the US/West SWIFT banking system they will divest in the US dollar, aka de-dollarization which has been going on already. When that happens, all those US dollars will flow back to the US and quite possibly give us hyper-inflation.
Then there is all those illegals Biden let in. In order to house, feed, medical care, education for them, he is really pissing off the Black community.
Biden lost the Asian community, with his push of DEI and punishing Asians for being successful.
Biden lost the Hispanic community as they are a rather religious bunch and very pro-family.
Biden looks like he may lose parts of the Jewish community.
Biden looks like he may lose the Muslim community.
At a recent pro-Hamas rally, anti-Hamas counter protesters, the one thing where Biden succeeded: Both side chanted in unison “F*ck Joe Biden!”
So, yes, that is the bumbling and stumbling I am referring to.
And if you have been paying attention, Biden’s latest tariffs on China, that make Trump’s tariffs look like childsplay, is pushing Russia and China ties even closer.
Biden just may have single handily ended the US/West lead hegemony in our life time.
” 90% of all Russia-China trade are now conducted in Ruble and Yuan.
De-dollarization is not only possible but a strategic imperative. It saves money and protects sovereignty.
President Putin and President Xi Jinping in Beijing today. pic.twitter.com/Y5t1zP6LhC”
— S.L. Kanthan (@Kanthan2030) May 16, 2024
Per Bloomberg. Read the whole piece for details:
“What Has Biden Accomplished? Look at These 10 Metrics, Not the Polls
Biden has outperformed Trump on a number of fronts, from inequality and green spending to stocks and crime. But not all.
By Bloomberg Opinion Columnists
March 7, 2024 at 10:00 AM EST
President Joe Biden’s third year in office was dogged by political gridlock yet blessed by an economy that refused to break despite painful inflation and surging borrowing costs. If presidential elections hinge on “the economy, stupid,” then winning a second term should be a cakewalk for Biden given the robust labor market, strengthening household finances, and improving confidence among consumers and businesses. Instead, his poll numbers predict the opposite, weighed down by the legacy of Covid-era inflation and doubts about his age. Looming even larger is the influx of migrants at the southern border, which Republicans would rather use as a weapon than fix via bipartisan immigration reform. As Biden and his presumptive opponent, Donald Trump, take their message to voters ahead of the November election, Bloomberg Opinion columnists tell you how the president’s performance stacks up against his predecessor by the numbers.
According to the experts at Bloomberg, Americans lacking health insurance went from 22.3% down to 10.4%. Biden added 14.8 million jobs, more than any US President for a comparable time period. The cost of living is going down. Families are richer than ever before. Net Worth is increasing and inequality is narrowing. The equity market is roaring and violent crimes are falling.
And, the Inflation Reduction Act lowers the cost of prescription drugs, with insulin capped at $35/month. Semiconductor chips being manufactured in the US will create thousands of good-paying jobs and eliminate dependence on China, which will bring down the cost of consumer goods that rely on semiconductor chips.
What did Trump accomplish–tax cuts for the very wealthy. The reduction in revenue forced the government to borrow more money to cover obligations. Interest on that increased national debt–which rose to a record under Trump–is driving inflation.
MAGA media does not tell the the truth.
Most of the economic data I noted above, came from the CBO and the BLS.
The energy data came from the DOE.
Those would be government agencies you twit.
The part about credit card usage, came from a American Public Media sponsored radio show, Market Place and is affiliated with National Public Radio I heard in the truck this morning.
That is a MSM Bloomberg news opinion piece and well known DNC news outlet.
Oh, and not only was it a opinion piece, it was also written by Bloomberg Opinion Columnists.
It was such a load of crap, no one would put their name on it as they would get laughed out of the business, and they know it.
I suggested that you go to the entire piece to read the details–there are several sections, each written by someone with expertise in that area of economics–with their names.
BREAKING NEWS: THE DOW JUST HIT 40,000 FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER! What was that you were saying about Biden doing a lousy job with the economy?
And the wind cries HOLOCAUST.
1,000,000 slaughtered in R WAN DA, Clinton left them all alone. What would you do if you saw them there, missing heads and legs and arms in R WAN DA. 1,000,000 bloody corpses on the ground, in the trees, garbge cans, toilets, cars and lawns. Clinton left them all alone to be hacked to pieces.
You know they were tortured and chopped to pieces and you hide belind that sex pervert, the most wicked American of all.
And gigi cries foul
BROKEN BODIES
BROKEN LIVES
A MILLION
AS BILLY BOB SMOKED LINGUINI’S CIGAR
What was that you were saying about Biden doing a lousy job with the economy?
5 Years ago you spent your time lecturing everyone that the stock market is not the economy.
I’ve always said that the stock market isn’t the economy–BUT TRUMP DOESN’T UNDERSTAND THAT and neither do his fans. Watch him make up some lie about this in the debates and watch the MAGA media echo that lie Nevertheless, the stock market DID hit an all-time high under Biden, which will benefit those of us Americans who are invested in the market.
You silly twit! McDonalds’ Big Mac hit an all time high, too. It’s called inflation.
Sorry, meant to post that as Estovir. Or was it James? Phergus? Kolchak? Geesh, who am I pretending to be at the moment??? Iowan2??? HELP!!! Oh, wait, I need to go up vote myself under whatever name. Rosebud!
“THE DOW JUST HIT 40,000 FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!”
It is true that inflation affects the price of everything — including stocks.
If you don’t like the principle of inflation, try the history: In 1929, the stock market hit a record high. And then?
The fat orange one you worship has always cited the stock market as the indicator of economic success–so, by that measure, Biden’s economy is the best in US history. I know that success of our economy is measured in many ways, not just the stock market, but the fat orange one doesn’t understand this, and neither do many of his fans, so I am citing his metric of success. Now, that won’t stop him from lying about doing better than Biden at the debates, or, for that matter, lying about many other nonexistent “accomplishments”, because that ego has to prevail and anyway, his lies are believed by people like you. According to “Investopedia”:
“Inflation is one of the factors that may affect a portfolio. In theory, stocks should provide some hedge against inflation, because a company’s revenues and profits should grow with inflation after a period of adjustment. However, inflation’s varying impact on stocks tends to increase the equity market volatility and risk premium. High inflation has historically correlated with lower returns on equities.”
So you are incorrect that inflation accounts for higher stock values–stocks actually are a hedge against inflation, other than equities, which are defined as: “The term equity has a different definition, depending on the context. When talking about the stock market, equities are simply shares in the ownership of a company. So when a company offers equities, it’s selling partial ownership in the company. On the other hand, when a company issues bonds, it’s taking loans from buyers.”
The stock market crash of 1929 is very complex, and there are means now to prevent that from happening again. The bottom line of your comment is that you Trumpsters simply cannot absorb reality, especially when there are facts showing that Biden is outperforming Trump–you will argue, deflect, disagree.
Wall St. is not Main St.
Biden has nothing to do with the former, but is hurting the latter.
See what I mean–you just cannot give Biden credit for anything.
He got the pro-Palestine and the pro-Israel protesters to chant in unison, “F!ck Joe Biden!” 🙂
Tell us, how are you going to feel when your oat meal for brains superhero you worship messes up the debate so badly, the DNC replaces him?
And were you not telling us how bad Trumps trade war with China was?
Biden just slapped China with more tariffs in the Rose Garden. And the ones Trump put against China, Biden never ended them. He kept them.
Who is EU Allie?
This article from Turley today is primarily caused by the failure of his trash talk about Cohen’s imminent thrashing in cross exam the other day. Things played out pretty much opposite of how Turley claimed they would…
But of course Biden can’t be impeached for making a correct move. Even if it wasn’t a correct foreign policy move, and was actually incorrect, well then, every single R could be impeached for holding up Ukraine aid as the Russians started to regain stolen land….
But the push piece also serves another interest of Turley’s, another two interests actually. One is he needs to try to ‘both sides’ trump’s extortion of Ukraine for their not creating opo for trump to use against Biden in the last presidential election. The other is he needs to run campaign ads for trump that have just a shred of plausible deniability.
Just another day in the life of a fox employee. And just another day in the life of a country addicted to trump in the media from both the right and the left.
But of course Biden can’t be impeached for making a correct move.
TDS is rotting your mind. You posts are more and more disconnected from facts
“Correct” is a meaningless word. There is no “correct” in decision until results are evaluated, and even then you have to have pre-defined the metrics used.
The proper question on impeachment. An enumerated constitutional power, who has the power to challenge Congress exercising their enumerated power.
In this case, impeachment is wrong, but it no less is still a power that no other branch has the power to challenge,
The check on that power is the voters, who can remove from office every member of the House that voted to impeach.
Correct is only meaningless in trump world.
Is it correct to take IRA money early?
Nothing to do with this discussion. It’s tactics you pull in that inform my opinion that you’re incoherent.
And true TDS is rotting your world. You’ve bought all the way into the frame of a cult leader.
You have not engaged a single point of my post.
Congress CAN impeach for anything they please. It is the Constitutional power to do so. No person, agency, or Judiciary has the power to challenge.
You are correct to avoid the discussion entirely.
Your points are routinely scattered, bordering on delusional. Your mind is closed.
Keep boozing it up.
“TDS is rotting your mind. You posts are more and more disconnected from facts”
Instead of insulting people you disagree with, why don’t you stick to the issue?
Read my whole comment before responding,
I am on topic
@Anonymous,
Yes, Turley’s prediction about Cross examination of Cohen was wildly off course. Cohen defied Turley’s expectations and did not deliver the knock out blow Trump’s lawyers wanted. The case looks like it will end up with a conviction. Plus, Trump’s lawyers hinted Trump may want to testify to challenge Cohen’s claims. Perjury seems very likely if he takes the stand.
+100
Analyzing half a days cross examination is like day trading Stocks. 95% that do, fail.
Today the Defense has started reading Cohen past Testimony, then having Cohen read the truth that proves Cohen is lying. They will intersperse this repeatedly with other cross examination, for the rest of the day.
Cohens past lawyer ,Costello, yesterday testified under oath to Congress. Costello, testified that what Cohen has testified to in this trial, is mostly lies. Costello has over 200 pages of texts and emails, to back him up. Braggs office had Costellos testify in front of the Grand Jury that delivered this true bill.
It is better than even money, Merchan will deny the defense the ability to bring Costello to testify.
We will see.
@Iowan2,
It is predictable that the defense is still trying to portray Cohen as untrustworthy because he has lied in the past. They are hoping to sow doubt before the jury.
Cohen still does not deny he’s lied in the past and he gets to explain why he did. The fact that the defense is not focusing on the documentation which is far more damning than Cohen’s testimony shows the weakness of the defense. Cohen is a lawyer. He knows exactly what to say to keep the jury and the defense unable to reach a certain conclusion from the questioning. Because he’s been honest about his lying and that counts.
George, you have a lot in common with Cohen. Cohen is a known liar, which intelligent people recognize quickly. That is why no one trusts what you say. Should we be surprised that you try and convince people that a liar tells the truth?
@S. Meyer,
You don’t know anything about me. But you seem to be a great mind reader apparently.
Cohen being a liar does not detract from the fact that he has been honest about it. He doesn’t deny it and neither does the prosecution.
The point of Cohen’s position is that he was Trump’s lawyer for a reason. He’s good a lying for others and Trump valued that a lot.
He was part of the scheme to hide the source of the payments to Daniels and Trump knew and approved of it. Why would he lie about it if Trump was ok with it?
The only way Cohen can be discredited is if Trump takes the stand. But he runs the risk of perjuring himself since Trump is also a giant liar.
“You don’t know anything about me. But you seem to be a great mind reader apparently. ”
New George, I only know what you write, and it is unadulterated idiocy that lacks facts while demonstrating a failure of intellect. You demonstrate that failure in your following statement, and then you mindread. You are not good at that either.
“The only way Cohen can be discredited is if Trump takes the stand. ”
That is a foolish statement. Can you intelligently explain why you said that? Saying another is a liar doesn’t make it accurate. Facts inform us of a person’s integrity; you have done a poor job protecting your name.
@S. Meyer,
Why do you project your own shortcomings onto others? I have notices you have a habit of projecting your own flaws on others and insulting them for having them. It’s consistent with people who don’t have much to offer by way of an intellectual discussion.
“Why do you project your own shortcomings onto others?”
New George, if you have facts to disprove what I say, let’s hear them, but all you do is use empty rhetoric. That is a sure sign of the leftist idiocy you choose.
Can you answer the questions directed at you? No. You say nothing. You are a factless waste of time who thinks Cohen is a good witness because he admits to lying.
I trust him to have solid insight, AllaI?
In turn, I know you to resort immediately to insult in order to cover over your factual weaknesses. Guess that means I doubt your personal honesty capacity, doesn’t i?
* Allan
If I have factual weaknesses, produce them. You have used many names, and now use an anonymous name because what you wrote was proven factually untrue. You didn’t protect your name’s integrity You are dishonest and we all know it.
I’ve been on this blog for years now…, long enough to see your routine disingenuousness. For instance, if I posted something to back up a claim, you’d ignore it and say I didn’t understand what I was posting. You’re routinely childish and obtuse.
But just for grins I’ll point out two of your lies just on this thread. I’m sober, have mentioned that fact many times. Yet you maintain otherwise. With no proof of that whatsoever.
The other lie is about Israel’s ability to resource an expansionist war into Gaza without U.S. backing. Israel’s objectives would be *much* smaller without U.S. weaponry. In fact, it would be limited to something along the lines of a border war with Hamas. Israel does not produce 2000 pound bombs for instance, and the Israelis have done staggering amounts of damage/killing with these. And it’s only because of Israel’s intelligence partnership with the U.S. that enables its rebeliousness and belligerence.
So you’re statement that Israel could be self sustaining for any length of time is false.
*your statement *
Is Bezos a jew?
Are the Rothschilds jews?
Is Bloomberg a jew?
Is Zuckerburg a jew?
These are just a few of the richest families on earth. They are Jews, Israel is THEIR homeland. I’m not against them but let them pay for it not American taxpayers that are being bled to death by government.
“if I posted something to back up a claim, you’d ignore it and say I didn’t understand what I was posting.”
You lie often and do not know the details of what you discuss, but you have an easy solution. Post a valid claim, and I will discuss it. You have been a waste of time for years and remain a waste of time today. Almost everything you said in the past was proven wrong.
“The other lie is about Israel’s ability to resource an expansionist war into Gaza without U.S. backing. Israel’s objectives would be *much* smaller without U.S. weaponry.”
Many of the US planes and weapons wouldn’t function as well without Israel’s technological help. It is a two-way street where Israel must spend American grants on American weaponry and products. America and the world supply far more to Gaza than to Israel. Israel was foolish to depend so heavily on American weapons. Presently, they are correcting that problem while Joe Biden helps Iran financially so that Iran can send advanced missile technology to Hezbollah and support Gaza.
” Israel does not produce 2000 pound bombs for instance, and the Israelis have done staggering amounts of damage/killing with these. “
Many of the bombs the US supplies are a substitute for military actions that would be less selective and kill more people. That saves lives.
“And it’s only because of Israel’s intelligence partnership with the U.S. that enables its rebeliousness and belligerence.”
Look back to 1948 when Israel faced all the surrounding countries with their armed forces and heavy weaponry. Israel, initially, without an air force, tanks, etc., won. The US depends on Israel for its strategic location and military ability.
Your argument does not prove Israel cannot be self-sustaining and buy weapons elsewhere. All countries rely on the global economy, including the US, which is foolish concerning necessities.
Nothing you’ve said disproves your lies that I pointed out. You have gotten a bit more nuanced re your discussion of Israel…, but still your insights into American/Israeli partnership are flawed and overly simplistic…
In other words, you remain a fascinating mix of cluelessness and disingenuousness. Ultimately a staggeringly dishonest person.
“Nothing you’ve said disproves your lies that I pointed out”
What lies? We have partial agreement on the statement above, except you have no idea how that fits into global markets and defense. I also showed you how the Jews in 1948 survived fighting mechanized armies while having none of their own.
You have shown that your mind needs to be revised for serious discussion. Take what I said above, tell us what is wrong with those facts, and debate. You don’t even have a name because you recognize your arguments’ weaknesses and need a lot of anonymous support.
It is predictable that the defense is still trying to portray Cohen as untrustworthy
It is not a portrayal. The defense is proving. Using Cohens own words. Costello has emails and texts that rebut Cohens testimony in this trial.
There is no crime here with Cohens testimony. The prosecution putting a convicted perjurer on the stand as witness, and then finding out its all a lie. A lie the Prosecution is aware of. Costello testified to the this grand jury. He shared all of this evidence with Bragg. Bragg is suborning perjury.
Ooof, the fat lady sang during cross examination today now didn’t she?! Cohen caught in yet another lie, liars can’t remember all the lies they told and thats where they all fall.
Every 30 days we go in the hole by another 1 trillion dollars, thanks to your boy. And Kamala will do wonders once lefties see the writing on his obit.
R’s are infinitely worse in terms of racking up deficits. Trump didn’t care and Cheney was memorably quoted as saying no one cares about them. It’s an R talking point established by a decades long PR campaign to maintain that R’s care at all about deficits other than for the purposes of campaigning. Look it up.
in 6 months, while joe sleeps, 6 trillion dollars in additional debt
How about his failure and assistance in failing to secure our borders? That’s a pretty obvious one for you. How about his lawfare abuses? Come on man, they impeached Trump for a phone call, Biden is so dirty he makes Avenatti look like a boyscout.
They impeached trump for extortion.
What makes Biden dirty?
What makes Trump dirty?
Turley is correct, what is interesting is the lack of any mention on Comer’s useless impeachment inquiry. It’s gone off the radar and still not produced any evidence of any impeachable offense. Professor Turley should be calling for the inquiry to close and render its results to the public.
Republicans are desperate. Anything is an impeachable offense to Republicans as long as it can be used to hang it around the president’s neck to hinder and impede progress. It’s an abuse of power.
The president may not be able to tell Israel what to do, but he can certainly control it by sending a message such as delaying crucial military aid. Israel is only able to do what it does because it is reliant on the U.S. for its supply of arms and financial support. Israel can go too far and it would be easy for Biden to withhold further military arms. With Israel there is always going to be overreach and miscalculation. Especially when its zealous pursuit of Hamas goes too far.
Professor Turley should be calling for the inquiry to close and render its results to the public.
Are you that stupid, or do you believe everyone else is stupid?
Who do you ‘think’ is able to launch such an inquiry. Because when you find that, we can do the same for Jan 6, piece of theater
@Iowan2,
It’s pointless to continue with the inquiry. They have found nothing and have not produced anything of value for well over a year. Turley knows that the inquiry has no evidence of any impeachable offenses. He should be calling or it’s conclusion and move on. I understand how embarrassing it must be for the committee to come out empty handed after investigating a little over a year.
who has the power to investigate, a congressional committee?
Who says they don’t have the power to investigate?
They’ve been investigating well over a year now. No evidence, no new allegations. Nothing. No crime has been committed and no articles of impeachment.
+100
Your first black president pretended he was deaf and then lied to the world as he turned his back on 1 million blacks butchered in 1994.
Thus solidifying his status as such
” Israel is only able to do what it does because it is reliant on the US for its supply of arms and financial support.”
New George, Israel can go it alone and has done so with decisive wins. Hamas will be destroyed, but a bigger war is coming from the north and west. Inevitably, if lousy policy continues, the U.S. will be drawn in. Israel is America’s best ally in the Middle East.
@S. Meyer,
No, Israel cannot go it alone. They are already running short of ammunition needed to do precision strikes. We supply the majority of their military hardware and funding. We spend $3 Billion every year funding Israel’s military. They can’t afford to sustain that level of spending on their own.
Israel is risking a bigger war that it cannot fight on its own and we are not going to defend Israel because it hopes we will come to its aid. Why should we get involved? We didn’t start it.
New George, look at the 1948 war. Tell me all the weapons Israel had when it didn’t have a formal army, no airforce, no tanks, etc. It defeated all the surrounding nations with tremendous resources.. Go back in history and see what it took for the largest empires to subdue them. Use Masada as an example.
The Jewish people battled the largest empires of the world, the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Selucids, Greeks and Romans. None of them still exist, but the Jews and Israel do.
Thank you! It is a ridiculous idea, but now it seems impeachment is the go to ploy for clicks!
Professor, this is shooting fish in a barrel. There are plenty of more difficult subjects to address, where your wisdom and expertise can be put to better use..